Kashmir Celebrates Music and Freedom: NDTV Good Times Concert Showcases Valley's Cultural Revival Despite Boycott Attempts

NDTV Good Times will showcase iconic artists across various cities in a series of special concerts.

The NDTV Good Times Sunday concert in Kashmir featured Bollywood star Sonu Nigam alongside local talents, highlighting the Valley's artistic vibrancy and resilient spirit. Despite attempts to spread false narratives online claiming poor attendance, locals quickly refuted these claims, asserting that the "boycott brigade failed" as Kashmir demonstrated a "new melody of peace, progress, and pride."

A social media user on X shared: "Three artists. One stage. Thousands of hearts beating as one. Two of them born of the valley didn't miss the chance to make Kashmir go beyond myths and propaganda. While radicals tried to script fear, Kashmir wrote a new melody of peace, progress, and pride. The false narrative burned down in the echoes of music and happiness that filled Dal Lake."

The post mentioned that more than 5,000 Kashmiri youth "rose above intimidation" to attend the event.

"Their voices sang louder than threats, their spirit brighter than fear. This wasn't just a concert, it was Kashmir's declaration of change. The valley has moved on from conflict to confidence, from silence to song. Naya Kashmir has found its rhythm and the world is finally listening," the post continued.

Addressing misleading videos circulating online that showed sparse attendance, another user clarified: "This is a fake narrative. There were a lot of locals from #Kashmir at the concert. It's just that they bought expensive seats, and many were on free passes. The videos circulating are from the standing zone." The user also shared footage from the lounge section showing a substantial crowd.

BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya praised the event as a "spectacular" success that proceeded despite calls for boycott from certain quarters. He highlighted the "impressive turnout, including young women in hijab, who came to celebrate music and freedom." Malviya also noted what he called a "tragic irony" that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah did not attend, suggesting he was "perhaps fearing backlash from radical elements."

The 'Music and Freedom' concert took place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) beside Dal Lake in Srinagar, marking the first major musical event in the Valley since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Sonu Nigam headlined the show with a tribute to legendary singer Mohammed Rafi. During his performance, Nigam respectfully paused for the Azaan (call to prayer), earning appreciation from the audience.

Kashmiri singer Qazi Touqeer, winner of Fame Gurukul in 2005, opened the concert and entertained the crowd by performing push-ups while singing. Fellow local artist Rauhan Malik also performed original compositions.

The NDTV Good Times concert series will continue across multiple cities with renowned performers. AR Rahman is scheduled to perform at the sacred ghats of the Ganges in Varanasi, while Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy will bring their distinctive musical style to audiences. Popular singers Jubin Nautiyal and Neha Kakkar are also lined up to energize fans with their performances.