A Kannada fringe group staged a protest against singer Sonu Nigam in Bengaluru on Monday morning, demanding his boycott in Kollywood, after the raging controversy over his concert that took place in April. The protestors called the singer's statements "anti-Kannada" and demanded action against him.
It all began after Sonu performed at East Point College of Engineering and Technology, Bengaluru, on April 25, and during his concert, he refused to sing a song in Kannada despite multiple requests by a fan. The singer stated that the young boy was "rudely threatening" him to sing in Kannada, and added, "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." Sonu also said that he later sang Kannada songs for an hour, and that he refused to sing in Kannada at the beginning of the concert because his entire band already had a set playlist.
However, a pro-Kannada outfit named Karnataka Rakshana Vedike filed a complaint against Sonu on May 3, accusing him of hurting their sentiments and disrespecting Kannadigas, and on Monday, they gathered at Freedom Park to protest against the singer.
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce launches non-cooperation campaign
Not just that, but the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) also announced a 'non-cooperation' campaign against Sonu on Monday, and they stated that it will continue until the singer tendered an unconditional apology.
"It's just like a ban. He should apologise to the people of Karnataka," members of KFCC said.
Sonu Nigam issues fresh statement
Meanwhile, Sonu seems to be in no mood to apologise as he took to his Instagram on Monday afternoon and explained the entire ordeal, adding, "I have given unprecedented love to the language, the culture, the music, the musicians, the state and the people not just when I am in Karnataka but anywhere else in the world (sic)."
"However, 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 (sic)," he added.
He stated that he would accept whatever the people of Kannada would decide for him.
