Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam is facing the heat from the Kannada film industry after a controversial statement made during a recent concert in Bengaluru sparked backlash, leading to discussions about possibly banning him from future film projects in the regional industry.
The incident occurred on April 25 during a live performance at a college in Bengaluru, where a group of attendees persistently demanded that the singer perform a song in Kannada. A visibly agitated Sonu paused the concert to address the crowd. In a now-viral video, the singer is heard saying, “Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam,” referencing the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and suggesting that such linguistic divides contribute to larger societal issues.
The comment did not go down well with many in Karnataka, prompting an FIR to be filed against Sonu Nigam at Avalahalli Police Station. While the exact legal consequences remain pending, the Kannada film industry has begun mulling over its professional association with the veteran singer.
According to a News18 report, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Monday (May 5) in Bengaluru to deliberate on the matter. The meeting is expected to be attended by representatives from the Music Directors Association, Directors Association, and Producers Association. One of the key agendas includes discussing the “possibility of refraining from engaging Sonu Nigam for Kannada movies in future projects.”
Prominent Kannada music directors such as Sadhu Kokila, V. Harikrishna, Arjun Janya, and Dharma Vish are reportedly expected to attend the meeting. Industry insiders suggest there is a sense of betrayal, with many feeling “let down” by the singer’s remarks despite his longstanding contributions to Kannada music.
Following the controversy, Sonu Nigam took to Instagram to clarify his comments, explaining that he had been “threatened” by a small group of audience members at the concert who demanded he sing in Kannada. “I urge people not to generalise or blame the entire community for the actions of a few individuals,” he said in the video.
Sonu Nigam, who has sung numerous chart-topping songs in multiple Indian languages including Kannada, now faces the possibility of being distanced from an industry he has worked with for decades. As the Kannada film industry weighs its next steps, the outcome of Monday’s meeting could shape the future of the singer’s association with Kannada cinema.
Sources By Agencies
