AR Rahman recently faced online backlash for his comments on communal bias in Bollywood. His daughters, Khatija and Raheema, have now publicly shown their support, standing firmly by their father.
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Legendary composer AR Rahman recently found himself in the middle of a heated controversy after his comments about ‘communal’ dynamics in Bollywood and film ‘Chhaava’ went viral. Some fans praised his honesty. Others were quick to attack calling him a “disgrace to Tamil Nadu and India”. And just when the drama seemed like it might simmer down, AR Rahman’s daughters, Khatija and Raheema Rahman, stepped into the ring.
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The first spark in this social media storm came from Malayalam composer Kailas Menon, who shared a post on Instagram. Kailas addressed the hate Rahman was receiving and made a clear point: “You may disagree with him, but you cannot deny him the freedom to express his experience.”
He called out those taking Rahman’s words too far, saying that turning disagreement into abuse and character assassination was unacceptable.
Kailas went on to defend Rahman’s legacy, reminding fans that the maestro isn’t “just any voice.” He’s someone who has carried Indian music to the world, shaped generations, and represented Tamil culture and Indian cinema with dignity.
Kailas slammed the trolls for reducing Rahman’s personal experience to a ‘victim card’ and called out the hate speech masquerading as criticism.
It wasn’t long before Rahman’s daughters joined the conversation. Khatija, composer and singer, showed her support by commenting with claps, fire, heart, and hundred emojis under Kailas’ post.
She also re-shared his note on her Instagram stories, clearly backing his stance.
Her sister, Raheema, also re-shared Kailas’ post. As of now, Rahman’s son Ameen has remained silent on the issue.
The controversy stems from a recent BBC Asian Network interview, where Rahman was asked if he had ever experienced prejudice in Bollywood as a Tamil composer. His answer was candid. He said he hadn’t noticed much, possibly because it was “concealed by God,” but he hinted that recent years might have brought changes in power dynamics, with people who are “not creative” gaining influence.
He also suggested there might be a communal angle, but emphasised it wasn’t blatant.
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Adding fuel to the fire, Rahman called out the movie ‘Chhaava’ for “cashing in on divisiveness,” a remark that some viewers misinterpreted or took offense to.
In response to the backlash, Rahman released a video statement on Sunday, reaffirming his love for India and clarifying that his words came from personal experience, not any political agenda.
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