Sonu Nigam’s Kannada song dropped from 'Kuladalli Keelyavudo' amid controversy: "We can't tolerate the insult"

Popular playback singer Sonu Nigam has once again found himself in the eye of a storm, this time following an incident at a Bengaluru concert that has led to his Kannada song being dropped from an upcoming film. The makers of the film Kuladalli Keelyavudo have issued a statement confirming the removal of the track Manasu Haadtade, which featured Sonu’s vocals.

The controversy began when a video from Sonu's recent concert in Bengaluru went viral. In it, the singer was seen responding firmly to a fan who persistently asked him to sing a Kannada song. The fan’s approach, which Sonu described as "rude and threatening," led the singer to compare the incident to the Pahalgam attack, a comment that didn't sit well with Kannada-speaking audiences.

Despite Sonu’s clarification later on social media, where he explained the situation and even issued an apology, “Sorry Karnataka. My love for you is bigger than my ego. Love you always", the backlash didn’t die down. An FIR was also lodged against the singer at Avalahalli Police Station in Bengaluru, intensifying the issue.

In light of the backlash, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) issued a directive urging the industry to stop collaborating with Sonu Nigam. Soon after, the makers of Kuladalli Keelyavudo released an official statement saying, “There is no doubt that Sonu Nigam is a good singer. But, we are very upset by how he spoke about Kannada recently at a concert. We cannot tolerate the insult Sonu Nigam has done to Kannada, so we have removed the song.”

The track, composed by Mano Murthy with lyrics by Yogaraj Bhat and vocals by Indu Nagaraj alongside Sonu, had been previously shared by the singer on his YouTube channel. However, it will no longer feature in the film’s final cut.

This isn’t the first time Sonu Nigam has sparked headlines with controversial remarks. From his tweets about the azaan in 2017 to other outspoken views, the acclaimed singer has often drawn mixed reactions from the public.