Kannada filmmaker K Ramnarayan has voiced his dissatisfaction over the apology issued by singer Sonu Nigam following the controversy at his Bengaluru concert, where the singer’s comments sparked a heated backlash. Ramnarayan, who replaced two songs sung by Nigam in his upcoming film Kuladalli Keelyavudo, stated that an apology is not enough and that Nigam must face consequences for his actions.
The controversy arose after Nigam made controversial remarks during a live concert in Bengaluru on April 25, when he was asked by the audience to sing in Kannada. The singer, visibly frustrated by the repeated demands, reportedly responded, “Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam,” making a connection between the demand for Kannada songs and the tragic events in Pahalgam. His comment was seen as insensitive, and it drew ire from several Kannada groups, including the pro-Kannada organization Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), which filed a complaint against him.
In the wake of the incident, Sonu Nigam took to social media to apologize, expressing his love for Karnataka and stating that his “love for you is bigger than my ego.” However, Ramnarayan was not satisfied with the apology, calling Nigam’s words a “very grave mistake” and insisting that it was not enough to simply say sorry.
“Just saying sorry will not cut it. Connecting Kannada pride to the national tragedy that happened in Pahalgam is a very grave mistake. He must pay a price for that,” Ramnarayan said in an interview with PTI.
Ramnarayan revealed that, as a result of the incident, he replaced two of Sonu Nigam’s songs in Kuladalli Keelyavudo with the “track versions.” The songs “Manasu Haadtade” and the title track of the film, which was a tribute to the iconic Kannada song “Kuladalli Keelyavudo” from Rajkumar’s 1965 film Satya Harishchandra, were originally sung by Nigam. The director expressed disappointment in having to replace the tracks, emphasizing the sacred nature of the original song in the Kannada film industry.
“The original Kuladalli Keelyavudo is so sacred for the Kannada film industry – our orchestra, while recording songs, ends by playing this song. How can this song be sung by someone like Nigam, who thinks so lowly of us?” Ramnarayan said.
Instead, the director announced that the songs would now be re-recorded with track singer Chetan Sosca. Ramnarayan further emphasized that while Nigam had a long-standing relationship with the Kannada film industry, his hurtful comments were unacceptable.
“I have a very long association with Nigam, who has sung more than 1,000 songs in Kannada. But someone of his stature should think more before they hurl hurtful words at others,” Ramnarayan said, adding that Nigam deserved a ban from the Kannada film industry.
The film Kuladalli Keelyavudo is scheduled to be released in theatres on May 23, and despite the controversy, the team remains focused on the film’s promotion. Ramnarayan’s strong stance has further fueled the ongoing debate about the treatment of the Kannada language and the pride associated with it, as well as the responsibilities of public figures like Nigam.
Sonu Nigam’s apology may have momentarily addressed the issue, but for Ramnarayan and many others, it is clear that words are not enough to mend the damage caused by the controversial incident.
Sources By Agencies
