Kannada cinema ‘bans’ Sonu Nigam: Singer’s nearly 3 decade stint in Sandalwood grinds to a halt

A few days ago, a news story broke about popular singer Sonu Nigam allegedly heckled by a few students at a college event that the former attended. The demand was that Sonu sing his Kannada songs, which was on the agenda anyway, given his long track record of singing hit numbers in Sandalwood, but not at that moment. When the heckling continued, Sonu responded with, “"Yahi kaaran hai, Pahalgam mein jo hua hai na. Yahi kaaran hai jo kar rahe ho, jo kiya tha na abhi. Dekho toh kaun saamne khada hai.", which is now at the centre of a storm that has led to the singer being issued non-cooperation by the Music Directors' Association in Karnataka.

On May 5, the association declared non-collaboration with Sonu, amounting to a complete ban, which prevents him from singing not only for cinema, but also at public events in the state, until such time that he tenders an apology. Incidentally, Sonu had performed an hours’ worth of Kannada songs at the said event, but his comment has ruffled feathers. Since 1999, Sonu has been active in the Kannada film music scene, delivering hit songs for films like, Sparsha , Huchcha , Majestic , Mungaru Male and so many more, including the more recent, Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi .

Taking to social media earlier today, Sonu wrote that he reveres his Kannada songs way more than those in other languages, including Hindi. “I am not a young lad to take humiliation from anyone. I am 51 years old, in the second half of my life and am entitled to take offence for someone as young as my son threatening me directly in front of thousands in the name of language that too Kannada which is my second language when it comes to my work”, he wrote, adding that the ‘demand’ came right after the first song.

The issue has sparked a social media war, with several, including well-known singers, coming to Sonu’s defence, and others faulting him for having compared language to the Pahalgam issue.