Overview
- Rahman’s BBC interview had linked a slowdown in his Hindi-film work over the past eight years to a power shift and said it “might have been a communal thing,” citing indirect “Chinese whispers.”
- In his Instagram video, he emphasized unity and listed recent initiatives including JHALAA at the WAVES summit, the all-women Rooh-E-Noor, collaborations with young Naga musicians, the Sunshine Orchestra, and the AI-led Secret Mountain.
- He also highlighted ongoing major work, noting the honour of co-scoring Ramayana with Hans Zimmer, and reiterated his gratitude to India and commitment to music that uplifts.
- Industry voices like Javed Akhtar and singer Shaan rejected a communal explanation, while reactions turned political with Kangana Ranaut criticizing him and Mehbooba Mufti defending his concerns.
- In fresh comments reported Jan 19, Rahman said shifting reception had made him reassess his output and that he has scored roughly 20–30 films since 2019 to engage newer audiences.