Mumbai, Jan 19 : Legendary composer AR Rahman recently found himself at the centre of a social media storm after his remarks on alleged communal dynamics in Bollywood and his criticism of the film Chhaava sparked sharp reactions online. While many supported Rahman for speaking candidly about his experiences, others lashed out, branding him a “disgrace to Tamil Nadu and India.”
As the controversy intensified, Rahman’s daughters, Khatija and Raheema Rahman, publicly showed their support, breaking their silence amid the backlash.
The controversy gained momentum after Malayalam composer Kailas Menon shared a strongly worded Instagram post defending Rahman. Emphasising freedom of expression, Kailas wrote that while people may disagree with Rahman’s views, attacking him personally was unacceptable. He criticised the trend of turning disagreement into abuse and character assassination, calling it a dangerous form of hate speech disguised as criticism.
Kailas also highlighted Rahman’s immense contribution to Indian and global music, noting that he is not “just any voice” but an artist who has carried Indian cinema and Tamil culture to international platforms with dignity. He slammed trolls for dismissing Rahman’s lived experiences as a “victim card.”
Soon after, Rahman’s daughters stepped in to show solidarity. Khatija Rahman reacted to Kailas’ post with supportive emojis and reshared it on her Instagram stories, clearly endorsing his message. Raheema Rahman also reshared the post, lending her voice to the defence. Rahman’s son Ameen has not commented on the issue so far.
The backlash stems from Rahman’s recent interview with BBC Asian Network, where he was asked whether he had faced prejudice in Bollywood as a Tamil composer. Rahman said he hadn’t experienced overt bias, possibly because it was “concealed by God,” but suggested that changing power dynamics and the rise of non-creative influences may have played a role in recent years. He also hinted at a possible communal undercurrent, stressing that it was subtle rather than explicit.
Further controversy erupted after Rahman remarked that Chhaava was “cashing in on divisiveness,” a comment that drew criticism from sections of viewers who interpreted it as politically motivated.
Responding to the outrage, Rahman later released a video statement reaffirming his love for India and clarifying that his comments were based purely on personal experiences and artistic concerns, not any political agenda.