Popular singer Sonu Nigam has again found himself at the centre of controversy. A recent remark he made during a college function at Bengaluru has created a heated controversy. Following this remark, the Karnataka police have taken his statement. The saga started with the dastardly terrorist attack at Pahalgaon, Kashmir. Picking up from the backdrop of that attack, Sonu Nigam spoke these words on stage during the function, and it became a political and social debate.
It was on April 22 that there was a gruesome terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley of Kashmir. Tourists were fired upon by the terrorists. 25 innocent individuals were killed. A local youth was also martyred in an attempt to save them. i.e., 26 individuals were killed in that attack. The attackers are said to have selectively attacked Hindu tourists with full knowledge of their religious identity. Within a few days of such a sensitive event, Sonu Nigam was present at a function in a college in Bengaluru. The function was on April 25 and 26.
When singing at the stage of East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru's Vargonagar, a young man kept asking Sonu to sing in Kannada. Sonu became agitated at one point and spoke in the microphone, "I have sung countless songs in many languages. I have sung in Kannada numerous times. When I visit Karnataka, I take respect, you give me love. I didn't like it, though, when a young man shouted 'Kannada, Kannada'. Such behavior resulted in events like the Pahalgaon attack." Sonu's remark went viral on social media.
While people made light of what he said, people understood it as a religiously abusive remark. Numerous grievances were lodged with the Bengaluru police. The police initiated an investigation based on the grievances. According to the Karnataka High Court, no harsh action can be taken against the singer for the present. The court simultaneously gave permission to record Sonu's remark on camera. The remark of the judge was that the singer does not need to be at the police station personally. In this sequence, the Bengaluru police visited Sonu's residence in Mumbai on Sunday and took his statement. Though there has not been an official statement from Sonu yet, sources informed that he is firm with his statement. He asserts that he never insulted any language or religion. Instead, he made an emotional remark following an undue shouting by a viewer.
Following this incident, there was also a hue and cry in the political scene.
Certain Kannada organizations called for severe action against Sonu. Conversely, certain Bollywood stars also issued their statements favoring Sonu. In their view, a controversy is being unnecessarily raked up regarding the statement of an artist. If an artist sings in numerous languages, he must be given respect. Talking about a viewer's behavior does not equate to speaking against a whole language or a country. As per the experts, more caution should be exercised while speaking in public on sensitive topics such as the Pahalgaon attack. Because on the one hand, significant issues like national security and religious harmony, on the other hand, the effect of a popular artist's utterance is long felt in the hearts of the common masses. So, there can be a huge controversy out of a little lack of caution.
But even after this incident, no serious charges have been made against Sonu. According to the Karnataka High Court orders, an investigation is being carried out and work on recording the statement has been done. It has been told that disciplinary action cannot be taken against the singer until the investigation process is finished.
At the core of this whole incident, there exists just one question - whether an artist's reaction to a query or a call from a viewer is enough to create social and political controversy, then what should be his role as an artist. And also simultaneously, is such pressure or expectation from artists growing day by day in India, which is language and culture sensitive?
Time alone will tell. But till then, the controversy fire surrounding Sonu Nigam hasn't died down yet. Experts are of the view that the debate will go on based on the remark made by the singer and the response to it till the probe is completed.
