Prateek Kuhad Performed At Shaheen Bagh In Solidarity With Protesters And It Was Priceless

Just a few weeks ago, an anti-CAA placard in a Prateek Kuhad concert had grabbed eyeballs and for all the right reasons. And now, life completes a full circle as Prateek Kuhad himself showed up for a live performance as part of showing solidarity with the protestors.

omg pic.twitter.com/868z1npME3

¡ª jhumkawali (@jhumkawali) December 23, 2019

The Shaheen Bagh protests entered the 52nd day on 5th February but there was something unique about it as well. Singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad took over the stage and performed in solidarity with the Shaheen Bagh protestors.

View this post on Instagram

Singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad (@prateekkuhad) took part in ¡°Artists Against Communalism¡±, an impromptu festival organised by independent artists in support of Shaheen Bagh. The festival started on February 2 and is expected to continue till February 8, the date Delhi votes. The collective, while kicking off the festival, had said that this is their response to the growing hostility against the protesters at Shaheen Bagh. Other artists who performed at the protest-site include Shubha Mudgal, Kusha Kapila, Lifafa, Ankur Tewari, Peter Cat Recording Co and Anushka Manchanda. Video by @tiputhesulthan . . . #PrateekKuhad #shaheenbagh #delhi #delhiprotests #delhielection #ArtistsAgainstCommunalism #ankurtewari #AnushkaManchanda

A post shared by (@shaheen._bagh)

He sang his popular song, 'Dil Beparvah' for the protestors.

Not many know that Kuhad was one of the performers among a collective of artists who expressed solidarity at Shaheen Bagh in a 'call for artists.'

The collective also included other artists like Kusha Kapila, Lifafa, Ankur Tewari, Peter Cat Recording Co, Anushka Manchanda, and other prominent artists. A poster that had details of the artist collective read:

View this post on Instagram

With the run-up to the Delhi elections and constant threats (and incidents) of violence, the next few days will be critical for the #ShaheenBaghProtest. Let's thwart every force that tries to bring us down through art, theatre, and music, with this line up of some of our favourite artistes. February 2nd-7th at Shaheen Bagh. We hope to see you with us. Please share widely. ? . . #ArtistsAgainstCommunalism #ArtistsAgainstHate #ArtistsBagh #ShaheenBagh #golinahiphool

A post shared by (@shaheenbaghoff1)

"With the run-up to the Delhi elections and constant threats (and incidents) of violence, the next few days will be critical for the #ShaheenBaghProtest. Let's thwart every force that tries to bring us down through art, theatre, and music, with this line up of some of our favorite artists. February 2nd-7th at Shaheen Bagh. We hope to see you with us."

People were all praises for the singer and the initiative in totality and everyone lauded the move.

You've attended @prateekkuhad concerts, but you've never seen one like this!#ShaheenBaghProtest #CAA_NRC_Protests pic.twitter.com/lmWqxoAlp2

¡ª We The People of India (@ThePeopleOfIN) February 5, 2020

So proud of Prateek Kuhad today! Next one - Lifafa! Support the shit out of Shaheen bagh guys!!!! ???

¡ª BINDI BITCHES (@AavaariBanjaarn) February 5, 2020

Prateek Kuhad was at the Shaheen bagh protest a few hours back. Protestors sang their heart out with him. I am gonna cry.

¡ª commie-rad yeehaw (@InshaHusain) February 5, 2020

Prateek Kuhad at Shaheen Bagh.
That's it that's the tweet@prateekkuhad #prateekkuhad

¡ª Resist (@ilyassism) February 5, 2020

"dekh raftar-e-inqalab 'firaq',
kitni ahista aur kitni tez" ?

Prateek Kuhad. Shaheen Bagh.
Feb 5, 2020. 10:30 PM#CAA_NRC_Protests pic.twitter.com/qqGbTMSCee

¡ª p. (@pepper_smoker) February 5, 2020

@prateekkuhad extending solidarity at #ShaheenBaghProtest today pic.twitter.com/emDgoySUnM

¡ª Fateh Veer Singh Guram (@GuramBhaaji) February 5, 2020

However, some people also pointed out that many took it as an opportunity to treat this important initiative as a free Prateek Kuhad concert.

All the people who have never said anything in support of the people of Shaheen Bagh and have never talked about how wrong CAA/NRC is but have gone to Shaheen Bagh today because Prateek Kuhad and OMFG free concert, FUCK YOUUUU BC.

¡ª I CAAn't even (@restingwoeface) February 5, 2020

Can¡¯t believe the number of people who had just come to Shaheen Bagh for Prateek Kuhad. At least have the fucking decency to stick around and listen to the people protesting. Just awful.

¡ª Manan Kapoor (@MananKapo) February 5, 2020

While Prateek's motive was to call everyone for the support, many took it as a chance to listen to his music live, for free.

Prateek Kuhad isn't the only one who stood up in solidarity with the protestors. Here are a few more powerful and moving performances that will remain memorable.

View this post on Instagram

Singer and poet Aamir Aziz (@aamir.aziz.3785) showcased his nazm 'Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega' at the ¡°Artists Against Communalism¡± program, an impromptu festival organised by independent artists in support of Shaheen Bagh. Delhi's Shaheen Bagh will soon complete two months of sit-in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, since it was passed by the Assembly in December 2019. The festival started on February 2 and is expected to continue till February 8, the date Delhi votes. The collective, while kicking off the festival, had said that this is their response to the growing hostility against the protesters at Shaheen Bagh. Other artists who performed at the protest-site include Shubha Mudgal, Kusha Kapila, Lifafa, Ankur Tewari, Peter Cat Recording Co, Prateek Kuhad and Anushka Manchanda. Video by @tiputhesulthan . . . #PrateekKuhad #shaheenbagh #delhi #delhiprotests #delhielection #ArtistsAgainstCommunalism #ankurtewari #AnushkaManchanda

A post shared by (@shaheen._bagh)

View this post on Instagram

Kunal Kamra, Hussain Haidry, Ankur Tewari, Aamir Aziz and others joined today's protest at Shaheen Bagh. . . . . . . .#notocab #notonrc #notonpr #bbc #cnn #alzajeera #bbchindi #protest #jamia #jamiamilliaislamia #nrc #npr #unitednations #uno #ndtv #follow #newyear #artist #india #zeeshan #nuvo #swarabhaskar #ravishkumar #shaheenbagh #delhi #capital #uppolice #jnuattack #instagood #instagram @stand_with_jamia_millia @diary_of_jamian_2.0 @mehfil_e_jamia @we_are_jamians @diary_of_jamian @a.r_clicker @ittz_raghib @thewhitecompass @kanhaiyakumar @reallyswara @mohdzeeshanayyub @arvindkejriwal @msisodia.aap @_yogendrayadav @bhimarmychief @theprintindia @thequint

A post shared by (@shaheen._bagh)

View this post on Instagram

Feature pop-star and pop girl group Viva! member Anushka Manchanda (@anushkadisco) took part in ¡°Artists Against Communalism¡±, an impromptu festival organised by independent artists in support of Shaheen Bagh. She performed AR Rahman-composed 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' at the protest. The festival started on February 2 and is expected to continue till February 8, the date Delhi votes. The collective, while kicking off the festival, had said that this is their response to the growing hostility against the protesters at Shaheen Bagh. Other artists who performed at the protest-site include Shubha Mudgal, Kusha Kapila, Lifafa, Ankur Tewari, Peter Cat Recording Co and Prateek Kuhad. Video by @tiputhesulthan . . . . . #PrateekKuhad #shaheenbagh #delhi #delhiprotests #delhielection #ArtistsAgainstCommunalism #ankurtewari #AnushkaManchanda

A post shared by (@shaheen._bagh)