Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum has once again become a topic of discussion on global social media. A moment from his recent performance in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, went viral in which he draped the Indian flag over his shoulders, sparking a new storm of criticism, while Talha Anjum issued a bold statement saying that ‘Art has no borders, if there is an objection to it, then so be it, I will do it again.’
The situation changed at the concert in Nepal on November 16 when a fan threw an Indian flag towards the stage. Talha Anjum picked up the flag, waved it over his shoulders, held it in his hands and continued his performance. Within minutes, the video spread across every platform. Indian fans appreciated it, but Pakistani users started reacting strongly.
Critics say the move was highly insensitive, especially in the context of the four-day war-like situation that emerged after the Pahalgam attack in May and India had removed Pakistani artists, songs and content from several platforms including Spotify, YouTube and Instagram during “Operation Sindoor”. In such an environment, a Pakistani artist waving the Indian flag is considered “inappropriate” and “irresponsible” by many.
When the storm of criticism did not subside, Talha Anjum clarified his position through a post. He wrote in blunt words, “There is no place for hatred in my heart. My art is not bound by borders. If I am creating controversy by waving the Indian flag, then fine, I will do it again. I do not care about the media, war-mongering governments or propaganda. Urdu rap will always be borderless.’
He also included emojis of the flags of Pakistan, India and Nepal in his statement, which further inflamed the debate. The online reaction increased after the post. Some users called Talha “unpatriotic” with harsh sentences, while others defended his move.
One user wrote, “If the flags of both countries were raised together, it would have been understandable.” One user quipped, “Are the views coming down, brother?” while another said, “Even then, the earnings will not increase.”
Some users supported Talha Anjum, saying, “Raising the flag of any country does not make one a traitor.” One user’s stance was, “Strong nations are not afraid of symbols, they stand by values.”
While for some, “Urdu rap going beyond the borders is Pakistan’s strength, not its weakness.”
It should be noted that Talha Anjum has been embroiled in controversies before. In July, when fans threw objects on the stage at a concert in Islamabad, Talha Anjum got angry. A few weeks later, he also had a record of harsh words to critics on Instagram Live. He said that he was fed up with the constant criticism and pressure.
Even in the midst of this new debate that has started on social media, Talha Anjum is resolute in his stance and his latest statement makes it clear that he has no intention of backing down from his “borderless artistry”.
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