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#KetchupNow: The A.R. Rahman controversy - Is music falling short in the face of religious identity?

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Sakshi Sharma
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A R Rahman controversy

When A.R. Rahman recently suggested that the lack of work coming his way might be linked to a larger communal shift, the country reacted in every possible direction. But in the noise, are we missing the larger point? Let’s discuss!

With everyone having access to a platform, statements are often blown out of proportion. A single line is lifted, dissected from every angle, and assigned meanings far removed from its original context. When an ordinary citizen can land in trouble or even jail for a controversial remark, a celebrity making a statement is bound to cause a national uproar. It’s no surprise that many public figures choose silence over honesty today. A.R. Rahman, who largely stays silent, didn't hold back this time. And that decision sparked yet another debate.

In a recent interview with BBC Asian Network, the globally acclaimed musician spoke about his film choices, his approach to composing music, and his involvement with Ramayana. During the conversation, he also referred to Chhaava a divisive film and mentioned that he has been receiving less work from Bollywood in recent years, possibly due to the socio-political and communal shifts the country has witnessed over the last eight years. That single observation was enough to push public discourse to a boiling point. His loyalty to the nation was questioned, he was accused of ingratitude, and disturbingly, he was attacked for being Muslim, with accusations of spreading Islamophobia thrown his way.

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The problem lies in how easily we let labels box people in. While categories can sometimes help us make sense of the world, when treated as absolute markers of identity, they leave no room for nuance or understanding. Online, this happens far more aggressively and that’s exactly what unfolded here. A clipped excerpt from a long interview went viral, reducing Rahman to an “anti-national” figure allegedly ungrateful for the love he has received. The trolling escalated to the point where people began dismissing his entire contribution to Indian cinema, questioning what he had ever done for the country and questioned his legacy of music, nitpicking on lyrics.

What’s often overlooked is that none of us truly know what Rahman may have experienced behind closed doors, whether he was made to feel sidelined because of his Muslim identity or not. And regardless, he has the right to express how he feels. We live in a country that constitutionally upholds freedom of speech. Just as some feel entitled to label him anti-national, he is equally entitled to voice his lived experiences and perceptions. Disagreement is fair but vilification is not. As musicians like Shaan have pointed out, reduced opportunities could simply be a result of the industry exploring younger talent. Javed Akhtar has also suggested that smaller producers might hesitate to approach someone as big as Rahman. There could be several reasons and Rahman himself never stated his belief as a definitive truth. He said it could be a factor, not that it is.

What should never be up for debate, however, is his contribution to Indian music and culture. To claim otherwise is not just unfair, it’s absurd. These are the songs we continue to hum - Vande Mataram, Chaiyya Chaiyya, and countless others. He brought India its first Oscar in music and placed Indian soundscapes on a global stage. Those achievements don’t disappear simply because opinions differ. Yet here we are, reacting so fiercely to a viral statement that we forced Rahman to clarify his stance and publicly prove his love for the country. Ironically, isn’t this reaction itself proof of the very “communal shift” he spoke about? Until recently, Rahman was simply seen as a maestro, not defined by religion. While he may have initiated a conversation, it is our response in painting him as anti-national, questioning his faith, and tying his identity to his craft that reinforces the divide.

Art is meant to transcend boundaries. It is meant to blur the lines we draw, not harden them. But when an artist is forced to defend his identity for expressing an opinion, it becomes clear that music alone is no longer enough. Identity, unfortunately, has begun to matter more than art itself.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Tell us in the comments below!

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