KRV asks police to block Sonu Nigam’s October 24 Bengaluru concert

Sonu Nigam’s “The Revolution India Tour” stop in Bengaluru on October 24 is facing a permission fight before a single note has been sung. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) has formally asked the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner to deny permission for the show, citing a remark it says still hurts Kannadigas.

The 2025 remark that started it

The row goes back to April 2025, when Sonu Nigam performed at East Point College in Bengaluru. According to KRV, a student asked for a Kannada song, and the singer is accused of responding:

“Kannada, Kannada, Kannada, this is the reason the Pahalgam incident happened.”

In a letter submitted by state president TA Narayana Gowda, KRV called the statement an insult to Kannada self-respect and a reckless comparison. The letter asks, “Is asking for a Kannada song a crime?” and argues that love for the language should not be linked to a terrorist attack.

KRV’s five demands

The group says a complaint was already filed by its Bengaluru Urban District Unit president Dharmaraj TA at Avalahalli Police Station on May 2, 2025. Its letter to the police now lists five demands:

• Do not grant permission for the October 24 concert.
• If permission has already been given, revoke it after reviewing public anger and law-and-order concerns.
• Review the pending complaint against Sonu Nigam and act according to law.
• Take statements that insult Kannada language pride seriously.
• Consult organisers and concerned authorities to prevent law-and-order problems.

What it means for fans

The show is scheduled for 7 PM at Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru on Thanisandra Main Road, with ITW Playworx as organiser. KRV has warned of public unrest and large-scale protests if permission is granted, and said the responsibility for any escalation would rest with those who ignored its demand.

The dispute is also a reminder that language sentiment is part of the live-music experience in Bengaluru. A song request can become a police complaint, and a complaint can become a permission fight. For fans holding passes, the only safe plan is to wait for official word from the organisers and Bengaluru Police rather than assume the show is on or off.

The letter’s closing line makes the stakes plain: “Kannadigas have not forgotten this wound.” Whether that turns into a security concern or stays a legal matter will decide if one of Bollywood’s most popular voices takes the stage.

Source: The Times of India