What Led to Sonu Nigam's Controversial Remarks at Bengaluru Concert?
Sonu Nigam Faces Backlash Over Bengaluru Concert Incident
New Delhi: Renowned singer Sonu Nigam is currently under scrutiny following an FIR filed against him for allegedly offending the sentiments of the Kannada community during a concert in Bengaluru. He claims that a small group of individuals threatened him to perform in Kannada.
Nigam urged the public not to generalize or blame the entire community for the actions of a few individuals.
The FIR was lodged at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru on Saturday, citing Nigam's response to an audience member who requested a Kannada song. He reportedly replied, "Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam."
Dharamaraj Ananthayya, president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), stated in his complaint that Nigam's comments insulted Kannadigas and equated their cultural pride with violence and intolerance by linking the request for a Kannada song to a terrorist act.
In a video shared on Instagram, Nigam, 51, recounted the incident, mentioning that a few aggressive individuals were shouting "Kannada-Kannada" while others in the audience were asking them to stop disrupting the performance. He emphasized that the terrorists in Pahalgam did not inquire about the language spoken by the people.
He emphasized the importance of not allowing threats to dictate the performance of artists. Nigam stated, "If someone is sowing the seeds of hatred in the land of love, we must stop them. Kannadigas are wonderful people, so please do not generalize them. Only a few individuals were threatening me, not the entire community."
The incident took place during a live performance on April 25 at a college in Bengaluru. Nigam halted his show when an audience member loudly insisted he sing in Kannada. His sharp response to the repeated demands of "Kannada, Kannada" was captured in a viral video.
In the same video, Nigam expressed that many of his most cherished songs are in Kannada and acknowledged the warm reception he has received from Karnataka, but he was frustrated by the manner in which the request was made.