T-Series is one of India’s largest producers and distributors for music. A lot of the time when Pakistani singers work in Bollywood, they record for T-Series.
Following the Pulwama Attack, the head of an extremist Hindu organization threatened Indian music companies to stop working with Pakistani musicians. T-Series was one of the first to react by taking down all songs sung by Pakistani musicians on their YouTube channel.
T-Series has removed all videos of Pakistani singer Atif Aslam from its YouTube channel – this it did after a warning from Raj Thackeray and his rightwing political group to Bollywood to stop working with Pakistani singers and artistes
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) February 17, 2019
This move by T-Series follows a wave that has been going through Bollywood.
It began with Kangana Ranaut talking about the destruction of Pakistan, which was followed by Ajay Devgn deciding not to release their movie in Pakistan at all.
Indians, of course, lauded the decision.
@TSeries it may be a tuff decision to boycot pakistan singers but It is appreciable step. It shoes Patriotism. 👍
— Harish Chauhan (@Harishcallu143) February 17, 2019
Along with T-Series, Crickbuzz stopped coverage of the PSL after Pulwama.
Cricbuzz and T series are the best examples of what should be done with Pakistan on online platforms #cricbuzz
— Arjun (@me_arjn) February 17, 2019
Pakistanis, however, saw the light side of this.
T Series India has removed Pakistani artists while Pakistan is showing Indian movies in their cinemas 💚 🇵🇰
— godblessthishotmess 🎶 (@Abdullah_hun) February 18, 2019
The PewDiePie vs T-Series battle is getting all sorts of political now.
time to resubscribe to pewdiepie
— t (@taiiiba) February 18, 2019
Attention all Pakistanis. In order to protest against India, stop T-Series from taking over youtube. Unsubscribe from T-Series and Subscribe to Pewdiepie. Please make it fast. Spread the word. #Pakistan #PakistanZindabad #SubscribeToPewdipie
— Syed Usama Rehman (@usamajr9) February 17, 2019
Unsub T-series and subscribe pewdiepie if you love Pakistan. https://t.co/mRufTVlSj5
— R. (@AjeebBaatHay) February 17, 2019
Unsubscribing has clearly become the new-age weapon of choice.
Unsubscribed The Kapil Sharma Show.
Unsubscribed Zee Tv.
Unsubscribed T-Series.UNSUBSCRIBE ALL INDIAN CHANNELS SPREADING HATE AND PROPAGANDA AGAINST PAKISTAN.THAT'S IT.
THAT'S A MISSION FOR TODAY.— Shehryar Ali Khan (@_Sak023) February 18, 2019
Pakistanis didn’t miss a chance to make a joke.
The irony of the whole situation wasn’t lost on people.
T-series removes songs of Atif Aslam. Cricbuzz removes videos related to Pakistani Cricket. Dehli Cricket Club takes down picture of IK. Bollywood biggies calling for distruction of Pakistan.
Reality of secular, inclusive & liberal India. #PulawamaAttack
— Muhammad Naeem Mohiuddin (@naeem_mohiuddin) February 17, 2019
The decision didn’t make a lot of sense to Pakistanis.
The artists are already paid. T-series won’t be generating as much money from its YouTube channel as before. Not really a loss for Pakistan. But thank you Bhushan Kumar. https://t.co/3bJVYAOUuJ
— Ali Raza (@AliRazarizvi34) February 17, 2019
While some laughed it off, it wasn’t funny for others.
Saaray kuch keh kar, this one comment truly speaks to us.
This isn’t the first time India has used Bollywood and art to send a message to Pakistan. It’s rather unfortunate that this time, Indian actors, producers, and distributors have joined in. This cycle of banning and un-banning is continuous and well, it’s getting kinda annoying and dumb. The exchange between Indians and Pakistanis, in terms of music, TV shows and films have been free of politics and has been an exchange built on love.
Art, music, and film need to stop being the very first target in India-Pakistan tensions. Really, bohat hogaya hai.
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Cover Photo Courtesy: bbc.co.uk and vox.com