Manoj Tiwari reacts to AR Rahman’s ‘communal’ remark, says he was ‘very surprised’

Manoj Tiwari reacts to AR Rahman comment

• Manoj Tiwari and other celebs disagree with AR Rahman's communal remark.
• AR Rahman said his aim was to inspire people through his music.
• Rahman: Power shifts and bias hindered my Hindi film projects.

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Actor and politician Manoj Tiwari has reacted to AR Rahman’s ‘communal’ remark that has sparked a heated debate in the whole entertainment industry. The actor strongly disagreed with the singer’s comment and admitted that he was taken aback by his words.

During a conversation with ANI, Manoj Tiwari said, “I am very surprised because I am also a fan of his. AR Rahman saab has given some truly outstanding music. But this is how time works — sometimes everything goes well, and sometimes things slow down a lot. Why he made such a statement is beyond my understanding. Everyone wants their films to be hits and their songs to be successful, but I do not agree with his statement.”

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Several Bollywood celebrities have expressed their disagreement while slamming AR Rahman for his comment.

What did AR Rahman say?

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman stated in a recent interview with the BBC Network that his work in the Hindi film industry has slowed down recently. He attributed this development to "shifting power dynamics" during the previous eight years and also to what he called "a communal thing."

The musician noted that the reasons often reach him indirectly, adding, “It comes to me as Chinese whispers.”

AR Rahman elaborated on his comment and said, “People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face. It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I said, 'Oh, that's great, rest for me, I can chill out with my family."

Also Read: Chinmayi Sripada defends AR Rahman amid ‘Vande Mataram’ row, says "He sings Maa Tujhe Salaam at almost every concert”

AR Rahman’s clarification

Following the brutal backlash on social media, AR Rahman issued a statement clarifying his comment.

He shared a video on his Instagram and said, “Dear friends, music has always been my way of connecting, celebrating and honouring a 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.”

Also Read: From Javed Akhtar to Manoj Tiwari, celebs reacted strongly to AR Rahman’s 'Communal' bias remark

He continued by saying that he considers himself lucky to be Indian and that the nation provides him with a space that honours artistic freedom and promotes a variety of viewpoints.

AR Rahman emphasised how his artistic perspective has been influenced by working in such a setting. The composer discussed a number of initiatives that, in his opinion, have strengthened his purpose as he looked back on his journey.