Young Stunners India Tour Canceled Amid Organizational Issues
Karachi rap duo comprising Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus were announced to make their India debut in December
Young Stunners' Talhah Yunus and Talha Anjum live in concert in 2022. Photo: Noor Amin.
Pakistani rap act Young Stunners will not make their long-anticipated India debut this December.
Organizers Desi Disco Entertainment and another company involved with the tour, Live Vibe Australia – who had booked Young Stunners for two shows in Sydney and Melbourne on Nov. 15 and 17 – announced on Instagram that the Sydney show was a non-starter due to the artists making “a decision not to perform due to their management’s choice.” In the same update, Live Vibe announced that the upcoming India tour was canceled.
The post states, “With heavy heart India tour and any collaboration are cancelled. We are waiting for the deposits to be back and will update on situation.” The organizers cited a “concerning situation” in which they allege that Young Stunners did not get on stage and the promoters have so far not received a refund for the initial booking fee/deposit they paid to the artists and evaded communications. “Additionally, deposits for the India tour remain unreturned as well,” the statement adds.
Young Stunners and their team have refuted all charges of impropriety.
In August this year, Australian entertainment company Desi Disco Entertainment announced that they were bringing down Young Stunners’ Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus with producer Jokhay slated to perform in Mumbai on Dec. 13, in Bengaluru on Dec. 21 and in New Delhi on Dec. 25.
While tickets were expected to go on sale only on Oct. 15, that date came and went with little by way of updates from the artists and the promoters.
In August, when the tour was announced by Desi Disco Entertainment, Young Stunners’ business manager Alina Naghman gave legitimacy to the rap duo’s India debut. Naghman said in a story on Instagram, “We know you’ve been eagerly waiting for news about the Young Stunners India Tour, and we appreciate your patience and support. We want to keep it real with you – our tour will be officially announced once we’ve secured the necessary visas. We don’t want to create unnecessary hype that could lead to disappointment, so we’re holding off on the official announcement until everything is confirmed.”
She added, “Rest assured, our management is working tirelessly with the host, Desi Disco, to make this dream a reality. We’re as excited as you are to bring the Young Stunners experience to India.”
The news of the Young Stunners India tour was met with mixed responses – one section of desi hip-hop fans eager to finally get to see the star hitmakers behind songs like “Gumaan,” “Afsanay” and their collaboration with Kr$na, “Quarantine.” Another section pointed out past controversies related to India-Pakistan tensions and how Pakistani artists should not be allowed to perform in India.
As recently as earlier today, Kr$na posted a photo with Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus. The Indian hip-hop artist said in his caption, “Officially the third young stunner! Met my bros for the first time, almost 5 years after we made one of the most iconic collabs in desi hip hop!”
This story is being updated.
