Life & Style

Atif Aslam’s concert cancelled due to Indian political party opposition

This is not the first time that the Sena has opposed performances by Pakistani artistes in India

Entertainment Desk April 22, 2015

Atif Aslam was all set to perform in Pune, India on April 25, but changed his mind after Indian political party, Shiv Sena threatened to take action if the event took place.

The singer who has charmed his way into the hearts of Pakistanis and Indians had to cancel his event because of strong opposition from India’s far-right regional political party. "The neighbouring country is sending terrorists to India, blasting bombs, attacking our Parliament, then how do we welcome their artistes," Chitrapat Sena (party’s cinema wing) leader Adesh Bandekar told Asian Age.

Late Bal Keshav Thackeray, founder of Shiv Sena

Organizer of the event Sanjay Sathe was in agreement of Adesh’s statement and told NDTV, “We are from the field of arts, we wanted to do it, but then the intention behind the cancellation is totally appropriate.” He further added, “We shall always remain patriotic. As Balasaheb has said 'Be patriotic and put the nation first', and thereby, at the larger level we had to cancel the show."

There was a general consensus when it came to the show’s cancellation. "Shiv Sena has always been against Pakistan and the motive behind canceling the event is to show that Pakistan is traitor. The organizers praised our stand and with a big heart scrapped the event," said Hadapsar MLA Mahadev Babar.

Over 1000 tickets for the event had been sold, which will be refunded. Surprisingly, the political party has yet to protest against Atif's next performance scheduled in Ahmedabad on May 10.

According to Asian Age, this is not the first time that the Sena has opposed performances by Pakistani artistes in India. They had earlier opposed noted singer Gulam Ali and the Meekal Hasan Band who were supposed to perform at the Mumbai Press Club. It had also protested against the inclusion of Pakistani television host and cross-dresser Begum Nawazish Ali and actor Veena Malik in the show Big Boss in 2010. It also disrupted a Sindhi Sufi music show in Delhi in 2014.

COMMENTS (22)

Malatesh | 8 years ago | Reply Because of wrong policies of the country, its citizens are suffering. No doubt that Pakistan has very talented people. Neither the world welcomes them due to Pakistan's state policies nor they find proper platform in their own country. Wake up now.

N.Sid | 8 years ago | Reply @Sachin: This is a corporate world. Artist from Pakistan wouldn't have invited if the producers, marketers, directors didn't think they are commercially viable. They are into films because the people accept them for a number of reasons, and admire them as well. It is not possible every person like and dislike someone, there would always be grey areas. Also many Indians who visits Pakistan is also on a commercial tour and not on charity. Mika singh performed in Lahore and Karachi and earned crores. Shabana Azmi was here also in some joint venture films, Nasseruddin Shah, performed at NAPA and lectures not as a goodwill gesture alone, but was payed handsomely. No such thing as a free lunch these days. Many Pakistani singers also performs at charity functions in India, and attends awards ceremonies and talk shows, and didn't take money. I came to know that Nusrat Fateh Ali khan didn't ask for any money, for Indian songs, all his income was from the concerts and musical shows. Humble and strategic gesture at the ssame time from him. Didn't know about now, he is not visiting India, Dubai is the place where sings got recorded or some neutarl venue.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Lord of the Ring | 8 years ago | Reply And here Indian movies are allowed to make money at the loss of Pakistani film industry

Deeptangshu Maiti | 8 years ago | Reply One of my favourite singer . Not expected from India. We are a country with diversities . We know how to accept people but reading this is making me think again .Should have welcomed him with warmth.

Sachin | 8 years ago | Reply @pity: those who you welcomed were guests and not making money nor were employed in Pakistan. I personally against the view of this political party but don't compare apple with oranges. So many Pakistani guests, reporters, business man, artist comes to India at many occasions and no one objects to it but political party's instance is against employing Pakistani artist who enjoy to make money here and then they make fun & criticize Indian film industry & society when they go back also they oppose due to pakistan's non state actors role in Mumbai attack while govt of Pakistan has been least interested in catching the perpetrators despite the fact that India & US has provided many evidence against them. @Common Citizen: you forgot to mentioned toilets & poverty.

Indian Guy | 8 years ago | Reply This is horrible news. But I hope my Pakistani brothers/sisters realize that those Shiv Sena people share a bigoted mind with the likes of Hafiz Saeed. We should not look at each others countries through the eyes of those loonies. Instead we should give more credit to events like Naseeruddin Shah being respected in Lahore or Fawad Khan winning Filmfare, etc. This way the good people on both sides could win over the evil ones.

Haroon | 8 years ago | Reply Sunny Ji, Your media doesn't report when your artists perform in Pakistan. I don't know what pains them. Mika Singh was in Lahore and Karachi for his concert. Just Google it. Om Puri was in Lahore few weeks ago. India is not allowing Pakistani TV in India. What you are doing is buying few selective plays for cheap and showing it to Indian audience making sure that those plays are not shown which were copied by Bollywood and made into movies. You are also preparing indian TV to produce better dramas to beat Pakistani TV.

truth | 8 years ago | Reply Are these people the true face of India. I have to conclude yes because its not just any individual like this living in india, spitting hatred for neighbours but there are many popular parties like RSS, BJP, Shev sena, etc who have full support of Indian masses and are full of hatred against the sovereign neighbouring state. Its better to digest notion and existence of Pakistan instead of being in the STATE OF DENIAL.

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply @Kabuli: India is a very bigoted, communal and xenophobic nation. Their news media are big hypocrites. Hope Australia takes note of this and shows India a mirror when the so called educated Indians keep crying in the media about racism in Australia. What if Australia banned AR rahman in Australia?

Sadia | 8 years ago | Reply That's sad but I will not like to condemn all Indians for this act. From what I have seen, they admire our artists very much. Just like Hafiz Saeed doesn't represent all Pakistanis, I don't think that Shive Sena represents the mentality of all Indians. To my fellow Pakistanis! Please stop briging Afridi comment. I literally cringe every time I read it. Let's admit it was in bad taste. One shouldn't disrespect their hosts like that.

lancersboy | 8 years ago | Reply Shiv Sena is ideological child of RSS,same as BJP is ideological child of RSS,only difference,Shiv Sena is its military wing where BJP is her political facade.Is NAMO so powerless that he cannot stop shenanigans of Shiv Sena,its all through conivance and understanding,with a sweat nod from Narendra Modi. Pakistanies are in delusion as far as India's real face is concerned,Chankia cannot and will never be Pakistan's well wisher.

Sunny | 8 years ago | Reply Such incident only strengthen extremists here, the slogans become more appealing when they say "Why we allow Indian movies to be screened in Pakistan when India does not allow Pakistani movies to be screen there and deprive us of the small foreign exchange we have ?" "Why we allow their TV channels here when they don't ?" "Why we allow their commercials here when they don't ?" "Why their artists are welcomed wholeheartedly when ours are not ?" "Why are we allowing trade with them when there is deficit to us ?" "Why our media promotes Indian history (Nawabs, Rajas) /culture (Cities) /tourism etc, when they don't ?" and so on... If such incidents continue, reactions here will soon get violent too

VJ Yousafali | 8 years ago | Reply It is really sad that a famous singer of Bollywood Films is banned from performing at Pune in Maharashtra only due to Shiv Sena protests. My question to Adesh Bandekar from Sena, if you are so much against Paki artist performing in India, then how come Paki artists songs are played at Public religious functions like Ganpati, Nav Ratri, Styanarayan Puja etc. in whole of Maharashtra where Sena is strongly present. How come films in which Paki artist perform are released all over Maharashtra and there is not a whimper from the Sena then? Can Adesh ask Udhav Thakaray how come Bal Thakaray had hosted Javed Miandad at his residence when he was playing in Bombay back in 90's. Had Balaji forgotten Javed Mian was not an Indian? Sena is known for its hypocrisy in Maharashtra but due to their goondaism people tolerate them.

kulwant singh | 8 years ago | Reply Dr.s Lahore My dear friend Shiv sena does not represent all Indians as Zaid Hamid is not Pakistan,Atif Aslam is great artist and we love him and he will always be remembered due to his art but no one know Shiv sena out side Maharastra and these people dare not travel out side Maharastra as they know that the people will greet them with rotten eggs and tomatos. I am sorry for for such treatment.

Anon | 8 years ago | Reply @Kabuli: Maybe you should also KICK all those fans of Pakistani artists who reside in India. HOW DARE they buy tickets correct. How petty minded can you be. Makes me laugh.

Faisal | 8 years ago | Reply It would be much better if the moderator kick that @Kabuli out of this comments section

dr.S(lahore) | 8 years ago | Reply @kabuli: many indian artists come in pakistan usually in lahore or karachi we welcome them and treat them with respect.. many afghans not only come here but staying here as refugees and earning their livelihood, we Pakistanis respect them and consider them our brothers who seek refuge here because of problems in their homeland.. when we ask the to leave and go back home, we talk about repatriation with dignity . We don not "kick them out"

Afghan | 8 years ago | Reply @Kabuli: What do you mean by 'kick those artist out of India too!'?. Which other country has done that? If you are refering to Afghanistan, then please cite an example!

Common Citizen | 8 years ago | Reply Do I need to say here again : "Largest democrazy in the world."

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Afridi was right all along. Small heart people

Kabuli | 8 years ago | Reply Well done guys! Great move, kick those artist out of India too!

Pity | 8 years ago | Reply Indians have such small hearts? What about Atithi Devo Bhava? While in Pakistan, Pakistanis have welcomed Mika, Om Puri Sahab, Raza Murad sahab, Mahesh Bhatt sahab in our country with open arms.

Replying to X