- By Aanchal Sharma
- Wed, 19 Apr 2023 03:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
‘Punjabi aagaye Coachella oyeee!’
It was a historic day for Punjabis across the world on Sunday, who woke up to see their Instagram feeds swamped with videos of their very own ‘desi jatt’ Diljit Dosanjh performing at one of the world’s biggest and most popular music festivals, Coachella. The Punjabi singer enthralled the audiences with his moves, beats and enthusiasm, making it a night to remember and a historic day for Indian music.
What Is Coachella?
View this post on Instagram
Named after the valley it takes place in, Coachella is known for showcasing the most popular and biggest artists from around the world. Other than being the ‘IT’ place for American high-profile guests to come and let their hair down, Coachella is one of the largest, most famous, and most profitable music festivals in the world where the most in-demand musicians get to perform.
Diljit Dosanjh Creates History
View this post on Instagram
Known for his humbleness and modesty, Diljit Dosanjh scripted history by greeting the audiences with a ‘Sat Sri Akal ji’. With his performance at the Coachella 2023, the singing sensation became the first Indian artist ever to perform at the biggest music festival in the world. The singer is also the first Punjab-born Sikh man to have performed at the global stage.
Performing in a stellar line-up of world renowned artists including BLACKPINK, Bad Bunny, Blink-182 and Jackson Wang, Diljit Dosanjh’s performance certainly stood out for bringing Indian music at Coachella and making the world witness what it has been missing out on from decades.
Even on social media, Diljit Dosanjh’s performance at Coachella 2023 became the most viewed video on Coachella’s official Instagram account, with over 28 million views so far.
Why Is It A Big Deal?
Indian representation at the global stage has seen an exponential rise in the past few months. Getting nods at the Oscars, two Indians being named in the Times’ most influential people in the world’s list, Christian Dior’s fashion show at the Gateway of India and the million-dollar NMACC gala; India has been shining bright on the global map.
But why was Diljit Dosanjh performing at Coachella the most special one of them all? The answer is the relatability factor.
Over the years, Diljit Dosanjh has become a household name. Be it his relatable movie characters, authenticity that reflects in his interview or chartbuster beats that gets you grooving instantly; the singer has carved a niche for himself that has won over people globally.
Diljit Dosanjh’s success and stardom feels very personal. Not just for Punjab and Punjabis across the world, but even for Indians, who have for a decade, grooved to his chartbuster songs including Proper Patola, Lak 28, Ratt Di Gedi, 5 Taara, Do You Know… the list is endless.
For someone who has kept a check on his fans and their requests through his social media platforms, Diljit Dosanjh’s humour and wit makes him one of the most organic personalities to have resonated with the audiences.
An Ode To His Punjabi Roots
It wasn’t just his music that stood-out at the Coachella stage, but his fashionable tribute to Punjabi roots were a sight to behold. Diljit Dosanjh opted for a black kurta paired with a matching tamba; a traditional drape worn by Punjabi jatts.
With a pleated pagg, silver kundal and the quintessential kada, Diljit Dosanjh kept his Punjabi-ness roaring at the global stage.
The Power Of Diljit Dosanjh’s Music
View this post on Instagram
Music has one of the most important powers in the world: it binds people together across any limits. The impact of Diljit Dosanjh’s music is such that it has empowered an entire community into believing that nothing is impossible. A few years ago, no one could have thought about an Indian-born man making it to the number 1 on global charts, let alone performing in Coachella.
Diljit Dosanjh is a man of many firsts. The singer achieved the feat of becoming the biggest-selling Indian artist for a single concert at Arena Birmingham when he performed to an audience of over 9,000. In 2020, the singer’s music album G.O.A.T. became an international sensation and got the artist on the billboards of Times Square; the first for a Punjabi artist.
What’s Next For Diljit?
Diljit Dosanjh will next be seen in the biopic on Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film also stars Parineeti Chopra and revolves around the singer and his wife, who were both shot dead.
With music, movies, reels and much more going on for Diljit Dosanjh, the singer has indeed been, well, born to shine.