Singer Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over pro-alcohol songs at Ludhiana concert
Ludhiana/IBNS: Popular Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh is in legal trouble over his New Year’s Eve concert in Punjab's Ludhiana, where he performed songs that allegedly promote alcohol.
The performance, which is a part of his ongoing 'Dil-Luminati' tour, has landed him in trouble for including tracks like ‘Patiala Peg’, ‘5 Taara Theke’, and ‘Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya)’.
According to critics, these tracks glorify alcohol consumption.
Chandigarh-based assistant professor Punditrao Dharenavar filed the FIR, which led to the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department issuing an official notice to the District Commissioner of Ludhiana.
The notice requested that Dosanjh be prevented from performing these songs during live concerts.
Punditrao Dharenavar, in his complaint, raised concerns over the potential harm these songs could cause to young audiences, particularly underage children, who were present at the concert.
He cited a 2019 order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which banned songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence at public events, including live concerts, due to their detrimental effects on impressionable youth.
"The performance of such songs sends the wrong message, especially when children are in the audience," Punditrao Dharenavar said.
He also slammed Dosanjh for wearing a ‘pagadi’ (turban) during the concert while performing these controversial songs, arguing that the revered symbol should not be associated with promoting harmful values.
In response to previous concerns raised by the Telangana government ahead of his concert in Hyderabad, Dosanjh had altered the lyrics of some of his songs.
However, despite these advisories, the singer performed these tracks, with minor lyric modifications, which led to further legal scrutiny.