Honey Singh on 'no songs on alcohol' directive to Diljit: Make India dry state first

Singer-rapper Honey Singh weighs in on bans against alcohol references in songs, calling for a nationwide liquor ban instead. He argues that such themes are deeply rooted in Indian culture.

In Short

• Telangana and Chandigarh advised against alcohol references in songs
• Honey Singh criticised the advisories, calling them illogical
• Singh supports a campaign for a dry India, joking about alternative song themes

States like Telangana and Chandigarh issued advisories against the use of words related to alcohol and violence in songs during concerts, including performances by Diljit Dosanjh. Singer-rapper Honey Singh recently weighed in on the matter, questioning the logic behind these restrictions and suggesting a broader approach.

“Are they shutting down the liquor stores? No. They’re supposed to shut down the liquor stores, make them a dry state, and make India a dry country. Then we talk about it,” Singh said, adding that the advisory seemed like a “scam” given that liquor sales remain a major revenue source.

The singer, who has publicly shared that he no longer drinks, said he would fully support a campaign for a dry India. “I don’t drink now, so it’s a good cause. We’ll definitely join this campaign. We’ll sing a song about lassi, about chhaaj, about jal jeera. You know, something similar,” he added with a laugh.

When asked how he would adapt his iconic alcohol-themed songs, such as Char Bottle Vodka, Singh admitted it would be difficult. “There’s nothing going to be left in it. It’s just going to be an instrumental. It’s just going to be the beat,” he joked.

Singh also highlighted that alcohol references are deeply embedded in Indian culture, particularly Punjabi traditions. “It’s in the culture—madeera (alcohol). People have been drinking it for a long time. Even when we were kids, we listened to Apna Punjab Hove by Gurdas Maan. It talks about making alcohol at home. Gurdas Paaji is like a god of music for us, and he represented what we see in our culture.”

He explained that drinking culture extends beyond Punjab to Punjabi communities across India, including in Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. “We go to parties; people are drinking. We go to weddings; people are drinking. It’s in the culture, not just in Punjab but in every Punjabi community,” Singh added.

The debate over alcohol references in music gained traction after Diljit Dosanjh addressed a similar issue during his Ahmedabad concert in November. Referring to a notice he received from the Telangana government about avoiding mentions of alcohol during his Hyderabad show, Dosanjh called for a complete ban on liquor consumption.

“Let’s start a movement—if all states ban liquor consumption completely, I will never sing a song about alcohol again in my entire life. Is this possible?” Dosanjh said, urging a collective effort to address the issue.