AR Rahman made headlines after claiming that there was a “communal” bias in the Hindi film industry, which he claimed had affected the amount of work he received. Year several celebrities shared their views On the issue, while many disagree with the Oscar-winning composer, lyricist Manoj Muntashir has now stated that public figures should be aware of the impact of their words.
In an interview with India Today, Manoj, who has often been a victim of online trolling for his statements, said, “There is one thing in common between water and speech (paani and vaani). If they cross their borders, the result is the same – destruction. When you speak as a public figure and many people listen to you (I also mean Mithoon and others), it becomes our collective responsibility. When we say something in the public domain, we must think a hundred times. We must ask ourselves if our words could impact the social fabric of this country and whether they could send a message that should not go out. We need to weigh our words carefully and speak wisely.”
Manoj added that art and politics can never be completely separated.
Explaining his stance, the lyricist and writer said: “Anyone who says, ‘I’m apolitical,’ is lying. If you’re 18 and you’ve voted, and even if you’ve chosen NOTA, you’ve still taken a stand. So no, you can’t stay apolitical.”
And he added: “We can be wherever we want. That doesn’t make us good or bad people. Everyone has their own way of thinking. I think that, whatever happened to me, I have never regretted a single statement I made. Some of my statements were misunderstood or misquoted. But everything I have said, I have said it with complete responsibility and I stand by it.”
Meanwhile, composer Mithoon chose to distance himself from the controversy and offered a more balanced perspective. He said, “What Mr. Rahman said is that he has the right to express what he felt. But from my perspective as an audience member, I think this country has celebrated him beyond anything. People of all cultures and religions in the industry, even today, only praise him. When we sit together and work, whether it is someone like Anurag Singh or others, there is only respect for Mr. Rahman. That goes beyond caste, color and creed. I firmly believe that India loves Mr. Rahman, and that is not debatable. So “I am not part of this controversy.”
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What sparked the controversy?
Speaking to BBC Asian Network, AR Rahman claimed that he has lost job opportunities over the past eight years due to a shift in power within the industry.
He said: “Maybe in the last eight years, because a power shift has happened and now people who are not creative have the power. It may also be a communal thing, but I don’t see it in my face. It comes to me through Chinese whispers: that you were hired, but the music company went ahead and hired five other songwriters. I said, ‘Oh, that’s great. Rest for me. I can relax with my family.'”
Following criticism on social media, Rahman clarified his comments and expressed his love for the country.
He said: “India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home. I understand that intentions can sometimes be misinterpreted. My purpose has always been to uplift, honor and serve through music. I have never wished to cause pain and I hope my sincerity is felt. I feel blessed to be Indian, allowing me to create in a space that celebrates freedom of expression and multicultural voices. I remain grateful to this nation and committed to music that honors the past, celebrates the present and inspires the future. Jai Hind and Jai Ho.”