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Before issuing the apology, singer Sonu Nigam offered a detailed explanation. Bengaluru police said their probe “prima facie” indicates that he may have offended Kannadigas
An agitator during a protest by members of Kannada Raksha Vedike against singer Sonu Nigam over his Kannada remarks during a recent concert, in Bengaluru on May 5. (Image: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak)
Pressure from the police to join an investigation and a move by the Karnataka Film Chamber to ban his collaboration with Kannada films has prompted singer Sonu Nigam to apologise to the state and its people over his allegedly inappropriate comments at a recent concert in Bengaluru.
In a post on social media platform, Instagram, he wrote: “Sorry Karnataka. My love for you is bigger than my ego. Love you always.”
Before issuing the apology, six hours ago, he offered a detailed explanation about his comments at the performance. Bengaluru police said their investigation “prima facie” indicates that Sonu Nigam may have offended Kannadigas.
“The performance of the singer on the 25th at East Point College has been carefully reviewed.
The controversy, meanwhile, has snowballed with both Nigam and the pro-Kannada organisation, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), digging in their heels over the video of what transpired during the show.
In his first statement – a video – Nigam said he felt “threatened” and that a group of boys heckled him.
The KRV, after lodging a complaint against the singer, submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka director general of police seeking “the immediate arrest of Sonu Nigam for his insulting remarks against Kannadigas and for connecting it with the Pahalgam incident”.
The Bengaluru rural police have filed an FIR and served a notice to the singer to appear for investigation within a week.
“We have made three demands. First, arrest Sonu Nigam immediately. Second, conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure such incidents are prevented in the future. Third, legal action should be taken immediately against any person who makes irresponsible, divisive, derogatory, and insulting statements against Kannadigas,” said KRV president Narayan Gowda.
“He has made such an offensive statement linking Pahalgam – why can’t he apologise to the crores of Kannadigas?” questioned Arun Javagal, organising secretary of KRV.
Nigam’s explanation, posted on social media, gives details of the incident. In an earlier video, he had said there was a need to “teach the boys who spoke rudely, a lesson” when they asked him to sing songs in Kannada. The post, however, skirts the Pahalgam reference, but he insists he is a “patriot” and not someone who will accept humiliation from anyone.
Here’s what he said:
‘I’VE REVERED KANNADA SONGS MORE THAN OTHERS’
His long note begins with: “Namaskara, I have given unprecedented love to the language, the culture, the music, the musicians, the state, and the people – not just when I am in Karnataka but anywhere else in the world. In fact, I have revered my Kannada songs way more than my songs in other languages, including Hindi. There are hundreds of videos circulating on social media as testimony. I have more than an hour’s worth of Kannada songs that I prepare for every concert in Karnataka.”
‘NOT A YOUNG LAD TO TAKE HUMILIATION FROM ANYONE’
“I am not a young lad to take humiliation from anyone. I am 51 years old, in the second half of my life, and am entitled to take offence at someone as young as my son threatening me directly in front of thousands – in the name of a language that too is my second language when it comes to my work. That too, right after my first song of the concert! He provoked a few more. Their own people were embarrassed and were asking them to shut up. I told them very politely and lovingly that the show had just started, it was my first song, and that I will not let them down – but they have to let me continue the concert the way I have planned. Every artist has a song list prepared so the musicians and technicians are in sync. But they were hell-bent on creating a ruckus and threatening me wildly. Tell me, who is at fault?” the note stated.
‘HAD TO SCHOOL THEM, CREATING HATE IN NAME OF LANGUAGE’
“Being the patriot that I am, I loathe anyone trying to create hate in the name of language, caste, or religion – especially after what transpired in Pahalgam. I had to school them, and I did, and thousands of students and teachers cheered me for it. The matter got over and I sang Kannada for more than an hour. It’s all there on social media. I leave it up to the sensible people of Karnataka to decide who is at fault here. I will accept your verdict gracefully. I fully respect and trust the law agencies and police of Karnataka and will comply with whatever is expected from me. I have received divine love from Karnataka and will cherish it always with no malice whatsoever, irrespective of your verdict. Thank you.”
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