Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin made headlines during the band’s electrifying concert in Mumbai on January 18, 2025, by addressing the colonial history between Great Britain and India.
Speaking to a packed audience at the DY Patil Stadium, Martin expressed his gratitude and offered an apology for Britain's colonial past, according to The Hindu.
“Thank you for coming. Thank you for welcoming us even though we are from Great Britain. Thank you for forgiving all the bad things Great Britain has done and welcoming us to your home,” Martin said, drawing cheers from the crowd.
A Night of Music and Connection
Coldplay's performance in Mumbai, part of their Music of the Spheres World Tour, featured their biggest hits such as Paradise, Viva La Vida, Yellow, and Fix You.
Martin kept the audience engaged throughout the night, frequently interacting with fans in multiple languages, including Hindi and Marathi.
At the start of the show, he greeted the crowd in Marathi, saying, “Tumhee saghre aaj chaan distat” (You all look beautiful today), followed by a warm welcome in Hindi. “Aap sab ka bahut swagat hai humare show pe. Mumbai mein aakar hume bahut khushi ho rahi hai.” (You’re all very welcome to our show. We feel happy coming to Mumbai).
Martin's linguistic efforts were met with enthusiastic applause.
One particularly memorable moment occurred when Martin noticed a fan holding a sign that read Jai Shri Ram, a popular Hindu phrase. Curious about its meaning, he asked, “What does Jai Shri Ram mean? Must be something good,” eliciting a massive response from the audience.
A Heartfelt Goodbye
As the night drew to a close, Martin playfully referenced Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, joking that they had to finish the show because Bumrah needed to bowl at the stadium.
“We got to finish the show because Jasprit Bumrah wants to come and play cricket backstage. Thank you very much, everybody, good night,” he said.
The band extended their performance, adding one more song for their enthusiastic fans.
Coldplay is set to continue their Indian tour with additional performances in Mumbai and a special Republic Day concert at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on January 25, 2025.
This marks the band’s second visit to India, having previously performed at the Global Citizen Festival in 2016.
