AR Rahman Defends Aamir’s Statement On ‘Intolerance’

25 November, Panaji

Renowned music director A R Rahman has justified the statment made by Bollywood perfectionist Aamir Khan on growing intolerance and explained that he too faced a similar situation a few months ago, when a Muslim group issued a fatwa against him.

Rahman was referring to the Mumbai-based Raza Academy’s fatwa against him after he composed the music for an Iranian film, ‘Muhammad: Messenger of God’. The Raza Academy alleged that the title of the film humiliated the Prophet. At that time, chief ministers of Delhi and UP had cancelled Rahman’s concerts at thelast minute. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad was quick to invite the Oscar winner to “re-convert to Hinduism”, saying it was time for his “ghar wapsi”.

Speaking at the sidelines of Film Bazar orgnised by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) here, he said the revolt was right but people should not fight among one another.

He too had faced intolerance and insisted that people should not be violent in a civilised society.

“I had gone through something similar a couple of months ago,” Rahman said.

The Oscar and Grammy awardee said as India was a country where there had been Mahatma Gandhi who championed the cause of non-violence it should set an example before the world.

On artists returning their awards in protest against “rising intolerance”, Rahman said, “Everything should be done classily. I feel what people are doing is very poetic. We should set an example for the world because we come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi; he has shown how a revolution can have an impact without any violence.