Sonu Nigam humiliated by organiser after concert

Singer wants people to change behaviour towards artists.

MUMBAI: Singer Sonu Nigam was at a college in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad city for a show on Saturday night. He became upset after the organiser, the college owner, humiliated him post concert. He did not let Nigam leave for his early morning flight from Delhi, despite repeated requests.

“I was not supposed to go for the show as my mom was in a critical condition; but despite that I went and performed for three hours because I had a commitment. But I was completely zapped with the behaviour of Manish Jain who is the college owner,” Nigam told reporters on Monday.

After the concert Nigam had to leave for the airport to catch a 4am flight, but Jain insisted him to take pictures with his family and friends.

Jain is the group vice chairman of Teerthanker Mahaveer University where Nigam performed.

“I told him my mother is unwell, but he said that he had spent INR5 million for the show and would not let me leave until he clicked pictures with everyone,” the singer said.

Nigam, who patiently continued to click pictures with everyone till 1:25am, said he was extremely upset. He said people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar need to change their mindset.

“The police there was helpless and I could see ‘sorry’ in the eyes of policemen. I am from UP myself and I don’t have anything against anybody, but the mindset of people over there needs to be changed. Why do you think there are no shows happening in Bihar?” asked Nigam.

Despite this entire incident, Nigam says he is no mood to lodge a case.

“I did not overreact at that time but had things gone worse there, then I would have gone ahead. The idea is that I want people to know how artists are treated at times. My intention is that artists should be respected because we are here to entertain you,” said the 39-year-old.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2013.            

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