Sonu Nigam offers clarification on his ‘born in Pakistan’ comment

Singer Sonu Nigam is once again embroiled in a controversy after what he said in jest during a summit by a leading news channel. The star singer claimed that Indian singers are asked to pay some fee to music companies from the amount they earn through their shows, but the Pakistani singers aren’t asked to do that.

While explaining this, Nigam had jokingly said, “I was telling someone, ‘It would have been better if we were born in Pakistan. We would have got such good work from India.’”

Various news portals covered the news by singling out his aforementioned quote as a headline. This led to Nigam being trolled. Hence, the singer has now come up with a clarification on his official Facebook page.

“‘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% 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..!” he said.

Nigam ended the post expressing his anguish at the incident. “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,” he said.

The singer was at the centre of controversy last year when he criticized the sound of Azaan [Muslim community prayers] from the loudspeakers at odd hours near his house in Mumbai.