Don't dub Kannada movies in Hindi: Sonu Nigam slams BJP leader over language row

Playback singer Sonu Nigam sparked a debate on the use of local language in public sector jobs after an SBI manager refused to speak Kannada. The singer asked BJP leader Tejasvi Surya if the local language should be made mandatory for software professionals and American clients too.

In Short

• Sonu Nigam questioned BJP's Tejasvi Surya on local language importance in public sector
• SBI manager in Bengaluru refused to speak Kannada, sparking controversy
• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah condemned SBI manager's behaviour and called for respect

Playback singer Sonu Nigam questioned BJP leader Tejasvi Surya after he stressed the importance of learning and conversing in the local language for people who work in the public sector, especially banking, while commenting on the controversy over linguistic insensitivity at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Bengaluru. A row erupted after SBI manager in Surya Nagar branch, Anekal Taluk, refused to speak Kannada to a customer.

The singer stirred language debate after he posed multiple questions to the BJP neta. In a post on X, which is loosely translated in English, he questioned the politician's logic. "Kannada language should also be made mandatory in software companies. If American clients want to get their projects done in Karnataka, they should also speak in Kannada. There should be no compromise on this. Alright @Tejasvi_Surya ji? Period (sic)."

Tejasvi Surya shared the viral video of the branch manager's altercation with a customer and raised the issue of posting local staff in the public sectors to aid in serving the customers. "If you are doing customer interface work in Karnataka, especially in a sector like banking, it is important to communicate to customers in the language they know. Being adamant like this is simply not right. Banks working in Karnataka should serve customers in Kannada. Period (sic)," he remarked.

In another post on X, Sonu Nigam asked Surya if he was just another language warrior. "Don't dub Kannada movies in Hindi! Don't release Kannada movies pan-India! Do you have the guts to say this to Kannada film stars, Mr. @Tejasvi_Surya, or you are just another language warrior? (sic)," he wrote on X on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the behaviour of the SBI Branch Manager after the bank swiftly transferred the official. "The matter may not be treated as closed. However, such incidents must not recur. All bank employees must treat customers with dignity and make every effort to speak in the local language (sic)."

Sonu Nigam's comments on the language row come at a point when the singer was banned by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce after his rude behaviour at a concert in Bengaluru. At his concert, he made objectionable remarks by linking fans' repeated requests to the Pahalgam attack.

Though Sonu Nigam apologised for his comments, his song from an upcoming Kannada film, 'Kuladalli Keelyavudi', has been removed.

(The story is being updated).