Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh was the first ever Indian singer to perform at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California. He performed twice during the music festival and left his audience impressed. This was also a huge proud moment for India as foreign audience including the artists enjoyed his performance. Many videos of his performance were shared on social media.
While many fans cheered for him and applauded him for the lively performance, a controversy erupted where people took offence at one of the statements Diljit made during the performance.
After concluding his second performance on the Coachella stage, Diljit Dosanjh pointed at a girl who had the Indian flag in her hand and told the audience, "Eh mere Punjabi bhain bhraawan layi, mere desh da jhanda laike khadi aa kudi, eh mere desh layi, negativity ton bacho, music saareyan da saanjha (This girl is carrying my country’s flag, for all my Punjabi brothers and sisters, this is for my country. Stay away from negativity, music belongs to everyone)".
However, some netizens tried to twist his words. One of the Twitter users wrote, "Diljit Dosanjh accused a girl of inciting hatred by waving Indian flag during a music performance in America. He said "Don’t spread hate, music belongs to everyone, not one country @diljitdosanjh Do you have no respect for Indian tricolor?" Another wrote, "So @diljitdosanjh objects when someone waves Indian tricolour during one of his concert in US. Which passport he’s carrying?"
However, the singer has now issued a clarification. He has asked people to not spread fake news what he said if they do not understand the Punjabi language.
Diljit reacted on some people misunderstanding what he said. He wrote on social media in Punjabi, “DON’T SPREAD FAKE NEWS & NEGATIVITY ❌ Mai Kiha Eh Mere Desh Da Jhanda Hai 🇮🇳 Eh Mere Desh Lai.. Means MERI Eh Performance Mere desh Lai . Je Punjabi Nhi Aundi Tan Google Kar leya Karo Yaar…Kion ke Coachella Ek Big Musical Festival Aa Othey Har desh to log aunde ne.. that’s why Music Sab Da Sanjha Hai. SAHI GAL NU PUTHI KIVE GHUMAUNA KOI TUADEY WARGEYA TON SIKHEY 👏🏽 ENU V GOOGLE KAR LEYO. (I said this is my country’s flag, this is for my country. This performance is for my country. If you don’t understand Punjabi then please Google because Coachella is a big music festival which is attended by people across the world. That’s why music is for everyone. How to twist the right words, one should learn from you guys. Google this as well).”
Politician Manjinder Singh Sirsa also came out in support of the singer and tweeted, "It would be better if @pun_fact starts posting complete video. @diljitdosanjh dedicated this concert to India and Punjab. He said, ‘eh mere Punjabi bhain bhraawan layi, mere desh da jhanda laike khadi aa kudi, eh mere desh layi, negativity ton bacho, music saareyan da saanjha’. It’s shameful that some handles are creating a negative agenda and spreading hatred."
Diljit became a household with songs such as Proper Patola and Do You Know and Patiala Peg, among others. He has also featured in several Punjabi films.
Diljit starred in Bollywood films such as Phillauri, Soorma, Welcome To New York, Arjun Patiala, Sooraj Pe Mangal Bhaari, and Good Newwz, among others. He is now all set to star alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tabu and Kriti Sanon in The Crew.
