Anuradha Paudwal defends AR Rahman amid row over his communal remarks: ‘He is not at that stage where anybody can influence his career’

Anuradha Paudwal defends AR Rahman

• Anuradha Paudwal defends AR Rahman amid interview controversy
• She praises Rahman's music and calls him a spiritual artist
• Paudwal claims media often creates unnecessary interview controversies

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Veteran singer Anuradha Paudwal has come out in defence of composer AR Rahman, as debate continues over his recent remarks about working less in the Hindi film industry.

The conversation started after AR Rahman’s interview with BBC Asian Network, where some interpreted his words as having a communal undertone. Anuradha Paudwal, however, dismissed the criticism, describing Rahman as a deeply spiritual and dignified artist whose music speaks for itself.

Speaking to ANI, Anuradha Paudwal said that while she hasn’t met AR Rahman personally, his work has left a lasting impression on her over the years.

“From what I know of AR Rahman is through his music. I have never met him personally, but his music tells that he is a very saintly person,” she said, highlighting the honesty, devotion, and depth that shine through in his compositions.

She also spoke about how media interviews can sometimes stir unnecessary controversy.

“I have been in the industry, and I have seen that when any artist, not only AR Rahman, sits for an interview, the interviewer usually likes to frame questions in such a way to incite their desired response. The media, the channels, they don’t like straight interviews because they want something else. AR Rahman has given us the greatest of numbers, and he is beyond all this. He has achieved so much. He is not at that stage where anybody can influence his career. That’s what I feel as a senior artist. He has done wonders with his songs. There is no meaning in it,” she added, showing her admiration for his resilience and artistry.

Also Read: AR Rahman reacts to his communal remark on The Great Indian Kapil Show: "Messages get corrupted on the way"

The controversy stems from A R  Rahman’s interview, in which he was asked if he had ever faced prejudice in Bollywood as a Tamil composer.

Rahman replied that he had not personally experienced discrimination, suggesting, “if it existed, it may have been ‘concealed by God.’”

He also observed a shift in the industry over the past eight years, saying, “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.”

His comments on the film Chhaava, which he felt was capitalising on divisive themes, added fuel to the debate, drawing reactions from Kangana Ranaut, Paresh Rawal, Ranvir Shorey, Prakash Raj, Subhash Ghai, and Shobhaa De.