Sonu Nigam Apologises to Kannadigas Over Pahalgam Remark; KRV Calls Off Protest Ahead of Bengaluru Concert

Playback singer Sonu Nigam has issued a fresh apology to the people of Karnataka over his controversial remarks linking a demand for Kannada songs to the Pahalgam terror attack. The video message, released on October 20, comes four days before his scheduled Bengaluru concert and after the pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) sought to have the event stopped.

In the message, Nigam emphasised his longstanding relationship with Karnataka and said he would not hesitate to apologise repeatedly if that helped prevent bitterness. The renewed apology followed a fresh round of objections to comments he made during a Bengaluru performance in April 2025.

What Sonu Nigam Said in His Apology?

Nigam opened his video message in Kannada, saying, “When you love someone and want the relationship to last, you don't mind saying sorry a thousand times.”

He then addressed people in Karnataka as family and expressed regret if anything he had said unintentionally hurt them. He also referred to the love and respect he had received from the state over three decades, saying he did not want a misunderstanding to damage that relationship.

The message focused on repairing ties rather than prolonging the dispute. Nigam's apology came amid renewed pressure over his upcoming performance, after KRV raised objections to the concert with Bengaluru police.

How the Pahalgam Remark Controversy Began?

The dispute dates back to an event at East Point College of Engineering and Technology in Bengaluru in April 2025. During the performance, an audience member repeatedly asked Nigam to sing in Kannada.

Nigam objected to what he described as the aggressive manner of the request. His response included a comparison with the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed on April 22, 2025. The remark drew criticism from sections of the Kannada-speaking community, who viewed the comparison as offensive.

The controversy was not simply about a request for a regional-language song. It became a wider debate about the way artists respond to language demands and the importance of respecting regional identity, particularly when performing before a local audience.

Nigam had faced criticism over the incident previously, but the issue returned to the spotlight in October 2026 as his next Bengaluru concert approached.

Why His October 24 Concert Became a Point of Tension?

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada organisation, opposed Nigam's planned Bengaluru performance and urged the city police commissioner to deny permission for the event. The group also warned of protests if the concert went ahead.

Following Nigam's apology and a conversation with KRV state president T. A. Narayana Gowda, the organisation called off its protest, according to India Today. The development eased one source of opposition ahead of the event, although the concert's final arrangements and any applicable permissions should be checked with the organisers and authorities before publication.

Nigam's concert is scheduled for October 24, 2026, as part of The Revolution India Tour. The renewed apology has therefore become an important development in the run-up to the Bengaluru show.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The episode highlights how a brief exchange at a live performance can become a larger public controversy when language and regional identity are involved. Artists performing across India often work before audiences with distinct linguistic and cultural expectations, making the tone of their response as important as the performance itself.

Nigam's latest message signals an effort to repair his relationship with Kannada-speaking audiences before returning to Bengaluru. Whether that apology fully settles the issue will depend on how the public and the groups involved respond, but the reported withdrawal of KRV's protest marks a practical change ahead of the concert.

Sources & Verification

This article was prepared using the published coverage of Sonu Nigam's October 20 apology, reporting on the origins of the April 2025 controversy and coverage of KRV's response. The apology and reported withdrawal of the protest are attributed to the available reporting; the article does not treat them as proof that every disagreement has been resolved.