Sonu Nigam, who is one of the most popular singers in multiple film industries, was embroiled in a controversy last year in Bengaluru when he refused the attendees’ vehement request for a Kannada song performance with a strongly-worded response. Now, one of his events in the city that is scheduled for October 24 faces threats of protest from Karnataka Rakshana Vedika (KRV), which has urged city police to deny permission for the same.
In a letter penned to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, KRV president TA Narayana Gowda alleged that Sonu had allegedly insulted Kannadigas with his remarks. KRV also called for action on a complaint that was filed against Sonu Nigam last year, stating, “Kannadigas have not forgotten that wound.”
At an event back in April 2025, when faced with a request for a Kannada song from a charged crowd, Sonu Nigam had said on mic, “Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is the reason the Pahalgam incident (terror attack) happened.” Referring to the Pahalgam reference, KRV president said, ““Is asking for a Kannada song a crime? Who gave Sonu Nigam the right to compare love for Kannada language to a terrorist attack? We need to remind such people that at Pahalgam, people weren’t asked about their language before being killed.”
Sonu, who has been a playback singer for more than 30 years now, achieved great popularity in Kannada film industry as well in the mid 2000s, especially after the 2006 film Mungaru Male. His other popular Kannada songs arrived courtesy films like Milana (2007), Gaalipata (2008) and Sanju Weds Geetha 2 (2011).
Addressing the controversial concert later in an interview, Sonu had further recalled, “My show hadn’t even started and these guys looked at me in a rude manner and demanded me to sing Kannada songs,” while adding that he always brings a one-hour set of Kannada songs for concerts in Bengaluru and other places in Karnataka.
