Singer-music composer
Shankar Mahadevan reacted to the ‘communal’ remark by the Oscar awardee
AR Rahman.
Recently, the Oscar winning music composer and singer AR Rahman reflected on a power shift he observed over the last eight years
The controversy sparked following
AR Rahman’s interview amidst which he opened up on slowdown in work coming his way from Bollywood. He went on to suggest that decision making today rests with people who aren’t necessarily driven by creativity.
His remarks quickly triggered to a larger debate and strong reactions across the Indian film industry, with many weighing in on the transforming ecosystem of Bollywood and the music business.
Reacting to Rahman’s comments, Shankar Mahadevan offered a more nuanced perspective, urging people to look at the issue through a different lens. See, he has. ⁸always been saying this, but, look at it in a different manner. Adding that the person who creates the music is one. The person who decides what’s going to happen to this music is a totally another team. This is a musical team; this is a non-musical team. So, what happens is the destiny of your musical product lies with a non-musical person. So, it finds its own destiny.
Sans directly endorsing or dismissing Rahman’s views, Shankar showcaser the
long-standing divide amid creative talent and those controlling the final outcome of artistic work.
On Sunday, Rahman himself took to Instagram to share a video message. Although he never directly addresses the controversy or clarify his remarks, the singer-composer spoke at length over his intense connect with India, its culture, and its people. Rahman said music has always been his way of staying rooted and connected, adding that intentions can sometimes be misunderstood. He stressed that his purpose has never transformed and that he has always sought to serve people through music, rather than engage in power struggles or controversies.
Meanwhile, Shankar Mahadevan has had plenty to celebrate on the global stage. Following his Grammy Award win in 2024 with his fusion band Shakti for This Moment, which won Best Global Music Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the musician has once again been recognised by the Recording Academy. Shakti has received two nominations at the 2026 Grammy Awards, Best Global Music Album for Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) and Best Global Music Performance for Shrini’s Dream (Live).
Speaking about the nomination, Shankar shared a personal note, calling it “God’s wish”, as his wife will be able to attend the Grammys this year after missing out last time due to an injury.
Adding to this landmark, Shankar has also launched Goongoonalo, which he calls as the world’s first artist owned platform. Emphasising creative freedom over commercial pressure, he said sustainability will follow naturally, given the sheer collective reach and diversity of artists involved.
It’s the platform’s aim to bring together musicians across genres, from classical and folk to bands and regional voices, offering music with depth, aesthetics, and artistic integrity.
News Edit KV Raman
