Arijit Singh’s Rang De Tu Mohe ‘Gerua’ Song Paints New Political Colour; Show Cancelled

New Delhi: Political slugfests on ‘Saffron’ colour has again on volante but this is of a different note. This time the political row over colour led to the cancellation of singer Arijit Singh’s February 18 concert in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress Party-led West Bengal government has denied permission for Arijit’s concert citing a G-20 event in the same area. But BJP’s Amit Malviya said it’s because Arijit Singh sang ‘Rang de tu mohey gerua’ — literal translation: ‘Colour me saffron’ — in front of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a recent event. He was apparently alluding to Ms Banerjee disliking his party, the BJP, which pitches saffron as the colour of its ‘Hindu Nationalist’ ideology.

Asked why the concert has been cancelled, state minister Firhad Hakim said, “The event marking India’s G-20 presidency will take place at the convention hall just opposite Eco Park (venue for Arijit Singh’s concert). Several foreign dignitaries are likely to attend that event.”

If reports are to be believed, at Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) 2022, Arijit Singh sang a line from the song ‘Rang de tu mohe Gerua’ in the presence of Mamata Banerjee.

The song is from Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dilwale and is one of the singer’s most popular numbers.

Days later, news emerged that Arijit Singh’s concert, which was scheduled to be held on February 18, was cancelled after police denied permission. This set off a political slugfest between the opposition BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).