Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh thrills with US appearance

Fans have gone wild for Singer Diljit Dosanjh's debut on The Tonight Show.

Introduced by US host Jimmy Fallon as "the biggest Punjabi artist on the planet", Diljit performed hits Born to Shine and G.O.A.T.

Fans from around the world commented to say the star had taken Punjabi music “to new heights” and that it was a “historic moment”.

It is the latest example of the Lover hitmaker capturing Western audiences, after he made history in 2023 by becoming the first Punjabi language singer to perform at Coachella festival.

He has also collaborated with Cheap Thrills singer Sia on the song Hass Hass, and joined Ed Sheeran in Mumbai on his Asia tour, with the pair singing together in Punjabi.

During his performance of G.O.A.T., Diljit made a slight change to his normal lyrics with a reference to "Hollywood" instead of "Bollywood", as he pointed at Fallon.

Following his set, host Fallon came on stage and declared "that is how you do it!".

The hype for Diljit’s appearance had been building since the announcement a week earlier.

And anticipation peaked when The Tonight Show shared light-hearted backstage videos in which the singer is seen teaching Fallon some Punjabi phrases.

The host tries his best to say the singer's "Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye" catchphrase, though his attempt causes laughter, with actress Priyanka Chopra commenting, "it’s the Oye for me".

But Fallon fared better when he delivered the Punjabi greeting "Sat Sri Akal" smoothly.

Another video showed Fallon surprising Diljit with white gloves customised with the show’s logo. Diljit is known for his fashion, typically wearing black gloves during performances.

More widely, there was praise for him "embracing an Indian attire", as he appeared in traditional clothes and a matching turban.

British Indian singer Jassi Sidhu said he was "smiling from ear to ear" and that Diljit has "made Punjabi music mainstream".

Another fan commented to say he was "opening doors for thousands of passionate people around the globe who come from humble backgrounds".

Analysis by BBC Asian Network presenter Haroon Rashid

Diljit's appearance on Jimmy Fallon's show is nothing short of monumental, for the South Asian community and, in particular, for Punjabi culture.

His authenticity is what connects most with his fans.

He remains 100% true to the identity that he became famous for. He speaks in Punjabi, he wears traditional Punjabi clothes on international platforms and he consistently talks about the values of his faith and culture.

Also, he is visibly a Sikh man with a turban - which for a long time, was considered a setback in the entertainment industry, even within the South Asian community. So the first thing he did was to make his turban a sign of pride for Punjabis by becoming the first turban-wearing man to headline a Bollywood film as a leading man, and sell out venues globally.

And, at the core of it all, he is an exceptionally talented artist with a brilliant voice and a varied range of music.

Add to that his persona on social media, his fashion game and the warmth with which he interacts with his fans - it makes complete sense why millions of people are celebrating his latest chat-show appearance with pride.