- By Tapapriya Dutta
- Fri, 02 May 2025 03:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sonu Nigam's recent performance at a concert in Bengaluru’s East Point College has become a point of discussion. The popular Bollywood singer stopped his performance and had a heart-to-heart conversation with the audience. He showcased disappointment after a fan asked him ‘rudely’ to sing in Kannada. He then connected the fan’s anger with the recent Pahalgam attack. But he also expressed his love for the language and the state of Karnataka. Nigam was then ready to sing in the Kannada language. The video of the same is going viral on social media, attracting criticism and support at the same time.
As per the video, Sonu Nigam said, “I have sung songs in all languages. But the best songs that I have sung in my life are Kannada songs. Main aapke beech mein jabbhi aata hoon bohut pyaar se aata hoon. Shows toh roz karte hain humlog, lekin jab kabhi bhi Karnataka mein kahi bhi shows hote hain hum bohut izzat se aate hai kyuki aap logo nein humien apna pariwaar maan hai (Whenever I come amid you, I come with so much love. We do shows every day, but whenever we do any shows anywhere in Karnataka, we come with respect, because you have made us your family)”
He further added, “Mujhe accha nahi laga ki waha ek ladka jiski umar, jitni uske umar nahi hogi use pehle toh main Kannada gaane garaha hoon (I didn't like the boy whose age, I have been singing Kannada songs before he was born). He was so rudely threatening me, 'Kannada, Kannada'. Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na? Yahi kaaran hai jo karrahe ho, jo kiya tha na abhi? Dekho toh kaun saamne khada hai. I love Kannadigas, I love you guys (This is the reason what happened in Pahalgam. This is the reason, what you did just now. Look at first who is standing in front of you).”
Fans on social media shared their views on it. A user said, “If they wanted to listen Kannada song then they should have gone for someone from Kannada industry. Why bring Sonu Nigam to perform then?” Another wrote, “he’s sung so many beautiful Kannada songs which is a request from fans , don’t bring ur language hatred narratives here.” A comment read, “ I preserving local language is important but sometimes it is too much.” Another said, “Okay. Let's assume that he's doing this show/ concert in Mumbai. Will he be singing kannada songs just coz he's sung so many beautiful kannada songs? There's no harm in remind him that he's in Karnataka and people have liked his voice in kannada too.” A comment read, “That’s why we can’t get any foreign artists in bangalore.”
Notably, Sonu Nigam has sung in 32 languages in his career, which includes Hindi,Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Odia, English, Assamese, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Tulu, Maithili and Manipuri to name a few.