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News18
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
‘Why Make It A Big Issue': Actor Shivrajkumar Breaks Silence On Kannada Row, Defends Kamal Haasan
Last Updated: Kamal Haasan stoked controversy with his "Kannada was born from Tamil" remark, drawing criticism from politicians. Kannada actor Shivrajkumar has now come out in his defence. Amid a row over Kamal Haasan's 'Kannada was born from Tamil" remark, Shivrajkumar – who was the chief guest at the event where the statement was made – has broken his silence on the controversy but shied away from criticising the actor. While Haasan's remarks were slammed by politicians and several online users alike, Shivrajkumar too came under fire for his silence on the controversy until yesterday. The Kannada actor defended Haasan, stating that he is his favorite and that his father shared a 'special relationship" with the Tamil actor. During an event of his upcoming film Thug Life in Chennai, Haasan had opened his speech with 'Uyire Urave Tamizhe (My life, and my family, is in Tamil language). Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included." Shivrajkumar came out in the fellow actor's defence and said that Haasan has 'love for Kannada". 'I really like Kamal Haasan, he is my favorite. My father and Kamal Haasan had a special relationship, and because of that, I'm not just a fan—I admire him deeply. I consider Kamal Haasan an inspiration. We just went to his program and came back, that's all. Even Kamal Haasan has a love for Kannada. When he came to Bengaluru, he could have been asked then. Why make it a big issue now?" he said. 'Just saying 'Kannada Kannada' with words isn't enough. I fight for Kannada. I'm ready to die for Kannada. If you say Kannada, then don't just support star actors — new talents also need to be encouraged. Kamal Haasan will come to know all this, and he himself will correct it," Shivrajkumar added. Shivrajkumar is the son of late Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar, who is regarded as a legendary figure in Kannada cinema. On July 30, 2000, Dr Rajkumar was kidnapped from his farmhouse in Gajanur, Tamil Nadu, close to the Karnataka border. The forest bandit Veerappan and his gang took him along with three others—his son-in-law, SA Govindaraj, a relative named Nagesh, and assistant film director Nagappa. The kidnapping caused a big uproar among the public and created tension between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As the controversy blew up, Haasan refused to apologise and said that he only stated 'what historians have said." 'I only repeated what historians have said. I haven't provided any false information. There's nothing I said that warrants an apology. In love, the concept of apology doesn't arise," he said. First Published:
India Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
In defence of Sonu Nigam, SBI official and all ‘anti-Kannada' people
'Kannada Kannada ... This is the reason what occurred in Pahalgam, happened.''I will not ... I will never speak Kannada.'Two different people. Two separate utterances. One single reaction. One missing element. The first was said by playback singer Sonu Nigam during a concert in Bengaluru. The second was said by a supposed manager of a State Bank of India suburban branch, again in statements, captured on camera, sparked outrage over 'disrupted public harmony' and 'insulted dignity' of Kannadigas. A pro-Kannada group filed a complaint against Nigam on May 2, stating he 'insulted the Kannadiga community and equated their cultural pride and linguistic identity with violence and intolerance' by linking a fan's repeated song requests to in both cases, the individuals said much more before and after these inflammatory snippets. So, here is the defence for both Sonu Nigam and the SBI official: There is context to this and there is intent. Neither seems to have been taken into consideration before going hammer and tongs at the two individuals for hurting Kannada NIGAM 'DIDN'T LIKE' THE 'RUDE THREATENING' BEHAVIOURIn Sonu Nigam's case, he was trying to explain the 'rude' behaviour and attitude of a single individual in the audience. There is a one-minute video that shows how he is trying to explain that he was the complete video, he says: 'Whenever I come to Karnataka, I come with respect, because you have thought of us as family. I didn't like it that a boy there ... he was so rudely threatening me: 'Kannada! Kannada!' I've probably sung more songs in Kannada than how old he probably is ... This is the reason what happened in Pahalgam. What you are doing. What you did just now.'He continues: 'I love Kannadigas. I love you guys ... There would be 14,000 people in the audience but if there is one voice which says Kannada ... for that one person, I sing a few lines in Kannada. That's how much I respect you guys.'Nigam said all in the build up to the comparison, that led to mass outrage and some of his gigs getting context is that he was heckled. His intent is to let everyone know that he was upset by the behaviour of a member of the audience and he also expects respect in OFFICIAL WANTED TO KNOW 'WHERE IS THE RULE' FOR KANNADAIn the SBI official's case, she was arguing with a customer. What is being circulated on social media is about half of the entire exchange full 2:55-minute video shows the customer first complaining about wait times: 'I came here for service. I have been sitting here. Has anyone come to the counter yet? Anyone who is there, come and sit at the counter.'When the erring official entered the conversation saying, 'It's not your duty to tell us what to do,' the customer demanded: 'Talk in Kannada. Why are you talking in Hindi?'This is where things escalated, as the man is heard saying, 'Talk in Kannada. Why are you talking in Hindi?'Other staff explained she didn't know Kannada, but the customer persisted, speaking only in Kannada and pushing her to respond in a language she couldn't speak. Her colleagues tried to mediate, but both parties remained stubborn. At what can also be construed as egging, her response escalated from 'I don't know' to 'I will not' to finally 'I will never' about speaking the context is of an isolated argument between a frustrated customer and a haughty official. Here, both parties are intent on having the upper hand. He didn't like that he had to wait; she didn't like that he told her and her colleagues to do their WITHOUT CONTEXT, INTENT OR MOTIVEIn these two separate cases, both Sonu Nigam and the SBI official were virtually crucified for causing harm to the dignity of of the fact that there were following videos. Sonu Nigam had two separate videos: one where he apologised for having caused hurt unintentionally and another trying to explain the incident video of the SBI official being helped and coached by presumably her colleagues to apologise in Kannada. She says she did not mean any hurt. 'Anyone if hurt, forgive me. I'll cooperate for transactions in Kannada,' she is repeating what is being told to other following videos did not get as much traction as the ones of their indiscretion. Their utterances were taken out of context by snipping them to the operative offending parts and then both cases they were driven to make these gaffes. One was heckled, the other was egged on. And yet, there are no fingers being pointed at the other party, who in a just society, will also be held jury when trying a crime takes context, intent and motive into consideration before assigning guilt. In court, it is 'presumed innocent until proven guilty.'advertisementSonu Nigam and the SBI official, however, have been presumed guilty unless proven innocent.
Deccan Herald
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike hits streets against Sonu Nigam over his anti-Kannada remarks in Bengaluru
Members of Kannada Raksha Vedike stage a protest against singer Sonu Nigam over his Kannada remarks during a recent concert in Bengaluru. Members of Kannada Raksha Vedike stage a protest against singer Sonu Nigam over his Kannada remarks during a recent concert in Bengaluru. Credit: DH Photo/BK Janardhan Hundreds of supporters thronged to the Freedom Park in Bengaluru and raised their voices against singer Sonu Nigam. Credit: DH Photo/BK Janardhan Several people were seen shouting slogans and holding placards against Sonu Nigam. Credit: PTI In a video shared on social media, Sonu was heard saying: 'Kannada is why Pahalgam happened during his gig.' Credit: DH Photo/BK Janardhan As the controversy gains traction, an FIR was registered against Sonu Nigam on May 3, and two days later, the KFCC announced a ban on him from the Kannada film industry. Credit: PTI The Kannada community and cinema fraternity have expressed their outrage on social media, and pro-Kannada organisations have demanded Sonu Nigam to issue a public apology. Credit: PTI
News18
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sonu Nigam BREAKS Silence Over Bengaluru Concert Remarks: ‘Pahalgam Mein Jab…'
Last Updated: An FIR was filed against singer Sonu Nigam in Bengaluru for his controversial comment during a concert in the city a few days ago. Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam has been facing massive backlash for his recent remarks during his Bengaluru concert. The singer was allegedly repeatedly asked to sing in Kannada by a young man. Nigam said that while he loves Kannadigas, he found the demand 'rudely threatening'. He also made a remark on the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to sharp criticism from pro-Kannada groups, who allege it equated their language struggle with terrorism. Now, amid the backlash, Sonu Nigam has issued a clarification, revealing what happened during the concert. He claimed that a few individuals were causing trouble, and clarified that the intention was not to criticize the whole community, but rather to address the negative actions of a few individuals who were 'threatening', rather than requesting for Kannada song. On Saturday, Sonu Nigam shared a video on Instagram, in which he shared what happened during the Bengaluru concert. He said that there were 4-5 individuals who were shouting 'Kannada Kannada', while thousands of others were stopping them, and asking them not to disturb the concert. 'Un paanchon ko ye batana aur yaad dilaana bohot zaroori tha ki, Pahalgam mein jab pant utaari gayi thi, tab bhaasha nahi puchhi gayi thi (It was very important to remind those five that when the pants were taken off in Pahalgam, no one asked about the language)," said Sonu Nigam. He added that Kannadadigas are lovely people, and that it's important not to generalize them. 'There's nothing like that. Everywhere, there are 4-5 such bad people, no matter which state they're from. But it's very important to remind them that you cannot let them threaten you, to make you sing. The whole world is doing it with love. When I come, I bring a one-hour set of Kannada songs. But those who provoke others, it's very important to stop them right away," he said. 'Kyunki ye bawaseer ban jaate hain phir baad mein," he added. He further shared, 'If someone is sowing the seeds of hatred in the land of love, we need to stop them. Kannadigas are beautiful people, so please let's not generalize them. There were just 4-5 boys who were looking at me angrily after I finished my first song. They weren't demanding, they were threatening. You can ask people who were there." What Did Sonu Nigam Say During Bengaluru Concert? A video of Sonu Nigam schooling the individuals for demanding a Kannada song went viral on social media. Nigam, visibly upset, paused the show and said that while he loves Kannadigas and has sung some of his best songs in Kannada, he found the demand 'rudely threatening." He added, 'This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam. Please see who is standing before you. I love you guys." It is this reference to Pahalgam- a site of a recent terror attack- that enraged Kannada activists, who interpreted it as comparing the language struggle of Kannadigas to terrorism. First Published:
