Allah Rakha Rahman, popularly known as AR Rahman, one of the finest composers in the music industry, has drawn heavy criticism from Hindu fringe voices following his recent comments on alleged communal bias in Bollywood.
The 59-year-old Only Faya Only composer shared his views on ‘lost work’ in the industry during an interview.
“People who are not creative have the power now to decide things and it could have been a communal thing too, but not in my face,” Rahman told BBC Asian Network online in the interview that aired Wednesday.
‘It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I said, ‘Oh, that’s nice, give me a rest. I can relax with my family,” he said in the 90-minute interview.
Right-wing commentators and activists questioned Rahman’s patriotism and talent, accusing him of playing the “victim card”.
Vinod Bansal of the far-right organization Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanded an apology from Rahman for “defaming” the country.”
We are proud of him and everything he has done for the country. But for a person who has made his living from Indian industry, the way he is trying to defame the country is highly objectionable,” he said. Al Jazeera.
Amidst the controversy, the composer came forward to clarify his position after a spate of media trolling.
In a video posted on his Instagram account, Rahman said: ‘I understand that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood, but my purpose has always been to uplift, honor and serve through music.’
He emphasized that he remained grateful to the nation and noted that he had thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support for India’s entertainment industry.
For those unfamiliar, the legendary artist has won some of the world’s most coveted musical awards – including Oscars, Grammys and a Golden Globe.
His song Jai Ho which won him an Oscar, became a famous anthem.
The Oscar winner’s song from 1997 Maa Tujhe Salam on his album Water Mataram was seen as uniting the diverse nation of 1.4 billion people.
AR Rahman’s blockbusters span Bollywood and Tamil cinema, with iconic hits like Chaiyya Chaiyya, Jai Ho, Dil See Re, Tu Hi Reand many more.
