Mumbai, Jan 20 : Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman found himself at the centre of an online controversy after remarks in an interview about communalism in Bollywood and the film Chhaava, which he described as “divisive,” triggered social media outrage. Hashtags and heated discussions quickly spread, reflecting the speed of online judgment.
Rahman’s children son A.R. Ameen and daughters Khatija and Raheem stepped forward to defend him. Using Instagram Stories, they shared a series of throwback photos and videos to remind the public of Rahman’s contributions and achievements.
Highlights included a video of Rahman waving to a packed cricket stadium with his global hit Jai Ho playing, a clip of him smiling with President Droupadi Murmu, and another capturing his National Award recognition. A.R. Ameen also shared a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising Rahman, saying, “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.” Fans were also shown Rahman performing alongside Coldplay’s Chris Martin, underscoring his global reach.
Responding to the backlash, AR Rahman released a clarification video, stating, “Music has always been my way of connecting, celebrating and honouring our culture. India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home.” He added that while intentions can sometimes be misunderstood, his aim has always been to uplift and serve through music.