The true Punjabi star

Diljit Dosanjh’s charisma is winning hearts and rightly so

Diljit Dosanjh has been garnering much love from Pakistani fans for championing cross-border solidarity in his shows, an act which has been the subject of the international public’s approval and delight. Praises for Dosanjh have been stretching to no limits recently, and Mohammed Hanif is now the newest passenger to board the bandwagon.

Opting for a Punjabi turn of phrase, the British-Pakistani author waxed lyrical about the singer in a video log uploaded to the channel BBC News Punjab.

Hanif first began expressing his concerns about the hesitation that Punjabis have been facing when it comes to embracing their ethnolinguistic identity. He spoke of the prevalence of this shame in older generations, especially those residing abroad who have chosen invisibility as both a fear response and a coping mechanism.

“On the one hand, you have Punjabi folks saving grace by branding themselves ‘Urdu-speaking’,” he said. “On the other hand, you have a boy from Jalandhar, Diljit Dosanjh, who is setting up large-scale concerts in Europe and America and letting his Punjabi vocals echo through the stadiums. He is proudly declaring himself to the world.”

The A Case Of Exploding Mangoes author highlighted the incredible extent of Dosanjh’s fame in simple words. “Wherever he goes in the world, stadiums fill up. His concert tickets become available for purchase, and they sell out within minutes. Not just this, but he often goes viral on social media for his sweet-talk.”

He further observed, “Diljit Dosanjh’s listeners are primarily desi (brown), though not all are Punjabi. They are those who belong to the nation yet have never seen Punjab in their lives. They might’ve just listened to the language in passing. Even so, they buy his expensive tickets and become Punjabi for a few hours. There are no restrictions in that regard. There’s only this sense of community that you assimilate into upon securing a ticket.”

Hanif went on to list other notable names hailing from the same province as him and Dosanjh. “Punjab is home to other famed singers as well. They’ve all had their fair share of popularity and success. But Diljit Dosanjh has this magic that allows him to set up a festival of Punjabis wherever he goes,” he said.

“It’s a straight-forward concept. Diljit has made Punjabis cool; they resonate with him,” he continued. “He has overturned the sentiments of those who associated shame with being Pubjabi or ‘paindu’. It’s as if he offered them an encouraging pat and reminded them that they’re Punjabi and they deserve to relish a taste of that.”

The 59-year-old journalist also suggested that even though Dosanjh belongs to the Dosanjh Kalan village, he is also a “global star” for the masses, that he belongs just as much to his international fanbase. “Just look at the concert lights, the stage, the background performers, and it becomes difficult to pin him to one place,” noted Hanif. “Diljit’s music definitely sells, but his Punjabi atmosphere sells more.”

Hanif further qualified Dosanjh as a leading act for the youth of today, praising the singer’s demeanour for staying true to his roots despite him wearing the “style” of a rockstar. “If you have parents who feel shameful to be Punjabi, you must show them a few clips from Diljit Dosanjh,” he urged. “Show them how this person has built up an international storm with his Punjabi. Because if he can be so thoroughly proud of who he is, why can’t we?”

The writer is not the only celebrity hailing from this side of the border who has showered the Indian singer with love and appreciation. Earlier, Dosanjh’s concert at the O2 Arena in London saw not just a passionate-as-ever crowd, but also a radiant Hania Aamir amongst the fans. But that’s not just it.

As evidenced by a viral clip circulating on social media platforms, the singer extended the actor an opportunity to climb up on stage and view the audience with him. Aamir gladly obliged, mounting the steps with Dosanjh by her side and happily greeting and thanking the audience.

The performer later posted highlights from the show to his Instagram handle – a carousel featuring the famed Pakistani actor. Aamir stood grinning brightly in a swarm of enthusiasts as she gazed up at the stage in awe, her palms pressed to her chest in wonder. Even the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum star shared a reel from the concert on her Stories, tagging Dosanjh and remarking, “Magic.”

To recall another pleasant exchange, during a Manchester concert, the Indian singer gifted a box of shoes to a Pakistani fan and declared that borders between the two countries are the work of politicians.

“A round of applause,” he requested in a video posted to his handle, as the fan introduced herself to the crowd. “Hindustan, Pakistan, for me everyone’s the same. Punjabis nurture love for all in our hearts. Everyone is welcomed at my shows, no matter if you’re from India or Pakistan.”