Music composer A.R. Rahman’s comment during an interview with BBC Asian Network that he possibly faced instances of “communal” discrimination in the last eight years in Bollywood caused an outcry on January 17.
The music maestro was asked whether he had ever faced discrimination, as was rampant today against the Tamil community. Rahman replied, “Maybe I didn’t get to know all this stuff. Maybe God concealed all this stuff (laughter). I never felt all those…” He added, “Past eight years, maybe, because the power shift has happened… people who are not creative have the power… And this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face. But I would hear like Chinese whispers. And they booked you, and the music company went and funded the movie and got five composers. And I said, ‘Oh, that’s great. Rest for me.'”
Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar reacted by saying, “People in Mumbai have great respect for him. Maybe they think, he has got busy with the West (producers). Small producers are also scared to approach him. I don’t think, there is any communal element.” Singer Shaan also said that there was unlikely to be any communal angle to the situation.”I have sung so much over the years, yet even I don’t get work at times. But I don’t take it personally… Rahman saab has a signature style. I don’t think, there is any communal angle in music. Music doesn’t work that way.”