A R Rahman says his purpose is to ‘uplift and serve through music’ after backlash

Highlights

• AR Rahman posts a 95-second video after comments from a BBC interview go viral.
  
• He says his words were misunderstood and he never meant to hurt anyone.
  
• The original remarks touched on power shifts and possible communal bias in Bollywood.
  

Rahman responds with video message

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman shared a 95-second video on social media on Sunday morning after short clips from a recent interview began circulating widely online.

In the video, he calls India his “inspiration, my teacher and my home,” and says his intentions may have been misunderstood. He stresses that his purpose has always been to “uplift, honor and serve through music.”

“I have never wished to cause pain,” he says, adding that he hopes his sincerity is felt. He also says he feels blessed to be Indian, describing the country as a space that allows freedom of expression and celebrates many cultures.

Pointing to his recent work

Rahman also refers to some of his recent projects, including Jhaala, which he presented at the Waves Summit in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and RoHiNoor, created with Naga musicians as a string orchestra project.

He mentions Secret Mountain, described as India’s first multicultural virtual band, and his upcoming work on Ramayana alongside Hans Zimmer.

“I remain grateful to this nation and committed to music that honors the past, celebrates the present and inspires the future,” he says, signing off with, “Jai Hind and Jai Ho.”

What sparked the backlash

The reaction followed a clip from Rahman’s interview with BBC Asian Network, taken from a longer 90-minute conversation. In it, he spoke about getting fewer opportunities in north India over the past eight years.

Asked about being a Tamil composer working in Bollywood in the 1990s, Rahman said he may not have noticed discrimination then. But he added that in recent years, a “power shift” had taken place.

“People who are not creative have the power now to decide things,” he said. He added that it might also be linked to “the communal thing,” though not directly to his face. He said he often hears through others that projects meant for him are later given to multiple other composers.

He said he has taken it calmly, joking that it at least gives him more time with his family.

Reactions continue

The clip drew strong reactions online, with many criticizing Rahman’s remarks and others defending his right to speak from personal experience.

Actor Kangana Ranaut also posted about him on Instagram, claiming he once refused to hear a narration of her film Emergency, which she said he considered divisive. She wrote that she felt he did not want to be part of what he saw as a propaganda film.

Rahman has not directly responded to that claim, but his video makes clear that he does not wish to hurt anyone and that his only aim is to create music that brings people together.