In light of recent discussions surrounding A.R. Rahman's remarks about a potential "communal thing" affecting his work in the Hindi film industry, Imtiaz Ali, director of the Netflix film Amar Singh Chamkila, has offered his perspective. Ali stated, "I don't think there is a communal bias in the film industry and...".
Rahman's initial comments, made during an interview with BBC Asian Network, suggested that the volume of his work in Bollywood had decreased over the past eight years, possibly due to a "power shift" where "people who are not creative have the power now to decide things" and that this "might have been a communal thing also but not in my face". These remarks sparked varied reactions within the industry and from political figures.
Following the reactions, Rahman clarified his statements in a video message, expressing that his intentions were "sometimes misunderstood" and that he "never wished to cause pain". He emphasized his deep connection to India and his commitment to uplifting and honoring the country's culture through his music. "India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home," Rahman stated, adding that he feels blessed to be Indian, which allows him to create a space that celebrates multicultural voices.
Columnist Shobhaa De weighed in on the debate, stating, "If I’ve seen any place which is free of any kind of communal tension, it is Bollywood... If you have talent, you will get a chance. If you don’t have talent, there’s no question of religion being a factor". However, Rahman also received support from figures like Paresh Rawal and Varun Grover.
Ali's Amar Singh Chamkila, for which Rahman composed the music, explores the life of the popular Punjabi singer who faced criticism for his bold lyrics. Ali has described Rahman as a "co-storyteller" for the film, highlighting their collaborative relationship. Rahman, in turn, has praised Ali's friendly nature and their ease of collaboration. He also called Amar Singh Chamkila "a very naughty picture" and discussed the challenge of integrating music into the story of a composer, lyricist, and singer. Ali noted that Rahman was behind key creative decisions of the film, and even suggested that they take a musical theatre approach to the song sequences.
The film, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, was released on Netflix on April 12 and has received positive reviews. Ali has spoken about his extensive research process, meeting people who were part of Chamkila's life, visiting the places where he performed, and watching videos of his shows. Rahman has discussed the complexity of blending authentic Punjabi folk music with contemporary influences for a global audience.
