CHENNAI: Oscar-winning film composer AR Rahman has sparked widespread outrage after claiming that the Hindi film industry, or Bollywood, may have developed a bias in its workings. He said he was denied chances on communal lines. He is now playing the victim card like any other person from a minority community when he faces being cornered.
Speaking to BBC Asian Network, Rahman said he has received fewer opportunities in Bollywood over the past eight years, hinting that the slowdown could be linked to shifts in the industry’s power dynamics. He added that such instances often reached him through “Chinese whispers” rather than being communicated directly.
Rahman, who had converted to Islam in that interview, claimed bias in Bollywood—particularly against Tamils or those from outside Maharashtra. He said he had not personally experienced overt discrimination but acknowledged subtle changes within the system.
Rahman said, “Maybe I never got to know of this, maybe it was concealed, but I didn’t feel any of this. Maybe in the past eight years, a power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also… but it is not in my face… It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I say good—I have more time to chill with my family…I’m not in search of work. I want work to come to me; my sincerity to earn work—whatever I deserve, I get”.
Rahman said, “Urdu was the mother of Hindi film music. In 1960s and 1970s but for past 8 years after a shift in power and possibly due to communal factors, I have stopped getting work”.
Rahman has said it took him nearly seven years to feel at home in Hindi cinema. He made his Bollywood debut with Mani Ratnam’s 1991 romantic thriller Roja and went on to score the acclaimed trilogy of Roja, Bombay (1995) and Dil Se.. (1998). He also made a strong impression with Ram Gopal Varma’s Rangeela (1995), which marked a stylistic shift from his earlier work. However, it was Subhash Ghai’s 1999 romantic drama Taal that helped him shed the feeling of being an outsider.
Reacting to AR Rahman’s views, actor-director Kangana Ranaut said that “Rahman refused to work on her directorial Emergency, allegedly calling it a ‘propaganda’ film despite what she described as its balanced portrayal. She accused the composer of being prejudiced and hateful in a social media post.
Screenwriter Javed Akhtar said he doesn’t really think the industry has become communal; in fact, he didn’t even believe Rahman could make such a statement.
Playback singer Shaan dismissed any communal interpretation, urging artists to focus on their craft, saying, “Whatever work you get, do it well. I don’t think there is any communal minority angle. In music, it doesn’t happen”.
Author and columnist Shobhaa De said Rahman’s remarks were “very dangerous.” She said, “If you have talent, you get a chance. Rahman is such a successful, mature man; he should not have said this.”
One of the netizens said, “Converts are more dangerous. Listen to this, he long refused to work in Telugu movies.
Now, with no work in Bollywood, he has accepted a Telugu film and ruined the hero’s image by making him visit a dargah, while on Ayyappa mala – people in Dargah even make him remove his tilak. This convert blames the government for his lack of work. His remarks on #Chhaava deserve a slap. Let him starve; his anti-Hindu nature has made news many times.
https://twitter.com/tathvamasi6/status/2012417978403324356?s=20
Another netizen said, “Name AR Rahman. Father’s name RK Shekhar. Grandfather’s name K Rajagopalan. You’ll never see this man giving credit of his music knowledge to his powerful musical lineage. He’ll credit some random Sufi for it but not his own family. He talks great things about his newfound religion, but you’ll never hear him say one good word about Hinduism. Ajit Doval said a line in the Dhurandhar movie for people like him, we have enemies around us”.
https://twitter.com/JyotiKarma7/status/2012454067247931885?s=20
Yet another said, “Allah Rakha Rehman for you! You have stopped getting work because people now know your real motives!
https://twitter.com/JaipurDialogues/status/2012493545274307061?s=20
Another said, “Indians did not see Rahman through the communal angle, though they knew about his background. They saw his talent and adored him. So, that’s why he was at the peak of the Indian movie industry for more than 2 decades. On the contrary, it was he who saw things through the religious angle then (interview of Tamil lyrics writer Piraisoodan) and sees it now. It was he who played the Dravidian politics as well. (Pic of portrayal of Tamil Goddess by him). Indians are not responsible for his own jaundiced eyes.
TN BJP functionary said, “AR Rahman has won 7 National awards. 5 of them were given when the BJP was in the Central Government. None during the 10 years when Congress and DMK were in the Centre. He should choose his friends wisely!
https://twitter.com/ikkmurugan/status/2012499514691866658?s=20
Another tweet said “ He and his family are staunch Hindu haters. Who would like to work with such religious fanatics and bigots who can’t respect others and their beliefs? Today he is playing the victim card”.
https://twitter.com/tathvamasi6/status/2012507823838560268?s=20
A cine poet shared his personal experience to show the bigotry of Rahman’s family. Tamil Poet and lyricist Piraisoodan shares an incident of his meeting with AR Rahman and his mother… AR Rahman told Piraisoodan that he loves his work, reminded him of their past collabs and wanted to work with him again. Rahman invited him to his house to discuss some ideas for a new song.
Piraisoodan reached Rahman’s house, but his mother refused to let him in. She asked him to remove the Vibuthi and Kumkum Tilak from his forehead, and only then would she allow him to enter the house. Piraisoodan refused to remove the Tilak, and AR Rahman watched it all without saying a word. Imagine asking someone to come to your house and then insulting him for his identity.
https://twitter.com/Incognito_qfs/status/2012755240286892497?s=20
Critics say, “after getting no chances from the film world, he started playing the victim card, which is a usual pattern of minorities. When he was at the peak, he allegedly refused to make Hindu religion-based movies and wanted to make changes in the lyrics. It is common in the film industry for newcomers to be pampered by pushing aside the old guard. He depicted the Tamil Thai (mother of Tamil) in a bad manner.
https://twitter.com/Indumakalktchi/status/2012809030381846912?s=20
Now, Rahman accuses others of bias and communalism. On seeing the Twitter backlash and Social media bashing all over the place, the musical arranger has come up with a hypocritical apology, playing the nationalistic card this time.
https://x.com/Arunmozhi_Raaja/status/2012777166333714499?s=20
Rahman’s “Marakkuma Nenjam” concert, held on September 10, 2023, at Adityaram Palace City on ECR in Chennai, stirred major controversy due to severe mismanagement, overcrowding, and safety issues. There was a stampede-like situation. It is alleged that more tickets than the seating capacity at higher rates were issued, leading to overcrowding.
