Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman’s recent statement regarding getting less work in Bollywood has given rise to a new debate. In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Rahman said that “power shift” could be one of the reasons behind the slowdown in his Hindi film career in the last eight years and that “it could also be a communal thing, but not openly in front of me.” After this comment, many critics raised questions on his claim and termed it baseless.
In the interview, Rahman said, “Maybe I am not aware of all these things. Maybe God has hidden all these things from me. But I never felt that way, but maybe in the last eight years, because there has been a change in power. Now people who are not creative have the power to take decisions, and it may have been a collective matter too, but not directly. I know like a whisper that they had booked you, but the music company has given work to five of its musicians. But I kept it. I said, ‘Wow, it’s great, now I have time to relax, I can spend time with my family.’
Critics also say that even today many Muslim singers and composers, like Faheem Abdullah, Salim-Sulaiman, Armaan and Amaal Malik, Javed Ali are working continuously. In such a situation, the question is being raised that if there is a “communal factor”, then why does it appear to be limited only to AR Rahman.
Rahman’s career has spanned over three decades and he has composed music for hundreds of films in several languages including Tamil, Hindi. His songs became very popular in the recent Bollywood hit film, starring Dhanush, who predominantly acts in Tamil films. Actually, singer Faheem Abdullah’s song ‘Awara Angara’ became very popular among the audience. The title track of another blockbuster film of 2025 ‘Sayara’ also remained among the top songs for four months.
How is it possible that Muslim actors, singers and musicians like Faheem Abdullah, Salim-Sulaiman, Armaan and Amaal Malik, Javed Ali keep getting work continuously in Bollywood, but AR Rahman does not get enough work due to ‘communal issue’? Is the ‘communal issue’ in the Hindi film and music industry only against AR Rahman?
Unless Rahman provides more details about those ‘non-constructive decision makers’, his claim of Bollywood being “communal” is baseless. This should be seen as unnecessary propaganda against Muslim victimhood.
Interestingly, it is not a new thing for established artists to attribute the decline in their careers to ‘gangs’ and ‘boycotts’. Be it Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhaskar or Richa Chadha, she has been vocal on all political issues. He has received both support and criticism from various sides of the political spectrum. Yet when her films do not perform well at the box office, she sometimes argues that their failure is the price of her outspoken political commentary.
This convenient but dishonest excuse comes up when his films were rejected by the audience due to poor screenplay, mediocre acting and other content reasons.
One thing is clear in this entire controversy that Rahman’s statement is based on personal perception, while the arguments being raised against him point to the structure of the industry, historical precedents and current working trends. Unless Rehman himself shares concrete examples or details, the debate over the claim of “communalism” is illogical.
Also read:
‘What is the relationship called’ between Pakistan and IMF, ‘Terrorism’ in tension with ‘Love and Hate’
More than 2 lakh startups registered in the country, more than 21 lakh people got employment: Piyush Goyal
India brings investment, not Pakistan…: US MP gives ‘reality check’
