'Are we really a poor nation?': Internet debates as X post claims Indians spent 'Rs 50,000 a night' on Coldplay concert
Meta: India's concert culture has seen a huge shift in the recent few months, and we have Diljit Dosanjh and Coldplay to thank. However, the high prices of tickets have also come under scrutiny. An X post has now gone viral questioning if India is really a poor nation, given Indians managed to spend a hefty amount on a single night of entertainment.
The Indian concert scene is thriving, with top artists like Diljit Dosanjh and international acts like Coldplay drawing huge crowds. Fans are eagerly waiting in virtual queues to snag tickets and experience an unforgettable night of music and entertainment. Despite high ticket prices, Coldplay's Ahmedabad shows at the Narendra Modi Stadium sold out, accommodating nearly 1.5 lakh people. Amid the frenzy, a viral post on X has sparked a debate, questioning if India is really a poor nation, and netizens are sharing their thoughts on the matter.
X posts questions if India is a poor nation amid thriving concert culture
Coldplay tickets for their 2025 concerts in India, as part of their Music of the Spheres world tour, were priced between ?2,500 and ?35,000, with the higher end being for VIP lounge passes. Considering that fans travelled from all over the country to attend one concert, the total cost, including accommodation, would have been approximately ?50,000.
Highlighting the same, an X post has garnered netizens' attention, which also claims the British band $50 million from their India tour. The post, shared by an X user who went by the name Satyam Chauhan, questioned India's poverty status, given Indians managed to splurge a whopping amount for just 'a single night of entertainment.' The post read, "Coldplay made a whopping $50M from their India tour. In a country with a GDP per capita of just $2200, people are spending ?50,000 for a single night of entertainment. Are we really a poor nation, or just poor on paper?"
Coldplay made a whopping $50M from their India tour.
¡ª Satyam Chauhan (@chauhantwts) January 27, 2025
In a country with a GDP per capita of just $2200, people are spending ?50,000 for a single night of entertainment.
Are we really a poor nation, or just poor on paper?
"A poor nation with rich people': Netizens debate
The X post, shared on January 27, has now gone viral, garnering over 10,000 likes and 1000 comments, with netizens debating the matter.
One netizen called India "a rich country with poor people," and another wrote, "We are just a showoff nation.".
A rich country with poor people
¡ª B Singh ? (@bissuusingh) January 27, 2025
We are just a showoff nation
¡ª Opportunistinvestor (@Sudheep8531) January 28, 2025
A third user added, "Capitalism hits different when Coldplay tickets cost more than some folks' monthly salary. Crazy how we'll break the bank for four dudes singing about fixing the world."
Capitalism hits different when Coldplay tickets cost more than some folks' monthly salary. Crazy how we'll break the bank for four dudes singing about fixing the world
¡ª Serkan Glatt (@serkanglatt) January 28, 2025
"India has multiple Singapores within it; they spend a lot. The rest of India is still quite poor," a fourth commented.
India has multiple Singapore within it, they spend a lot
¡ª Capt Shashank (@Capt_Cool1) January 27, 2025
Rest of India is still quite poor
Another X user added, "There is no wealth at the bottom of the pyramid¡ªjust the poor getting impoverished and being crushed. Of course, there is total opulence at the apex of the pyramid."
There is no wealth at the bottom of the pyramid ¨C just the poor getting impoverished and being crushed.
¡ª KBS Sidhu, ex-IAS ?? (@kbssidhu1961) January 28, 2025
Of course, there is total opulence at the apex of the pyramid.
"We are not a poor nation but a poorly managed nation!" an individual opined.
We r not a poor nation but a poorly MANAGED NATION!
¡ª jayashreesridhar ?? (@eruditedoc) January 28, 2025
Not everyone agreed with the X user's post, with some netizens arguing that in a country with a massive population of over a billion people, it's not surprising that a small segment of people can afford to spend around ?50,000 on entertainment.
"The crowd that attended will be well over $20,000+ per capita, comprising a minuscule % of the total population of India. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that enough people have disposable income in India to make a Coldplay concert financially viable," one X user reasoned.
The crowd that attended will be well over $20000+ per capita comprising a minuscule % of the total population of India. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that enough people have disposable income in India to make a Coldplay concert financially viable.
¡ª notional_reality (@turning_axis) January 28, 2025
Another commented, "I ate dinner worth ?700 yesterday, while many people might have gone to bed hungry. So all Indians are rich or poor? Brother, India is a country with 1.4 billion people, and you are generalizing based on just 1 lakh people. You will find all kinds of people in India."
I ate dinner worth ?700 yesterday, while many people might have gone to bed hungry. so all Indians are rich or poor?
¡ª Ayushh (@ayushh_it_is) January 28, 2025
Brother, India is a country with 1.4 billion people, and you are generalizing based on just 1 lakh people. You will find all kinds of people in India.
One netizen stated, "Indians are so many in number that even a tiny fraction of Indians who are rich makes a huge number."
Indians are so many in number that even a tiny fraction of Indians who are rich makes a huge number.
¡ª Rishabh (@Rishabh_Saxenaa) January 28, 2025
"India is a country of 1.5 billion people. Of that, 90% is poor. The remaining 10%, or 150 million, is rich. So the amount of rich people is higher than in most developed countries. That's why tours such as this are successful," another user mentioned.
India is a country of 1.5 billion people. Of that 90% is poor. The remaining 10% or 150 million is rich. So the amount of rich people is higher than most developed countries. That's why tours such as this are successful.
¡ª Varun (@airravata) January 28, 2025
Did Coldplay make $50M from their India tour?
It is worth noting that there are no official figures revealing how much Coldplay earned from their India tour. The British band, comprising Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, and Will Champion, held five shows in India: 3 in Mumbai and 2 in Ahmedabad.
For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.
As an Entertainment Content Writer with 3+ Years of experience, I have been keeping a keen eye on who wore what. A self confessed Koreaboo, I am your fangirl next door. Ps: I take pride in saying that I grew up watching "It's Controversial" as a kid.
Read More