His remarks have reignited the debate over live singing and the responsibility of performers towards their audiences.
How the Daler Mehndi Controversy Started
The controversy began during Daler Mehndi’s performance at the Kunjapuri Mela in Uttarakhand. Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal reportedly walked onto the stage during the performance and questioned the singer’s style of singing.
The minister alleged that Daler Mehndi was lip-syncing instead of singing live. Expressing his displeasure in front of the audience, Uniyal said people had come to the event to listen to the artist perform.
He also claimed that Daler Mehndi had been paid Rs 35 lakh for the programme. A video of the incident subsequently surfaced on social media and triggered widespread discussion.
Abhijeet Bhattacharya Supports Subodh Uniyal
During a live performance in Chhattisgarh, Abhijeet referred to the controversy without directly taking Daler Mehndi’s name. He told the audience that performers should not be allowed to lip-sync under the pretext of singing live.
Referring to Subodh Uniyal’s intervention, Abhijeet said the minister was right to question why an artist invited to sing live was not actually singing. He also remarked that the minister was later portrayed as the villain following the incident.
‘I May Sing Badly, But I Will Sing Live’
Making his position clear, Abhijeet said he would never deceive his audience by simply moving his lips to a recorded track.
He explained that his voice might not always be perfect. He could be tired, have a sore throat or even sing off-key, but he would still perform live on stage.
The singer added that he respects his listeners and does not want to break their trust by pretending to sing.
Abhijeet Says Artists Must Respect Their Audiences
Abhijeet also highlighted the effort and money audiences invest in attending live programmes. He pointed out that people spend their valuable time and hard-earned money to watch their favourite performers.
He further said that organising a live show involves the hard work of several people behind the scenes. Therefore, artists have a responsibility to deliver an authentic performance rather than simply lip-syncing to recorded music.
Debate Over Live Performances Intensifies
Several artists had earlier come forward in support of Daler Mehndi amid the controversy, while Subodh Uniyal also faced criticism and reactions over his intervention.
Although Abhijeet did not directly mention Daler Mehndi, his comments are being linked to the Kunjapuri Mela incident. His strong remarks have once again brought the issue of authenticity in live musical performances into the spotlight.
