AN acclaimed Punjabi rapper who was brutally shot dead in broad daylight last month in India was planning to perform at a mega concert in Bahrain, according to organisers.
Hundreds of fans were expected to attend the October gig of Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot multiple times by unidentified gunmen on May 29 in Punjab’s Mansa district.
The 28-year-old was driving his SUV at the time of the incident and died on his way to Mansa Civil hospital.
His cousin and a friend, who were travelling with him, were injured.
The singer even recorded a special message in 2020 in which he said he was looking forward to perform in Bahrain.
“The show was originally planned to be held in April 2020 and even tickets were printed,” said Avi Kaur who was in direct communication with the singer’s management team.
The concert was organised by Ms Kaur’s husband, Bahrain resident Dilbagh Singh Dhillon, in association with Yellow Paint International Media.
“Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions the show had to be postponed and we were planning to organise the mega concert in October this year.
“The show would have concluded his 2022 world tour.”
The singer had also planned concerts next month in Canada and the US.
Ms Kaur said like many of the singer’s fans she was shocked to hear about his death.
“We were eagerly looking out for a bigger venue because Sidhu has a massive fan following among Indians and Pakistanis.”
Ms Kaur and her husband later partnered with Starvision Events and Media group to organise the October concert.
“We were excited to bring in Sidhu Moose Wala to Bahrain,” said company chairman and chief executive Sethuraj Kadakkal.
Ms Kaur added that they have organised another concert on July 29 and 30 featuring popular Punjabi folk singer Jaswinder Brar and Varinder Aulak at the Indian School Bahrain.
Incidentally, the slain singer was a big fan of Ms Brar who is famous for her strong voice and bold lyrics.
Sidhu’s murder occurred a day after the Punjab state government scaled back his security cover.
His death sparked anger among his fans globally, with even Canadian rapper Drake paying a heartfelt tribute to the pop star.
The Punjabi singer’s last track, The Last Ride, was released weeks before his death, with more than 81 million views on YouTube.
It is reportedly a tribute to his idol, Tupac Shakur, with the video featuring the iconic crime scene where the 25-year-old American rapper was shot in his BMW.
Tupac died on September 13, 1996, six days after an unknown gunman in a white Cadillac shot him four times in the chest at a traffic light in Las Vegas.
Mr Sidhu started his musical journey in 2016 in Canada where he was pursuing higher studies and released more than 60 singles and three albums making him a household name among the Sikh diaspora in India and globally.
The controversial singer was in the news for allegedly promoting gun violence in Punjab and often brandished guns in his music videos.
There were police cases registered against him, though he was never charged.
Following investigations across several states, three people, including two men who gunned down the singer, were arrested by the Delhi Police special cell.
Investigators have maintained that the murder relates to a complex web of gang-related violence in Punjab, and have so far named two alleged key conspirators – Canada-based Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in jail in India.
sandy@gdnmedia.bh
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