Sonu Nigam, who has been in news for his comments on #MeToo, says he is concerned about anger exhibited by people these days. Singer Sonu Nigam, who has been in the proverbial eye of the storm for his comments on Pakistani musicians and the #MeToo movement, says he is concerned about the “country’s anger” and would like people to “smile and be a little easy”.
The #MeToo ripples
An eye for an eye leads to lynchings and road rage incidents and is just not his style, said the singer who ignited twin controversies last week. He said during a media summit that it would be better if he was from Pakistan so he would get more offers from India. Nigam also attracted attention with his verbal spat with Sona Mohapatra on #MeToo movement.
“I am very concerned about the country’s anger. There has to be some decorum. The kind of language people use is unbelievable. The kind of language she (Sona) used, there is so much hatred. I maintained my decorum in all my statements. We need to smile and be a little easy,” Nigam said.
The singer said he became a victim of sensational headlines and their viral effect on social media. “When I want to communicate something I will say what I know or believe in. I will speak the truth. Eye for an eye is not my style of dealing with things. This leads to mob lynching, road rage,” he added.
Nigam said his comments on #MeToo movement and Anu were misconstrued. “It is an evil thing to try to bring out something so negative from something so positive. One person is saying common people should decide the punishment for a culprit, the other person is saying law should decide. Common man should not have the right to punish the culprit. It will be a riot like situation if common man decides to give the judgement and punishment.”
Across the border
With his comments on Pakistan drawing flak, Nigam issued a statement saying he has immense respect for global musicians, including Pakistani singers, but wishes for Indian artistes to be given same facilities as their foreign counterparts. He said he made the remarks in response to a question on the current situation of the country’s music industry.
“I was asked about how the business of music functions in India. I was just giving them a clear understanding of the business status right now. These days music companies want to own the singers so when the artiste performs the companies get a cut from that,” he said. “…The companies have this rule for Indian singers but not for the talent coming from Pakistan or any other country,” he added.
Nigam asserted that singers from Pakistan were his friends and he has been the only one in the last 20 years to criticise those banning Pakistani singers. “I don’t believe in the banning politics. Having said that, if Indian singers are made to follow a certain rule, the same system should be implemented on people from abroad,” he said.
Azaan controversy
The singer-actor reiterated his views on last year’s ‘azaan controversy’, saying his comments were not directed towards any religion but at the use of loudspeakers. “It was the headline which was given… ‘Sonu against azaan’. If they would have written ‘Sonu against loudspeaker’ there would have been no controversy. If you play anything on loudspeaker, even a lullaby, I will have a problem with it.”
The singer said he objected to singing on the mic during a recent visit to a temple in Rishikesh. “In a civil society you need to behave in a certain way. You can’t be doing anything in the garb of religion. I was right that day and I am right now as well,” he said.
