Playback singer Sonu Nigam is facing criticism from the Kannada film industry after a recent incident during his concert in Bengaluru sparked widespread backlash.
The controversy arose when Nigam responded to repeated requests from the audience for a Kannada song. His comments have now led the makers of the upcoming Kannada film Kuladalli Keelyavudo to remove his song, Manasu Haadtade, from the film.
The song, composed by Manomurthy and written by Yogaraj Bhat, had already garnered attention before the controversy. Directed by K Ramnarayan, the film’s team issued a public statement:
“There is no doubt that Sonu Nigam is a good singer. But, we are very upset by how he spoke about Kannada recently at a concert. We cannot tolerate the insult Sonu Nigam has done to Kannada, so we have removed the song,” the statement read.
Following this, Kannada singer Chethan has been brought in to re-record the track. The film’s producer, Santosh Kumar, has also stated that he will no longer work with Sonu Nigam.
During the concert, Nigam reportedly responded to a student’s repeated requests for a Kannada song by saying:
“I had started singing Kannada songs even before he was born. This is why the Pahalgam attack happened… for such a kind of attitude. At least see who is in front of you before making such demands.”
In response to the controversy, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has advised members of the industry to avoid collaborating with Nigam.
While Nigam initially stood by his comments, he later offered an apology, saying:
“My love for you is bigger than my ego (sic).”
