AR Rahman Breaks Silence After Controversy on The Great Indian Kapil Show
Music composer AR Rahman has made his first public appearance after landing in a controversy over his recent 'communal' remark. The Oscar-winning maestro appeared as the latest celebrity guest on comedian Kapil Sharma's The Great Indian Kapil Show over the weekend, marking his return to the spotlight following significant backlash.
Reflecting on Message Distortion During Whisper Game
During one of the show's segments, Rahman participated in a whisper game that led him to reflect on how messages often get distorted in transit. The composer made insightful observations about communication breakdowns in today's world, stating, "This is a good exercise to see how information gets misunderstood. Different states, different cultures. The problem with the world is this, how messages get corrupted on the way."
Rahman's comments took on added significance given the recent controversy surrounding his remarks about the Hindi film industry. His appearance on the popular comedy show provided a platform for him to address broader issues of misunderstanding while promoting his latest creative project.
Promoting Silent Film Project Gandhi Talks
The music legend's appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show served as part of the promotion for his latest project - Kishor Pandurang Belekar's silent film Gandhi Talks. Rahman has composed the music for this unique cinematic venture that features an impressive cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Siddharth Jadhav.
Talking about the challenges and opportunities presented by a dialogue-free film, Rahman shared, "If there are no dialogues, it's such a celebration of music. Because you have all the real estate to do music, but also terrifying because people will be judging. Every note will be exposed."
The composer expressed particular appreciation for director Kishor Pandurang Belekar, revealing, "He's the first director who never came and told me anything negative and said, 'I don't like this.' Whatever I give, he takes it. Even if I play 'tang', he would say yes."
Background: The Controversial Remarks
Recently, Rahman faced significant backlash following an interview with BBC Asian Network where he was asked about potential prejudice as a Tamil composer in the Hindi film industry. The musician responded, "Maybe I never got to know of this, maybe it was concealed by God, but I didn't feel any of this. The past eight years, maybe, 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."
In the same conversation, Rahman also criticized Vicky Kaushal's film Chhaava for what he perceived as cashing in on 'divisiveness,' further adding to the controversy surrounding his comments.
Clarification and Response
Following the backlash, Rahman issued a clarification statement addressing the situation: "Music has always been my way of connecting, celebrating and honouring our culture. India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home. I understand that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood. But my purpose has always been to uplift, honour and serve through music. I have never wished to cause pain, and I hope my sincerity is felt."
The composer's appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show represents his first step back into public engagement since the controversy erupted. His participation in the popular comedy program allowed him to subtly address themes of misunderstanding while focusing on his artistic contributions through the promotion of Gandhi Talks.
Rahman's career spanning decades has been marked by numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and multiple National Film Awards. His recent comments and subsequent clarification have sparked discussions about creative freedom, industry dynamics, and cultural representation in Indian cinema.
