AR Rahman’s Daughters React Amid Row Over His Bollywood Remarks
Music composer A R Rahman continues to face criticism following his recent remarks about what he described as a “communal” undercurrent in Bollywood and his comment that the film Chhaava may have benefited from “divisiveness.”
As the debate intensified online, Rahman’s daughters, Khatija and Raheema, publicly expressed their support for him.
Both daughters endorsed a strongly worded note shared by Malayalam composer Kailas Menon on Instagram.
Kailas reacted to a comment that had called Rahman a “disgrace to Tamil Nadu and India” and urged people to engage with respect rather than abuse.
In his post, Kailas wrote, “Disagree, don’t disgrace,” stressing that Rahman was only expressing how he personally felt and had every right to do so.
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Kailas pointed out that while people may disagree with Rahman’s views, denying him the freedom to speak about his own experiences was unfair.
He said that the reaction had moved beyond disagreement and entered the space of abuse and character assassination. Calling a globally respected artist a disgrace, questioning his faith, mocking his work, or dismissing his lived experiences, he added, cannot be considered genuine criticism.
Highlighting Rahman’s long career, Kailas reminded readers that the Oscar-winning composer is not just another voice on social media but an artist who has represented India on the global stage and shaped generations through his music.
He wrote that decades of contribution to Tamil culture, Indian cinema, and world music do not disappear simply because an artist shares a personal opinion.
A R Rahman’s ‘Communal Thing’ Remark And The Clarification: All You Need To Know
Kailas also underlined that debate and disagreement are valid, but public humiliation and attacks on an artist’s integrity are not. He concluded by saying that outrage without respect reflects more on society than on the person being targeted.
Rahman’s elder daughter, Khatija, who is herself a singer and composer, reacted to Kailas Menon’s post and re-shared it on her Instagram Stories.
She also shared a separate message expressing gratitude for friends who had checked in on her during the controversy. Rahman’s younger daughter Raheema, also a singer, reposted Kailas’ message on her Stories as well.
