The AICWA has condemned the abrupt end to Shilpa Rao's performance at the Bollywood Music Project, calling it 'completely unacceptable.' The singer's microphone and lights were switched off mid-performance, leaving her heartbroken. Organisers later issued an apology, citing logistical challenges, but the incident has sparked widespread criticism.
The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has pushed back on Indian playback singer Shilpa Rao's treatment after her performance at Bollywood Music Project's 10th anniversary edition in Mumbai was curtailed on Saturday, October 24.
The body has criticised the organisers for switching off the stage lights and Rao's microphone halfway through her set, calling the incident "completely unacceptable." According to the AICWA, Rao still stood on stage for a bit before the next performer in line, Kutle Khan of the Kutle Khan Project, began singing.
On Sunday, October 25, the AICWA took this issue to their official X account, issuing a lengthy statement describing and opposing the singer's mistreatment.
The post read, "The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) strongly condemns the treatment of National Award-winning singer Shilpa Rao during her live performance at the 10th edition of the Bollywood Music Project (BMP) in Mumbai on 24 October 2026."
"Shilpa Rao was performing live on stage when her microphone and lights were forcibly switched off by the organisers. She remained on stage for some time. After her mic was switched off, another performer, Kutle Khan of the Kutle Khan Project, was allowed to sing in her place, and he began singing midway through her address. Forcibly cutting a performing artist's sound and lighting mid-show, and then handing the stage to another act, is completely unacceptable."
Rao opened up about this issue on her Instagram too, with a post captioned "Mumbai I love you," reading, "Mumbai, a piece of my heart broke tonight. It hurts deeply to have something so beautiful taken away from us like this. But even when the music stopped you didn't."
"The way you kept calling my name, the love in your voices, I could feel it all. I promise I will come back to Mumbai. I love you Mumbai. Forever and ever," she added.
Following this, the organisers of Bollywood Music Project issued an apology through an Instagram post to address the "abrupt conclusion" of her performance.
The post read, "First and foremost, we hold Shilpa Rao in the highest regard. We deeply value and respect her incredible legacy, her unparalleled artistry, and the profound impact she continues to make on the music industry. It was an absolute honour to have her on our lineup."
The post also explained that large-scale music festivals often come with multi-artist lineups complex logistics, and that despite strict planning and coordination, "these compounding delays unfortunately forced a premature end to her set." The organisers claimed that these circumstances were completely out of their control, adding that "we deeply regret that we could not showcase her performance in its entirety."
"We extend our sincerest apologies to Shilpa Rao, her team and most importantly, to her dedicated fans who came out to support her. We share in your disappointment and appreciate your understanding as we navigate the strict operational realities of live festival production," it read further.