Singer Kutle Khan has come forward to share his side of the story following the massive uproar over the disruption during Shilpa Rao's performance at the Bollywood Music Project in Mumbai. Addressing the incident that took place on October 24, the singer took to Instagram to release a video statement amid heavy criticism and trolling on social media. He emphasized that he was strictly adhering to the guidelines provided by the festival organizers and that his team had nothing to do with the technical issues that occurred.
Strict Timings and Altered Schedules
Kutle Khan explained that every artist participating in the event had been allotted a fixed schedule, and Shilpa's timing was also pre-determined. He revealed that even his own performance duration was abruptly shortened at the last minute. Initially, he was slated to perform for a 20-minute set, but organizers later informed him that he only had eight minutes on stage.
The singer noted that despite the sudden reduction in performance time, he agreed without hesitation because he had to follow the instructions given by the festival management. Consequently, he began his show according to the revised eight-minute slot.
Addressing the Microphone and Light Shutdown
The controversy escalated when Shilpa's performance was abruptly cut short. Just as she was interacting with the audience and expressing her gratitude, her microphone and stage lights were switched off. At that exact moment, Kutle began his performance on the adjacent stage, causing his music to overlap with Shilpa's final remarks.
Addressing this technical malfunction, Kutle stated that he had no idea why the microphone and lights were turned off. He firmly maintained that such an incident should not have happened and that his side was completely uninvolved. He added that either the event organizers or their sound engineers would know what went wrong.
The On-Stage Interaction and Monitor Instructions
Kutle recalled the moment when Shilpa attempted to address the audience from the other stage. He mentioned that she praised his singing and expressed a desire to thank the crowd, prompting him to stop his performance immediately so she could speak.
However, he explained that instructions were being fed through his in-ear monitor urging him to resume his act. Because someone was repeatedly telling him through his earpiece to start playing again, he had no choice but to restart his performance.
Reacting to Online Trolling and Friendship
Expressing deep concern over the severe online hate and negativity following the incident, Kutle stressed that he shares a very close bond with Shilpa, viewing her almost like a sister. He stated that the ongoing social media backlash is completely uncalled for and hopes that the controversy will not impact their friendship.
