Jobaaj Stories
Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh believes India has the potential to host music festivals even bigger than renowned global events like Coachella. He shared this thought during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year's Day.
The two met at PM Modi's residence on Wednesday to discuss music, culture, and India’s rich artistic heritage. During their conversation, PM Modi asked Diljit about his experiences of performing at major international festivals like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where he performed in April 2023.
Diljit expressed that while festivals like Coachella have grown enormously, he believes India can take it a step further. “People travel from all over the world for such festivals. I feel that India can make it much bigger,” the 40-year-old artist said.
He went on to discuss India’s deep-rooted cultural connection to music, highlighting how even people without formal training often show remarkable talent. “Whether we are eating at a dhaba or listening to a song in Rajasthani, the melody is so beautiful that it makes me want to stop singing. The person isn’t professionally trained, yet their art is just as powerful,” Diljit said. He emphasized that if India fully harnesses its talent, music festivals in the country could become global landmarks.
PM Modi acknowledged Diljit's point and shared that he has been contemplating a similar vision for years. He mentioned an initiative, "Waves," referring to the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit, which will take place from February 5 to 9. This summit aims to establish India as a hub for global content creation, fostering collaborations and showcasing the country's creative industry.
"I believe India, as a large and diverse country, is the center of the world's film industry. We are now working to make India the heart of the creative world through Waves," PM Modi remarked.
The prime minister also reminisced about a conversation with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where he spoke about India's diverse music culture, highlighting how music changes with time of day and emotional context, and piqued Merkel’s interest.
Diljit also talked about his successful Dil-Luminati India Tour, which kicked off in New Delhi on October 26 and wrapped up in Ludhiana on December 31. The two-month tour saw him perform in various cities such as Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru. He described it as the "biggest ever tour from India," calling his experiences a deeper understanding of India's greatness.
PM Modi, in appreciation, noted that Indian people are inherently environmentally conscious and encouraged Diljit to promote this awareness through his performances. He also praised Diljit for staying grounded despite his immense popularity.
This meeting reflected both the nation's cultural pride and its ambitions to expand India's role as a global leader in the creative sector.
