Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam has landed in hot water following a concert at East Point College in Bengaluru on April 25, 2025. When a small group of students loudly demanded a Kannada song, Nigam paused his performance, visibly upset. He compared their “threatening” behavior to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, stating, “This is exactly why the incident happened in Pahalgam.”
Sonu Nigam ji had sung Kannada songs to showcase his love & respect towards the language even in foreign land & a guy harassed him in Bangalore.😊
Good going.👏 pic.twitter.com/pGInq5hqZq
— Gowtham bh (@Gowthambh) May 1, 2025
The Complaint
The remarks, captured in a viral video, sparked outrage among Kannadigas, with many deeming them insensitive. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike filed a police complaint on May 2, leading to an FIR under IPC sections for inciting discord. Nigam clarified on Instagram, emphasising his love for Kannadigas and the history of singing Kannada songs, but the controversy persists. In his clarification post, the singer said, “Only the ‘four to five goons’ are responsible, who threatened him to sing in Kannada. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce is now discussing distancing the industry from Nigam, raising concerns about his future in Kannada cinema.
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