Earlier, we reported about composer AR Rahman facing flak from a section of the Indian film industry and elsewhere about his recent comments about the reduced number of offers he has been getting from Hindi cinema over the last eight years. However, the legendary composer is not without supporters in the now-raging debate, which has gone on to take religious proportions. The latest to support Rahman is actor Meera Chopra, who also produces Gandhi Talks, starring Vijay Sethupathi, Aditi Rao Hydari, Arvind Swam and Priyadarshini Indalkar, among others. Speaking about the row regarding her Gandhi Talks composer, Meera wrote, "Only two Indians have truly taken India to the global stage in a way the whole world recognizes — Priyanka Chopra and AR Rahman. Trolling him for something he didnt even mean is not just wrong, it’s disgraceful. Respect the legend. He's the one who composed the most iconic Vande Mataram."
Some political commentators and journalists have also been bringing the Vande Mataram angle while defending Rahman for his recent comments. Speaking of which, for the uninitiated, Rahman said in an interview with BBC Asian Network that the number of offers for him from Hindi cinema has reduced in the recent past and that there might be a "communal angle" to this.
The Oscar winner also said that the Vicky Kaushal starrer Chhaava, where he served as a composer, is a "divisive film". While calling it an "enjoyable film," Rahman suggested that today's 'smart' audience could differentiate between truth and cinematic manipulation, thus suggesting that director Laxman Utekar's film veers into the latter category. "I have great respect for people; people are not that foolish to get influenced by false information," the music director stated.
Rahman is not the only film personality to call out director Laxman's film. In a recent conversation with India Today, actor John Abraham also said that he would not do films such as Kashmir Files and Chhaava. "When films are being made with the intent to sway people in a hyper-political atmosphere, and they find an audience, that is scary," John said.
Amid the row over Rahman's comments, many wonder why similar sentiments from John Abraham against the right-wing went under the radar.
