FIR against Sonu Nigam for 'hurting' sentiments of Kannadigas

Bengaluru: Singer Sonu Nigam faces police probe after an FIR was registered against him at the Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 3, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Kannadigas during a recent musical event in the city.

The complaint was filed by a pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) president Dharamaraj Ananthayya against the singer stating Nigam’s remarks at an event had deeply hurt the sentiments of the Kannadiga community and were not only creating hatred between different linguistic groups in Karnataka but also inciting violence.

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On April 25, Sonu Nigam, who was performing in Bengaluru, paused his performance when someone from the audience loudly demanded that he sing in Kannada. Frustrated by the repeated shouts of “Kannada, Kannada,” the singer reportedly retorted, “Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam.”

In a now massively viral video, Nigam is heard saying that some of the best songs of his career are in Kannada and that Karnataka has always treated him like family, but he was irked by how the demand was made.

At a Bengaluru concert, Sonu Nigam lost his cool after a fan rudely demanded he sing in Kannada. Though Sonu expressed deep love for Kannada culture, the fan’s aggressive tone upset him. “I’ve been singing Kannada songs since before he was born,” he said.

Linking the fan’s… pic.twitter.com/PbuwPI7eoA

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“It felt disrespectful when a young boy, who isn’t even as old as my career, shouted at me rudely. That’s not how you talk to anyone, especially a guest,” he added.

(With PTI inputs)

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