Sonu Nigam apologises to Kannadigas

Indian playback singer Sonu Nigam has apologised to Kannadigas over his controversial Pahalgam remark, saying he would not mind apologising a thousand times to preserve his relationship with the people of Karnataka ahead of his Bengaluru concert on October 24.

In a video message, Nigam expressed regret if his earlier comments had unintentionally hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas. He described the people of Karnataka as his family and said they had given him love and respect for the past 30 years.

“When you love someone and want the relationship to last, you don't mind saying sorry a thousand times,” he said, adding that he did not want any misunderstanding to damage his relationship with his fans in Karnataka.

The apology came after the pro-Kannada organisation Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) urged the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to deny permission for his October 24 concert and threatened protests if the event went ahead.

KRV state president TA Narayana Gowda said Nigam had contacted him and offered an apology. The organisation subsequently called off its planned protest following the singer's apology. 

The controversy originated in April 2025, when Nigam performed at East Point College in Bengaluru. After an audience member requested a Kannada song, the singer linked the demand to the Pahalgam terror attack, triggering widespread criticism in Karnataka.