The music world slammed on the brakes this week, reeling from the gut-punch of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Arijit Singh, the soulful crooner who’s got India humming his tunes, scrapped his Chennai concert set for April 27. Meanwhile, Anirudh Ravichander, the red-hot composer behind Jailer’s bangers, put ticket sales for his Bengaluru gig on ice. Both moves came as a somber nod to the 26 lives lost in the April 22 attack that turned a serene valley into a scene of horror.
Arijit’s Chennai show was meant to cap his five-city India tour, a spectacle of heartbreak ballads and high-energy anthems that had fans buzzing since tickets dropped last October. But the Pahalgam attack, which left 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen dead in Baisaran meadow, changed everything. On April 24, Arijit shared a note from the organizers on his Instagram Stories, a grim announcement that the show was off. Ticket holders, some of whom shelled out up to 80,000 rupees, will get full refunds, automatically zapped back to their accounts. No word yet on rescheduling—Chennai’s left hanging for now.
Down south, Anirudh’s Hukum World Tour, slated to rock Bengaluru on June 1, hit a snag too. Ticket sales, originally set to launch April 24, got pushed back. The composer, whose beats have South Indian cinema pulsing, didn’t mince words. In a statement on Instagram, he called the Pahalgam events “deeply shaking” and sent prayers to the victims’ families. A new ticket sale date’s coming, but organizers are keeping mum for now, citing the “current national situation.”
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the region, targeted tourists and locals alike, sparking outrage across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to hunt down those responsible, while Bollywood heavyweights like Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra flooded social media with condolences. The entertainment industry, often a glittering escape, went quiet, with Arijit and Anirudh’s decisions echoing a collective pause.
For fans, it’s a blow. Arijit’s tour was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime vibe, with stage ramps jutting into the crowd and visuals that’d make your jaw drop. Anirudh’s Bengaluru show promised to crank the Hukum Tour’s energy to eleven, following his sold-out gigs elsewhere. But both artists stood firm, choosing respect over revelry.
Refunds for Arijit’s Chennai concert will process automatically. Queries can be sent to events@district.in. Anirudh’s Bengaluru ticket sale date remains unannounced. The attack claimed 26 lives on April 22 in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow.