Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh on February 3 dedicated his latest track to international pop star Rihanna, less than 24 hours after she tweeted in support of farmers protesting against the Centre's new agricultural reform laws.
The 2.16 minute-long Punjabi number draws its title, 'RIRI (Rihanna)', from the Grammy-winning artiste's nickname.
The track, which was released on Dosanjh's YouTube channel around 1:30 pm, has been written by Raj Ranjodh, with music by Intense.
The song acknowledges Rihanna's Caribbean roots, with the opening lines describing the singer as a "beautiful woman from Barbados" with "shining, bright eyes" who "spreads colours" all around her.
In the song Dosanjh can be heard thanking God for sending "this angel on earth", before further expressing his wish to gift the singer a Patiala suit and jhaanjhar (pair of heavy anklets).
"All Punjabis are your fans, people are jealous of your fanbase," he sings.
On February 2, Rihanna shared a CNN news article with her 100 million followers on Twitter, calling out the internet shutdown at the protest sites near Kaithal, Panipat, Jind, Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat and Jhajjar districts in Haryana.
"Why aren't we talking about this? #FarmersProtest," the 32-year-old singer tweeted.why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 2, 2021
The Lower House of Parliament passed the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill on September 17. It had earlier passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.
On September 20, the Rajya Sabha also cleared the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill.
Opposition parties have been vehemently opposing the passage of these agri Bills over concerns of farm organisations that these would dismantle the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.
--With inputs from PTI