Bollywood's renowned singer Sonu Nigam is once again in the headlines, but this time not for a new song, but for an emotional response during a recent live concert in Bengaluru.
Entertainment: Bollywood's veteran playback singer Sonu Nigam is once again in the news, but this time not for a new song, but for an unpleasant incident at a concert in Bengaluru. During a concert at East Point College, a student rudely demanded that Sonu Nigam sing in Kannada. Hurt by this behavior, Sonu stopped his performance and made a very sensitive and emotional statement from the stage.
Sharing his feelings, Sonu Nigam not only expressed respect for the language but also stated his profound respect for every regional language and culture. He also mentioned that imposing or aggressively demanding a language contributes to the division of the nation.
What happened at the Bengaluru concert?
During a music concert at Bengaluru's East Point College, Sonu Nigam was captivating the audience with his melodious voice. A student then interrupted him from the front, loudly demanding, "Sing in Kannada!" Initially, Sonu tried to ignore it, but when the disruptive behavior persisted, he stopped his performance, responded sharply to the student, and emotionally conveyed his viewpoint.
"I don't hate Kannada, I love it" – Sonu Nigam
Taking the microphone, Sonu Nigam said, "I have sung in many languages throughout my life, but the soul I find in Kannada songs is unparalleled. I have always received love from the people here. But if someone 'demands' that I sing in Kannada in a threatening tone, it's wrong. Don't weaponize language; embrace it."
He added that whenever he performs in Karnataka, he specifically sings Kannada songs for the people here because he wants to show respect and love, not because he's forced to.
Sonu Nigam, touching upon a serious and sensitive issue, also alluded to the Pulwama terror attack. He said, "When people place language, religion, caste, and regional identity above their shared identity, intolerance is born. This intolerance often turns into violence, as seen in Pulwama." His statement was met with silence, followed by thunderous applause filling the concert hall.
Sonu Nigam has sung in 32 languages
It's no secret that Sonu Nigam is a multilingual singer. Besides Hindi, he has sung hundreds of songs in Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Gujarati, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, English, and even Nepali, Tulu, Maithili, and Manipuri. His songs prioritize emotions over regional boundaries, setting him apart.
Following the viral video of this incident, social media users are divided. One group condemned the student's behavior and praised Sonu Nigam's measured response. Others support the demand for prominence of the local language but agree that the approach should be appropriate.
