Playback singer Sonu Nigam has found himself at the center of a controversy after his remarks at a Bengaluru concert led to backlash from the Kannada film industry. As a result, his song from the upcoming Kannada film Kuladalli Keelyavudo has been removed. During a concert in Bengaluru on April 25, Nigam responded to a fan’s demand for a Kannada song by referencing the Pahalgam terror attack. His comments sparked outrage, leading to an FIR filed against him and calls from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to halt collaborations with him.
The makers of Kuladalli Keelyavudo issued a statement saying, “We cannot tolerate the insult Sonu Nigam has done to Kannada, so we have removed the song.” The track, “Manasu Haadtade”, composed by Manomurthy and written by Yogaraj Bhat, was originally recorded by Nigam but will now be re-recorded by Kannada singer Chethan.
Following the backlash, Nigam took to Instagram to apologize, stating, “Sorry Karnataka. My love for you is bigger than my ego.” However, he also defended himself, saying he felt “humiliated” by the way he was treated at the concert.
The KFCC has advised its members to cease professional ties with Nigam, and producer Santosh Kumar has publicly declared that he will never work with him again.
