AR Rahman's Comments Ignite Social Media Storm
AR Rahman stands as one of India's most celebrated music composers. He has earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including prestigious Academy Awards. However, since last Friday, Rahman finds himself at the center of a major controversy. His recent comments about increasing divisiveness in the country have sparked widespread debate and criticism across social media platforms.
Rahman Points to Power Shifts in Bollywood
In a candid interview with BBC Asia Network, Rahman expressed his concerns. He suggested that his work within the Hindi film industry has faced slowdowns. Rahman attributed this change to significant shifts in power dynamics over the past eight years. Many interpreted his remarks as a subtle reference to communal bias influencing creative decisions.
"Maybe God concealed all this stuff," Rahman told the BBC. "For me, I never felt any of those. Maybe I never get to know of this, maybe it was concealed. I didn't feel any of this earlier. Maybe in the past eight years, because the power shift has happened. People who are not creative have the power to decide things now."
During the same conversation, Rahman also described the film Chhaava as divisive. This particular statement triggered immediate reactions online. Social media users quickly questioned why Rahman agreed to compose music for a film he personally considered divisive in nature.
Director Laxman Utekar Defends His Decision
As Rahman's comments continued circulating, director Laxman Utekar stepped forward with clarifications. In a recent interview clip gaining traction on social media, Utekar explained his reasoning behind selecting Rahman for Chhaava's musical score.
Speaking to the web portal Mamaraazzi, Utekar addressed questions about his film's star-studded team. The ensemble includes actors Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, alongside composer AR Rahman and lyricist Irshad Kamil. When asked about capturing an authentic Maratha flavor, Utekar provided clear insights.
"I did not want them to catch the flavor of Marathas otherwise I would have made this film in Marathi," Utekar stated. "I wanted to make the film in Hindi so that the world knows about it and I wanted wide approach. I did not want typical Marathi dialogues or Marathi songs."
International Appeal Drove Rahman Selection
Utekar revealed his cinematic inspirations for Chhaava. He cited epic historical films like Gladiator and Troy as major influences. Utekar aimed to create a similar grand-scale production centered on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. For achieving international recognition, he believed Rahman represented the ideal choice.
The interviewer also questioned why Utekar didn't select the renowned Marathi music duo Ajay-Atul instead. Utekar acknowledged their talent but emphasized his specific vision for Chhaava.
"It is my dream to work with Ajay-Atul, I love their work," Utekar admitted. "But with Chhaava I wanted to make a film which internationally people will like. In Maharashtra everyone knows about Sambhaji Maharaj. Outside of Maharashtra not many know about him. So to take the word there I wanted Rahman sir."
How Rahman Came On Board Chhaava
Utekar shared interesting details about Rahman's involvement in the project. The director recalled their previous collaboration on the film Mimi. Following that positive experience, Utekar and his writer traveled to Chennai specifically to narrate the Chhaava script to Rahman.
"Hearing it, the first thing he asked me was why do you want to make this film?" Utekar remembered. "But we made the film and then we asked him to see the film. He saw the film and he called me. He told me it's magical and he started the work on music."
This behind-the-scenes account highlights Rahman's thoughtful approach to projects. Despite initial questions, the composer ultimately found the film compelling enough to contribute his musical genius.
