Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh, during his concert in Chandigarh on December 14, announced that he will not be performing in India again until the country improves its live show infrastructure. This decision, shared widely through viral videos, comes as Dosanjh’s ‘Dil-Luminati Tour’ nears its conclusion, with his final performance set for Guwahati on December 29, following a show in Mumbai on December 19.
In the viral videos, Dosanjh candidly addressed the audience in Punjabi, expressing his frustration with the current state of live show facilities in India. He said, “We don’t have the proper infrastructure for live shows here. This is a significant source of revenue, and many people rely on it for work. Until the infrastructure improves, I won’t be doing shows in India again.” He also suggested the possibility of designing stages surrounded by the audience on all four sides to enhance the concert experience.
Record-breaking ‘Dil-Luminati Tour’
The ‘Dil-Luminati Tour,’ which began on April 27, 2024, in Vancouver, has been a landmark achievement for Punjabi music. Dosanjh performed at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium, where he set a record with over 54,000 attendees, the largest crowd for a Punjabi artist outside India. The tour continued across major North American cities, including Edmonton, Dallas, and Toronto, concluding in Rogers Centre on July 13.
In Europe, Dosanjh performed in Paris, Amsterdam, and London, becoming the first South Asian artist to hold three shows at The O2 Arena in London.
The India leg of his tour began on October 26 in New Delhi, with additional shows in cities like Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. The high demand led to the addition of more shows. The tour will conclude with performances in Mumbai and Guwahati.
Tribute to Gukesh Dommaraju
At the Chandigarh concert, Dosanjh dedicated his performance to FIDE World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, praising the 18-year-old’s perseverance and dedication to the sport.
Controversy and Backlash
Despite the overwhelming success of the tour, Dosanjh faced criticism over a social media post before his Chandigarh concert, in which he spelled ‘Punjab’ as ‘Panjab.’ Some fans claimed that the alternate spelling is associated with Pakistan. Additionally, the absence of the Indian tricolour emoji in the post sparked further debate. Dosanjh addressed the issue by clarifying that both spellings refer to the same cultural identity, dismissing any allegations of ulterior motives.
Despite these challenges, the ‘Dil-Luminati Tour’ has been a major success, with tickets selling out quickly across all locations.