Sonu Nigam Speaks Up Kannada Song Controversy in Karnataka

Sonu Nigam Speaks Up Kannada Song Controversy in Karnataka :

Assam and Karnataka have made headlines with language controversies of late. And from taxi fights because the passenger doesn't speak Kannada, to the government ordering Kannada signboards. Notably, Sonu Nigam had a face off with a student in Bengaluru, recently who rudely asked him to sing in Kannada when the singer was performing. At a college concert, while performing a Hindi song, Sonu stopped midway to chide a member of the audience, a student, who was being disrespectful and kept insisting on Kannada songs. When asked about the allegations, while spelling it out, Sonu shared that he has sung in all languages but his best work has been done in Kannada. My regard for Karnataka and their people is similar to that of a family, he said. The Musician said that he was disappointed in the student, who is a few years younger than Sonu has been in the industry.

Sonu also mentioned about this event, linking it with recent happenings in Pahalgam and warned the crowd to be wary of the man standing before them. He then spoke at length about how he loved Karnataka and its language. Speaking through the press wall, amid his global shows, that when he is performing overseas they 'compulsorily make it a point to say a line in Kannada' when requested to do so as a sign of respect for the language and its speakers. 

Not being a single instance before public figures were not involved in such incidents there has been reported incident of taxi drivers being required by law to speak Kannada. A few drivers face allegations of cheating or turning down non-Kannada speakers. There’ve also been cases of vandalism against outlets that don’t have Kannada signages. Nigam, who is predominantly a Bollywood singer, among the 32 languages he has sung in in his three-decade career, has also given hit Kannada songs. His Kannada numbers “Mungaru Maleye” and “Ninnindale” have been highly popular.