Sonu Nigam defends 'better if I was from Pakistan' comment, says it was taken out of context

Sonu Nigam has said the comment he made at a media summit recently that it “would be better if I was from Pakistan” was taken out of context.

According to reports, the singer on 16 December had said that sometimes he wishes he was from Pakistan so he would get more offers from India.

In a Facebook post on 18 December, Sonu said journalists missed the “real content” and his statement was “reduced” to “sensational” headlines.

The singer said he was simply trying to make a point about paying more royalty to the music companies for concert performances, something which the artistes from across the border don’t face.

“Sometimes in an attempt to make headlines catchy and sensational, some journalists miss the real content. Yesterday’s AajTak Summit happened so amazing, and look what have they reduced it to…

“My point about being better off being born in Pakistan was about the music companies in India asking Indian singers to pay 40-50 per cent of their concerts remunerations to them, and only then they’ll work with those artistes… But they don’t ask the same from the singers from abroad, namely Pakistan. This was the important point I made… And these guys… changed it to ‘I would have been better off born in Pakistan I’d have work come my way.’ What do I say? Pathetic,” Sonu wrote on Facebook.

Sonu reportedly rued the prevailing culture of remixes and how they were limiting for singers and joked, “Sometimes, I feel like it would be better if I was from Pakistan. At least I would get offers from India.”

The line became a huge controversy online with people criticising the singer.

Last year, Sonu Nigam had sparked a nationwide controversy when he went on a Twitter rant against the blaring loudspeakers used for religious sermons, especially during the wee hours of the morning. He further added that he does not believe in temples and gurudwaras that use electricity. Following the row, Nigam shaved his head and quit Twitter.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)