Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s highly anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana was marred by legal controversy following a complaint filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

The complaint prompted the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, to issue a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prevent the singer from performing certain songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice, which was addressed to the local authorities in Ludhiana, specifically calls for a ban on songs that have been accused of promoting alcohol, such as ‘Patiala Pegg’, ‘5 Tara Theke’, and ‘Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya)’, even if modified with altered lyrics.

The complaint references prior warnings issued to Diljit Dosanjh by various commissions, where he was advised against performing these controversial tracks. Despite these advisories, the singer has allegedly continued to perform them with slight alterations to the lyrics.

Panditrao Dharenavar, who filed the complaint, expressed strong concerns over the impact of such songs, particularly on young audiences, especially when underage children are in the audience.

Further complicating the situation, Dharenavar cited a ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which in 2019 directed the police to ensure that no songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are played at public events, including live concerts.

According to the court’s decision, songs that glorify substances like alcohol or drugs have a detrimental impact on impressionable children.

Panditrao has also made it clear that he is prepared to escalate the matter to the Punjab and Haryana High Court if the concert proceeds with these tracks.

He further criticized Dosanjh for performing such songs while wearing a pagadi, a traditional headgear that he believes should not be associated with promoting negative values.

The Ludhiana concert, which was added as a last-minute stop on Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati India Tour, marked the grand finale of his three-month nationwide performance schedule.

Initially, the tour was set to conclude in Guwahati, but the Ludhiana show was announced on December 23 and sold out within minutes of ticket sales opening.

In the days leading up to the Ludhiana performance, Diljit Dosanjh had already faced scrutiny in other cities for similar reasons.

During his concert in Hyderabad in November, he received a legal notice from the Telangana government, which cited a complaint about his performance of alcohol and violence-promoting songs.

Additionally, during his Indore show, the singer addressed the issue of black market ticket sales, defending himself against accusations that his tickets were being resold for inflated prices.

The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s song lyrics isn’t new. Earlier in the year, the singer made headlines for his comments on alcohol in his music.

During a performance in Ahmedabad, he promised that he would cease making songs about alcohol if the Indian government enacted a nationwide ban on liquor. “If all the states declare themselves as dry states, I promise I won’t sing about alcohol ever again,” Dosanjh stated.

Despite these ongoing legal challenges, Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati tour has been a major success, with tickets selling out quickly at every stop.

Amaravati, Dec 30: Law is equal for all, said Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Monday in his first reaction to the stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre which claimed the life of a woman during the premier show of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, and the subsequent arrest of actor Allu Arjun.

The actor-politician feels that police can’t be blamed as they act keeping safety and security in mind.

In an informal chat with reporters, the Jana Sena leader said that the theatre staff should have informed Allu Arjun in advance about the situation.

Pawan Kalyan was also of the opinion that if somebody from Allu Arjun’s side had reached out to the family of the victim immediately, this could have eased the tension and helped resolve the issue.

This was the first reaction of Pawan Kalyan to the December 4 incident that had led to the death of a woman and left her son critically injured.

The police had booked the theatre management, Allu Arjun and his team for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The actor was arrested on December 13 and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by a court. The Telangana High Court granted him interim bail the same day.

Allu Arjun is son of producer Allu Arvind, brother-in-law of Pawan Kalyan’s elder brother megastar Chiranjeevi.

Pawan Kalyan mentioned that in the past, even Chiranjeevi used to attend movie screenings with his fans, but he often wore a mask to avoid creating a stir.

Defending Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on the issue, Pawan Kalyan described him as a leader who has risen from humble beginnings.

Commenting on Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Pawan said, “Revanth Reddy is a great leader. He came up from a humble beginning. He didn’t do like YSRCP. He allowed benefit shows and permitted increases in ticket prices. The collections of movies rose with his cooperation,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said movies like ‘Salar’ and ‘Pushpa 2’ recorded huge collections. “CM Revanth extended full cooperation for ‘Pushpa 2’. Allowing increase in ticket prices also amounts to encouraging the film industry. In this case, I am not fully aware of what happened in front of or behind the scenes,” he added.

The actor-politician also refused to find fault with the police. “Law is equal for all. Police can’t be blamed in such incidents. They act keeping in mind the security. Theatre staff should have informed Allu Arjun in advance about the situation. When he had taken the seat, they should have informed him and escorted him out,” he said.

Pawan Kalyan also feels that it would have been better if someone from Allu Arjun’s side had reached out to the victim’s family. “They should have immediately assured the family that they will stand by them. They should have expressed regret over the incident that happened unintentionally. Somewhere the humane approach was missing in this case,” he said.

He believes that there was public anger after no one consoled the victim’s family. He also hastened to add that Allu Arjun too felt that a life was lost because of him.

“Cinema is a team work. It’s not correct to blame Allu Arjun alone. Revanth Reddy responded as the Chief Minister to the incident. Sometimes decisions are taken depending on the situation,” he added.

Mumbai, Dec 28: The teaser of the upcoming Salman Khan-starrer ‘Sikandar’ was unveiled on Saturday. It sets the tone for a quintessential Salman Khan film as the Bollywood superstar packs a punch.

The teaser begins with Salman walking into a hall decorated with guns and artifacts. The superstar’s back faces the camera with the hall dimly lit. The knights in armour are soon revealed to be assassins.

Salman goes on to say, “Suna hai bahut saare log mere peecche pade hain. Bas mere mudne ki der hai”.

The assassins deploy their weapons and attack Salman but he tackles all of them, setting the stage for a high-voltage showdown. Salman brims with charisma, power, and his trademark swag in the teaser.

The film marks his return to the big screen after more than a year. The superstar was last seen in ‘Tiger 3’. The teaser is further elevated by an electrifying background score composed by the acclaimed Santosh Narayanan, whose music perfectly complements the intensity and grandeur of the visuals.

The film is directed by A.R. Murugadoss, who is known for ‘Ghajini’, and also stars Rashmika Mandanna opposite Salman Khan. ‘Sikandar’ marks the reunion of Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala after their 2014 blockbuster, ‘Kick’, which also marked the directorial debut for the latter.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, ‘Sikandar’ promises to be a cinematic spectacle that blends action, drama, and emotion.

‘Sikandar’ is being developed with a strong focus on engaging storytelling and dynamic performances, setting the stage for yet another memorable Salman Khan performance.

Meanwhile, Rashmika, also has ‘Chhaava’ in the pipeline opposite Vicky Kaushal. In ‘Chhaava’, the actress will be seen in the role of Yeshubai Bhosle, wife of Sambhaji Maharaj along with Akshaye Khanna, Ashutosh Rana and Divya Dutta in supporting roles.