'I don't mind saying sorry 1,000 times': Sonu Nigam apologises to Kannadigas over ‘Pahalgam’ remark amid concert ban demand
Bengaluru/IBNS: Popular Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam has apologised to Kannadigas over his controversial ‘Pahalgam’ remark after pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) demanded that permission for his upcoming concert in Bengaluru be denied.
The singer is scheduled to perform in Bengaluru on October 24.
What is the controversy?
In April 2025, Sonu Nigam was performing at East Point College in Bengaluru when a fan requested him to sing in Kannada.
Responding to the request, the singer said, as quoted by NDTV, "The best songs I have sung are in Kannada... I didn't like it when a boy asked me to sing in Kannada. He was so rudely threatening, 'Kannada, Kannada.' This is the reason for the Pahalgam attack."
His remark triggered widespread backlash, with KRV accusing the singer of insulting Kannadigas by comparing a request for a Kannada song to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sonu Nigam apologises ahead of Bengaluru concert
In a video message issued ahead of his October 24 concert, Sonu Nigam apologised to his Karnataka fans, saying he did not want the controversy to damage his long-standing relationship with them.
"When you love someone and want the relationship to last, you don't mind saying sorry a thousand times," he said.
"So, my dear family, if anything I've said inadvertently has hurt you, I'm so sorry for it. You know I'm not the kind of person who would ever hurt anyone, especially my family from Karnataka," he added.
"You have given me so much love and respect over the last 30 years, and I don't want any small misunderstanding to taint that relationship or cause any bitterness," the singer said.
KRV demands cancellation of concert permission
KRV has demanded that the Bengaluru Police Commissioner deny permission for the singer's upcoming concert.
The organisation has also warned of a statewide protest if the event goes ahead, escalating the controversy ahead of Nigam's scheduled performance.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
