By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
After facing widespread criticism, ace composer A R Rahman on Sunday said the intentions can “sometimes be misunderstood” but he didn’t wish to cause any pain with his words.
Sharing a video on social media, Rahman said music has always been “the way to connect, celebrate and honour India’s culture.”
“India is my inspiration, my teacher and my home. I understand that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood. But my purpose has always been to uplift, honour and serve through music. I have never wished to cause pain, and I hope my sincerity is felt,” he said in the video.
Rahman was on Saturday at the centre of criticism after he tried to give a communal tinge to the work culture in Bollywood.
Noted writer Shobha De says, “This is a very dangerous comment…If I have seen any place which is free of any kind of communal tension, it is Bollywood…There is no question of religion being a factor if someone is not getting a chance. He is such a successful man, such a mature man; he should not have said it. Maybe he has his reasons, you should go and ask him…”
Javed Akhtar also said he didn’t really think that the industry has become communal even he couldn’t think that Rehman could make such a statement.
In a recent interview, Rahman said less work has been coming his way attributing it to a power shift within the Hindi film industry in the last eight years and also perhaps to ‘a communal thing’ though one not in his face.
Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut criticised Rahman for not supporting her film Emergency. Kangana stated that Rahman wouldn’t even meet her to listen to the story of the film. The actress went on to express her views via Instagram, claiming that she has ‘never encountered someone so biased and full of hate’ as the composer.
On the other hand, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti took to X and said Rahman’s remarks were the “truth of India.” “When Javed Akhtar dismisses A.R. Rahman’s concerns about the growing communalisation of Bollywood he contradicts lived & shared realities of Indian Muslims including those of his own wife Shabana Azmi, who has openly spoken about being denied housing for being Muslim in a cosmopolitan city like Bombay. Bollywood has always been a living mini India mirroring the country’s social realities. Brushing aside such experiences does not change the truth about today’s India,” Mufti said.