Composer AR Rahman received The Icon award on Sunday, at Dakshin - South India Media and Entertainment Summit. During his acceptance speech, Rahman shared his encounter with a Chinese guy seven years ago in Malaysia. The latter had told Rahman that North Indians are his favourite as they have a fair skin tone and their films are charming. The composer said he was deeply worried wondering if that guy ever saw South Indian films.

"We (South Indians) love our colour and we need to represent them in the most glorious and dignified way," he further added, "It is high time we cast people of our colour in films and hired them as newsreaders." 

It may be noted that Rahman had recently tweeted an image captioned as 'Tamizhanangu', with a note from famous Tamil poet Barathidasan, indicating that the Tamil language is the foundation of the Tamil people.

His recent speech at the summit has gained great support from his fans, and the ones who are against the Hindi imposition.

On the work front, ARR has Cobra, PS-1, Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu and Pathu Thala in various stages of production,