Singer Sonu Nigam paused his live performance midway during a concert in Srinagar as the Azaan, the Islamic call to prayer, began to play across the city. The video of the moment, captured by attendees,
has since gone viral on social media.
Sonu Nigam halts performance for azaan
The concert took place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), located near Dal Lake, as part of the launch event for Radico Khaitan Ltd.’s new brand, The Spirit of Kashmyr. Nigam, who was performing before a packed crowd, stopped singing midway to acknowledge the Azaan.
In the clip circulating online, the singer is seen signalling his band to pause. He then addresses the audience, saying, “Please give me two minutes; the azaan is about to begin here.”
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The crowd responded with loud applause and cheers, appreciating the gesture. Once the Azaan concluded, Nigam resumed his performance.
A video shared online highlighted the moment, with a caption reading: “Singer Sonu Nigam paused his concert mid-performance to honour the Azaan, the Islamic call to prayer, during his show held at the SKICC venue near Dal Lake in Srinagar. As the melodious call echoed across the city, Nigam halted his singing and directed the audience to respectfully listen in silence. This thoughtful gesture was met with warm applause and appreciation from the crowd.”
Netizens react
The clip has since attracted a flurry of mixed reactions from netizens. Some users lauded Nigam for showing respect during the Azaan, while others drew parallels to his past remarks on the same subject.
One user commented, “Jesa desh wesa bhess (When in Rome, do as the Romans do),” while another wrote, “Dubai ne itna Jaldi sikha diya (he learnt everything from Dubai).” A critical comment read, “But what about noise pollution. I think as per him Azan disturbs him.”
Meanwhile, others defended the singer, noting his willingness to show respect. One comment read, “People in the comments are mocking him for doing the right thing. When are you all growing up? Earlier he had complained about getting disturbed by azan in the wee hours which he realised was his mistake. Now that he is showing respect, you all are mocking him again. Shame on you all.”
The 2017 controversy
Sonu Nigam had earlier faced backlash in 2017 for comments he made on Twitter regarding the use of loudspeakers for the Azaan. He had written, “God bless everyone. I’m not a Muslim, and I have to be woken up by the azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India?”
In the same thread, he added, “And by the way, Mohammed did not have electricity when he made Islam. Why do I have to have this cacophony after Edison? I don’t believe in any temple or gurudwara using electricity to wake up people who don’t follow the religion. Why then..? Honest? True? Gundagardi hai bus.”
About Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam is one of India’s most versatile and celebrated playback singers, known for his wide vocal range and ability to perform across genres, from romantic and classical to pop, rock, and devotional music. He has recorded over 6,000 songs in more than 32 languages, primarily in Hindi and Kannada, and has also released several non-film albums and acted in Hindi films.
Nigam’s illustrious career has earned him numerous accolades, including one National Film Award, four IIFA Awards, two Filmfare Awards, and two Filmfare Awards South. He was also ranked as the top artist on Billboard’s Uncharted chart in 2013 and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022. Often referred to as the “Modern Rafi,” after his idol Mohammed Rafi, Nigam has performed extensively across India and internationally.
