Salim Merchant: Rahman Doing ‘Ramayana’ Shows No Communal Bias

MUMBAI- Composer Salim Merchant has pointed out that if A R Rahman is doing the music for ‘Ramayana’ — one of the biggest films on Indian mythology in history — it is hard to believe that there is any communal bias at play.

Sharing his take on the matter, Salim said, “I don’t think that is true. I mean, with all due respect to what Rahman said. He may be right in his own way, for his own experience. I don’t think that’s true. I feel the composer who is doing the biggest film in the history of Indian cinema, which is a Hindu epic called ‘Ramayana’, if he is the composer of that, then I don’t think there is any problem with any communal thing. But that is my take on it, my opinion; he might have his own reasons.”

Speaking to BBC Asian Network, the Oscar-winning composer had said, “People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face. It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I said, ‘Oh, that’s great, rest for me, I can chill out with my family.”

After backlash, Rahman uploaded a video clarifying that he never wanted to hurt anyone’s sentiments.

“Dear friends, music has always been my way of connecting, celebrating and honoring a 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, honor and serve through music. I have never wished to cause pain and I hope my sincerity is felt,” he said. (IANS)