Ahead of his Canada tour later this month, singer-actor Gurdas Maan returned to the stage with a performance in Mumbai on Saturday, calling it part of the ever-evolving “mitti aur maya ka khel”: “Punjab ki mitti ki khushboo Mumbai ki emaaraton mein humesha se khilti aayi hai.”

Often described as a pioneer of modern Punjabi music, Maan weighs in on the its rapid global evolution, now dominated by hip-hop and trap: “Through each season, trees look different. They adapt to the changing seasons, but the essence of the tree never changes. Similarly, the essence of Punjab is rooted in its stories, and not how those stories are delivered.”

Speaking about the growing noise of social media and the recent rise of ‘cancel culture’, he shares, “We must not take everything we see on social media to heart. People have always had thoughts and opinions, but today they have a platform to put them out. Having faith in the divine force has always protected me.”