Mumbai: Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has stepped forward to sieve his recent 'communal' remarks that triggered a storm in the Hindi mucosa world.
What did Rahman say?
In a video message shared on Instagram, Rahman said he never intended to hurt anyone's feelings with his comments. He tabbed India his "home, inspiration and teacher" and said music has unchangingly been his way of triumphal culture and unity. Rahman widow that he hopes people understand his sincerity and good intentions.
On Sunday, taking to Instagram, Rahman shared a video message with the caption," Music, culture, gratitude. Unchangingly in service of the art and the land that shaped me."
In the video, Rahman said, "Dear friends, music has unchangingly been my way of connecting, triumphal and honouring a culture. India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home. I understand that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood, but my purpose has unchangingly been to uplift, honour and serve through music. I have never wished to rationalization pain and I hope my sincerity is felt."
Reflecting on his journey, the singer and composer said, “From nurturing Jala presented at the Wave Summit in front of the Honourable Prime Minister and Ruhi Noor, to collaborating with the young Naga musicians, to create a string orchestra, to mentoring the Sunshine Orchestra, moreover towers Secret Mountain, India’s first multicultural virtual wreath and the honour of scoring Ramayana slantingly Hans Zimmer, each journey has strengthened my purpose.”
In the end of the video, Rahman expressed gratitude to India and reaffirmed his transferral to creating music that, in his words, "honours the past, celebrates the present and inspires the future."
Why did this controversy start?
The debate began without Rahman spoke to the BBC Asian Network well-nigh changes in Bollywood over the past eight years. He said the value of work he gets from the Hindi mucosa industry has dropped, and he suggested this might be linked to a shift in decision-making power and “possibly a communal thing”, though he said he had not faced favoritism directly.
Rahman described hearing such stories through “Chinese whispers” rather than personal experience.
The composer said, "People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face. It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music visitor went superiority and hired their five composers. I said, 'Oh, that's great, rest for me, I can nippy out with my family."
How did the industry react?
Several well-known figures in the entertainment world pushed when versus the implication that Bollywood was rhadamanthine communal.
Writer and wordsmith Shobhaa De tabbed the scuttlebutt "dangerous" and said she doesn’t see religion playing a role in opportunities for talent.
"This is a very dangerous comment. I don't know why he has made it, you should ask him. I have been watching Bollywood for 50 years. And if I have seen any place which is self-ruling of any kind of communal tension, it is Bollywood. If you have talent, you will get a chance. If you don't have talent, there is no question of religion stuff a factor that you are not getting a chance," she said.
She concluded, "So, what he is saying, he is such a successful man, he is such a mature man. He should not have said it, maybe he has his reasons, you will have to ask him."
Singer Shaan moreover denied that there was any "minority angle" in music industry work, saying talent and good work are what matter most.
Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar said he hasn’t felt any communal bias and believes Rahman’s reduced work may be due to other factors.
Is there increasingly backlash?
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy rejected the idea that Rahman’s religion played a role in his career trajectory. The leader tabbed the suggestion “absolutely false” and said Rahman has widespread support wideness communities.
"AR Rahman's scuttlebutt today that he is not getting support in the mucosa music industry considering of stuff Muslim is veritably false. The country has supported and received him as the number one music director in the country," ANI news organ quoted Reddy as saying.
"The people of the country have never seen Rahman through the lens of religion," he added, calling it "unfortunate that he has made a scuttlebutt on religion."
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) moreover criticised Rahman’s comments. National spokesperson Vinod Bansal accused him of defaming the mucosa industry and suggested he focus on himself rather than vituperation others. The VHP moreover made provocative remarks well-nigh his personal background.
“It seems that AR Rahman too has wilt a leader of the faction whose leader was once former Vice President Hamid Ansari. Hamid Ansari availed benefits for 10 years and held Constitutional posts. While retiring, he pulled lanugo India. He (AR Rahman) was unprofane by all Indians and Hindu people. Instead of looking within himself, that's why he is not getting work, he is badmouthing the system and defaming the unshortened industry. What does he want to prove? He was once a Hindu himself. Why did he convert to Islam? Do 'gharwapasi' now. Maybe you will start getting work once again. Such petty statements can be made by a politician, it does not suit an artist," Bansal said.
