AR Rahman: Indian composer faces backlash for ‘bias’ in Bollywood remarks

Al JazeeraCenterEN 8 min read 100% complete by Furquan AmeenJanuary 19, 2026 at 05:48 PM

AI Summary

long article 8 min

Indian composer AR Rahman, known for his award-winning work including the song "Jai Ho," faced online backlash after suggesting he lost Bollywood projects due to "communal bias." In a BBC interview aired last week, Rahman stated that some individuals with decision-making power in the industry may have favored other composers for communal reasons. Right-wing Hindu commentators criticized Rahman's remarks, accusing him of defaming India and playing the "victim card," with one leader demanding an apology. While Rahman later offered an explanation on social media, most Bollywood insiders have remained silent on the controversy. The incident highlights ongoing discussions about bias and inclusivity within the Indian film industry.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

BBC Asian Network 40% Slumdog Millionaire 50% Vinod Bansal 50% Hindu 60% Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) 60% Bollywood ×270% India ×480% AR Rahman ×790%

Keywords

ar rahman 100% bollywood 90% communal bias 80% right-wing hindus 70% backlash 60% indian composer 60% music industry 50% patriotism 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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ar rahman bollywood communal bias right-wing hindus backlash indian composer music industry patriotism

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