Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has once again found himself at the centre of a whirlwind of social media chatter. This time, however, the trigger is not just a song or a film appearance, but a music video that many believe carries a political subtext. The newly released clip for the track “Devil”, from his project “I’m an Artist Bro”, has sparked comparisons with the student protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Fans have been quick to point out that the imagery in the video — young protesters, placards, police presence and confrontations — mirrors the visuals that emerged from the protest site.

Diljit’s association with the phrase “I’m an Artist Bro” dates back to his response to a question about the agitation during a July Instagram Live session. When asked about the CJP protest, the singer had said, “Keep me away from all this… Bro, I’m an artist. I’m no politician.” Those words, recorded on a live stream, soon became a talking point. Some criticised him for not engaging with the students’ cause, while others defended him by saying entertainers should not be forced to take political positions. Now, with the release of “Devil”, those same words are being read in a different context.

What “Devil” shows in its visuals

The music video opens with an atmosphere of tension. It features large crowds of young people, many of them carrying signs and banners. The placards displayed in the video carry messages such as “Save Our Future” and “Our Future, Our Fight”. Police personnel are also shown, and there are sequences depicting clashes between protesters and authorities. The video does not mention the CJP by name, nor does it refer directly to Jantar Mantar. Yet the visual language has led viewers to connect it with the student protest that unfolded in Delhi over the past few months.

One of the most discussed scenes in the video involves a little girl walking toward a police officer. She holds a white rose in her hand. The officer, after a moment, approaches her and embraces the child. This brief sequence has been interpreted by many fans as a plea for peace and dialogue amid high tension. It also stands in sharp contrast to the more aggressive scenes that appear earlier in the video. The message, as many viewers understand it, seems to be about the need to protect the future and to listen to the voices of the young.

Social media users have flooded comment sections with their readings of the video. One viewer wrote, “Peak detailing video!!!!!! Student protest, Our Future our rights.” Another said, “iykyk this video is about which protest only Diljit can do this.” The phrase “iykyk”, which means “if you know, you know”, is frequently used by fans to suggest a hidden reference that does not require explicit confirmation.

Inside “I’m an Artist Bro” and its seven tracks

“Devil” is one of seven tracks on Diljit’s latest album, “I’m an Artist Bro”. The project also includes the songs “Fizawan”, “Love Like This”, “Gustakhi”, “Waliyan”, “Sweet Ting” and “Lambo”. The title track has become a catchphrase in its own right, especially after Diljit’s previous statements about staying away from politics. The album as a whole blends upbeat Punjabi pop with more serious themes, and “Devil” stands out because of its overt cinematic treatment of protest and public unrest.

From “I am no politician” to a protest-themed project

The title “I’m an Artist Bro” carries a special significance in Diljit’s recent career. It is the same statement he made in July, and it has now become the title of his latest album. The video for “Devil” ends with the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home”, followed by the words “I’m an Artist Bro.” This has been seen by fans as a deliberate callback to the controversy that followed his Instagram Live comments.

The singer, who has a massive following in Punjab and beyond, has often been careful about taking public positions on politically sensitive issues. After the farmers’ agitation of 2020-21, when he had voiced support for the protestors, he experienced both praise and backlash. His July remarks about the CJP-led protest added another layer of complexity. Many young fans wanted him to speak up, but he initially chose to remain indifferent, saying that he was not aware of the details of the protest and preferred to focus on his work.

Later, however, Diljit did make a statement about the students at Jantar Mantar. He said that the students should not have been treated in that way and asked authorities to listen to their demands. He also wrote, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” These remarks, while not as expansive as some had hoped, were noted by his supporters. The new video, according to many viewers, appears to align with that later sentiment rather than with his earlier caution.

Why the comparisons have gained traction

Several elements in the “Devil” video have reinforced the comparisons with the CJP protest. The setting is clearly a public demonstration, with hordes of youths occupying the frame. The signs carried by the protesters highlight fears about education, employment and the future. Such themes have been central to the discourse around the Jantar Mantar agitation, where students have been demanding answers on a range of issues related to youth welfare and opportunities.

The video also includes members of the Sikh community among the demonstrators, which further strengthens the link for viewers. Diljit, being a prominent Sikh artist, often includes culturally specific imagery in his work. In this instance, the presence of Sikh men in turbans and young women in vibrant attire adds a localised texture to the protest scene. The combination of colours, placards and police lines makes the video feel like a dramatised recreation of a campus protest.

There is, however, no official confirmation from Diljit or his team that “Devil” is about the CJP protest. The video makes no direct reference to the organisation, its leadership, or the specific demands put forward by the students. The interpretation is being driven largely by the audience. The return of the phrase “I’m an Artist Bro” at the end of the video has added to the speculation, because that phrase itself became a part of the political conversation around Diljit’s silence.

Reactions from fans and critics

The reactions to the video have been mixed, but the dominant sentiment among Diljit’s fans is one of pride. Many feel that the singer has subtly responded to the criticism he faced after his July comments. One fan commented, “He stand proudly with the students but the main motive of this video was to promote peace rather than wars!! the og ARTIST.” Another follower wrote, “This video is a slap on those people’s face who mocked Diljit for not standing with students in protest. He is an artist but was already in a controversy once due to farmers protest few years back and if he said anything on the protest haters would have criticised him there too. Government and all those people who criticised him should give him an apology.”

A separate comment read, “A banger song, video concept, a deep message.” Another user described Diljit as the “Biggest punjabi artist on the planet FOR A REASON.” However, not all responses were filled with praise. A smaller section of social media users questioned why the singer had chosen to express himself through a music video rather than through a direct statement. One post said that if Diljit really wanted to support the students, he should say so clearly instead of packaging the message in art.

There were also those who interpreted the video as an indirect criticism of the security forces. One commenter wrote, “Bro’s indirectly taunting Indian forces came at the students protest to use lethal force on students. He is a legendary artist and screw the ones who were making fun of him.” This kind of reaction underscores the deeply polarised nature of the online discourse around both Diljit and the CJP agitation.

Art, ambiguity and public expectation

The debate around “Devil” raises a larger question about the role of artists in times of protest. Should a celebrity be expected to make political statements? Does a music video with political imagery count as a form of engagement? For many of Diljit’s supporters, art itself is a vehicle for commentary, and “Devil” is no exception. They argue that the singer has chosen a language that allows him to express solidarity without limiting himself to a single political slogan.

Diljit’s position in the entertainment industry is important in understanding the weight of these expectations. Over the past decade, he has gained international recognition for his work in Punjabi and Hindi cinema, and he is known for his electrifying live performances. His fanbase spans extensive geographies, including India, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Every move he makes is scrutinised, and his statements on sensitive issues are often amplified beyond his intent. That was true during the farmers protest, and it is true again now.

The singer has frequently avoided direct political labels. He has, at times, supported causes such as equality and justice, but he has also insisted that his primary duty is to entertain. The “Devil” video, however, has blurred that line for many viewers. By choosing to fill a music video with protest imagery, Diljit has opened the door to multiple interpretations. Some see him as having taken a stand, while others see the video as a broader statement about the abuse of state power and the vulnerability of young people.

No official word yet

As of now, Diljit has not clarified the meaning behind “Devil”. Neither his social media accounts nor his music label have released a statement explaining whether the video was intended to reference the CJP protest. The absence of an official explanation leaves the ambiguity intact. Fans are free to project their own interpretations onto the visuals, and both those who praise the video and those who criticise it can claim some support from the imagery.

What remains clear is that “Devil” has succeeded in generating conversation. It has also brought the phrase “I’m an Artist Bro” back into the spotlight. What was once a simple response to a question has now become a slogan attached to an album and understood as a coding device for political commentary. Whether the song is a direct response to the student protest, a clever marketing strategy, or simply an artistic expression of conflict in society is still open to debate.

Until Diljit himself clarifies, fans and critics will continue to read between the lines. In a digital ecosystem where every visual detail is examined and every lyric is interpreted, “Devil” has already achieved something many songs do not: it has made people talk. For an artist who insisted he was not a politician, that is no small achievement.

Source: MSN News