Kamal Ghorui
AR Rahman has been in the news due to his comments in a recent interview. The composer said that he’s getting less work in Bollywood since the last eight years and it perhaps could be because of the industry growing communal. He had clarified though that he personally hasn’t really faced it but has heard of it. Rahman started facing backlash on the internet for this comment and he also called ‘Chhaava’ a divisive film. Amidst all the backlash, Rahman clarified his stance with a video he shared on social media. And now his children have stepped forward to publicly support him. Rahman’s son Ameen and daughters Khatija and Raheema shared a series of posts highlighting the composer’s global stature and contributions, including videos of him representing India on international platforms and a clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising his work.Ameen shared an Instagram story featuring Rahman waving to fans inside a packed stadium as Jai Ho played in the background. He also posted visuals of the composer taking selfies with thousands of admirers during a stadium concert, along with photographs of Rahman posing with President Droupadi Murmu. Another clip showed Rahman performing Vande Mataram alongside Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. This was followed by a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauding Rahman while addressing a gathering, where he said, “Be it AR Rahman’s music or Rajamouli’s storytelling, it has become a voice of Indian culture and won the hearts of crores of people worldwide.”Ameen further shared footage of Rahman receiving the National Award from the President for Best Music Director (Background Music) for the Tamil film ‘Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1’. Another video featured Rahman speaking about his Oscar journey. The composer won the Academy Award for Original Score for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ in 2009.Rahman’s daughter Khatija reshared the entire set of videos and images celebrating her father’s achievements. Meanwhile, his other daughter Raheema hit back at online trolls by reposting a strongly worded note that read, “They don’t have time to read the Bhagavad Gita, the Qur’an or the Bible, the sacred words that teach love, peace, discipline, and truth. But they have all the time in the world to argue, mock, provoke, abuse, and disrespect each other.”This note which she shared, further read, “This isn’t religion. This is what blind society, half-baked education, toxic politics, and broken parenting have created – a generation more loyal to hate than to humanity.” Another message she shared read, “Bhagvat Gita and Quran never fight in library.
For those not in the know, Rahman was asked if he’s faced any discrimination and reacting to it, he said in an interview with BBC Asian Network, “Maybe I never get to know of this, maybe it was concealed but I didn’t feel any of this. Maybe in the past eight years because 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 5 composers. I say good, I have more time to chill with my family. I am not in search for work. I don’t want to go in search for work. I want work to come to me; my sincerity to earn work. Whatever I deserve, I get.”Speaking about composing music for ‘Chhaava’, Rahman acknowledged the polarising nature of the film. He said, “It is a divisive film. I think it cashed in on divisiveness, but I think the core of it is to show bravery. I had asked the director, ‘Why did he need me for this film?’ but he said that we need only you for this. It is a enjoyable film, but definitely people are smarter than that. Do you think people are going to get influenced by movies? They have something called internal conscience, which knows what the truth is, and what manipulation is.”He further added, “Chhaava is the most celebrated character. It is like the blood of every Maratha. Once the film finishes, you see the girl saying the beautiful poetry. It’s very moving. I’m so honoured to have scored that full movie, which has the pulse and soul of every Maratha.”
