Singer Sonu Nigam has issued an apology to the people of Karnataka ahead of his upcoming Bengaluru concert, saying he would be willing to apologize repeatedly rather than allow a misunderstanding to damage his long-standing relationship with Kannadigas.
In a video message, the singer addressed his Kannada-speaking fans and expressed regret if any of his earlier comments had hurt their feelings. The apology comes amid a controversy surrounding his remarks about the Pahalgam terror attack, which drew criticism across Karnataka in April 2025.
“When you love someone and want the relationship to last, you don’t mind saying sorry a thousand times,” Sonu said in Kannada.
He then addressed his fans directly, saying, “So, my dear family, if anything I’ve said inadvertently has hurt you, I’m so sorry. You know I’m not the kind of person who would ever hurt anyone, especially my family from Karnataka. 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.”
Why Sonu Nigam is facing backlash
The controversy dates back to a performance at East Point College in Bengaluru in April 2025. When an audience member repeatedly asked Sonu to sing a Kannada song, the singer objected to what he described as a threatening manner of making the request.
“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,” he said at the time.
The comparison triggered widespread criticism, with many people in Karnataka objecting to the way he had linked the demand for a Kannada song to the terror attack in Pahalgam.
KRV demands cancellation of Bengaluru concert
The singer’s apology follows a demand by the pro-Kannada organization Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) that the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner refused permission for his upcoming show. KRV state president TA Narayana Gowda alleged that Sonu had insulted Kannadigas through his earlier comments.
The organization also warned that it would organize protests across Karnataka if the concert went ahead. In its letter to the Police Commissioner, KRV stated, “Kannadigas have not forgotten this wound.”
Sonu Nigam is scheduled to perform as part of The Revolution India Tour at 7 pm on October 24 at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru on Thanisandra Main Road.
His video message comes just days before the concert, as the singer seeks to ease tensions and preserve his relationship with his Kannada-speaking audience.