Veteran Lyricist and poet Manoj Muntashir has taken an unwavering stand against AR Rahman’s recent remarks on alleged communal bias in the Hindi film industry. In a recent interview, Manoj strongly declined the claim, pointing to India’s biggest superstars and the industry’s long-standing inclusiveness.
Talking to press members, Manoj cited some of India’s most iconic names to counter Rahman’s argument.
Adding that this is a country whose biggest superstars are Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Its most celebrated writers and poets include Javed Akhtar, Sahir Ludhianvi and Majrooh Sultanpuri. This is also a country where the cricket team was captained by Mohammad Azharuddin. It isn’t his beliefs that there is any discrimination in the Indian entertainment industry.
Adding further that with respect, he completely disagrees with the claim being made.
Elaborating further, Manoj challenged the notion of religious preference within the film industry’s ecosystem.
Furthering that in any Hindi film, at any time,one need to just read the opening and end credits and will see a long list of names, almost 250 people. If looked closely, one will notice a clear pattern. He throws an open challenge to anyone to pick any random film and show him where one particular religion has been given special importance while others were ignored. They will never find anything like that.
While maintaining respect for the Oscar-winning composer, Manoj made it aptly clear that disagreement was necessary.
Further continuing that they respect AR Rahman intensely and are very proud that he belongs to our country. At the same time, with complete respect, we have the right to disagree, and he completely disagrees with the claim being made, especially the suggestion that something has transformed in the last eight years. He fails to understand why that era is being spotlighted.
This country has a big heart and soul”. To underline his argument he also cited recent
box-office successes.
He went on to explain that in the last eight years, films like Pathaan and Jawan have broken all box office records. This country has a big heart and soul. It doesn’t judge its artists, but,
loves them. If you do good work, people lift you on their shoulders. Sometimes they get upset and scold you, but that closeness comes from love.
While signing-off he said, that is the bond amid this country and its artists. Any kind of discrimination, of any sort, he completely refuses to believe. This inclusiveness is their identity.
For the unversed,
AR Rahman has been hitting the headlines after stating that his work in the Hindi film industry has slowed down over the past eight years due to a “power shift” and “communal” politics within the entertainment industry.
Following widespread backlash, the composer shared a video message on social media apologising and clarifying that he never intended to hurt sentiments. He expressed his irony if his words has pained anyone.to anyone.
News Edit KV Raman
