3 weeks ago
Manoj Muntashir confronts AR Rahman over Chhaava, discrimination remarks
Two famous music people in India are disagreeing with each other.
A lyricist named Manoj Muntashir is upset with a music composer named AR Rahman.
Rahman said a movie called Chhaava is 'divisive', which means it might try to divide people into groups.
Rahman also said he thinks he may not get as much movie work because of his religion.
Muntashir asked Rahman why he made music for the movie if he thought it was a problem.
He also said there could be other reasons for getting less work, like songs not being hits.
Rahman explained his feelings in an interview with the BBC.
He said he was still proud to have made the movie's music.
He also said he believes people are smart enough to know what is true.
The two men have not met yet, but Muntashir says he will ask Rahman about it when they do.
Manoj Muntashir publicly questioned AR Rahman's remarks about facing communal discrimination in the Hindi film industry.
Muntashir challenged Rahman for calling the Vicky Kaushal film Chhaava 'divisive', asking why he composed music for it if he objected.
In a January 2026 BBC interview, Rahman suggested a 'power shift' to non-creative people in the industry might involve communal bias, though 'not in my face'.
Rahman said Chhaava 'cashed in on divisiveness' but that its core is to show bravery, and he was honoured to score the film.
Muntashir suggested other reasons for Rahman's reduced work, such as songs not performing or strained relations, and said he would raise the topic when they meet.
- Who
- Lyricist Manoj Muntashir and music composer AR Rahman
- What
- Muntashir confronted Rahman over his comments calling the film Chhaava 'divisive' and his claims of possible communal discrimination in the Hindi film industry
- Where
- India's Hindi film industry, with the exchange aired via Shubhankar Mishra's conversation with Muntashir
- When
- Recently, following Rahman's January 2026 BBC interview
- Why
- Rahman's BBC remarks about communal bias and his 'divisive' label for Chhaava prompted Muntashir's public criticism
Manoj Muntashir's Position
AR Rahman's Position
Whether Chhaava is divisive
Manoj Muntashir's Position
If Rahman considered the film propaganda or divisive, he should not have associated with it, since he must have read the script before composing its music.
AR Rahman's Position
The film is 'divisive' and 'cashed in on divisiveness', but its core is to show bravery; he was honoured to score it and trusts audiences' internal conscience to resist manipulation.
Religious discrimination in the Hindi film industry
Manoj Muntashir's Position
Rahman's reduced work could have other causes, such as songs not working in recent years or not maintaining good relations; hurting the nation's social fabric over this is unjustified.
AR Rahman's Position
A power shift to non-creative people may include a 'communal thing', though it reaches him as 'Chinese whispers' rather than direct behaviour; he says he does not seek work and lets sincerity earn it.
Key facts
- Film in question
- Chhaava
- Lead actor
- Vicky Kaushal
- Rahman's remarks source
- BBC interview, January 2026
- Muntashir's remarks source
- Conversation with Shubhankar Mishra
- Rahman on discrimination
- Possible power shift; 'might be a communal thing also... but it is not in my face'
- Rahman on Chhaava
- 'A divisive film... cashed in on divisiveness,' but core is to show bravery
- Muntashir's challenge
- Why compose music for a film he calls propaganda after reading the script?
- Related feud
- Amaal Mallik vs Tanishk Bagchi social media dispute
- Also noted
- Rahman found use of words like 'Subhanallah' in negative scenes 'cringe'
- Rahman's stance on audiences
- People have 'internal conscience' and are not foolish enough to be influenced by false information
Quotes
Manoj Muntashir
Indian lyricist and songwriter
“"It is not like you hadn’t heard the script before agreeing to work in it. You suddenly started composing music for it?"”
indianexpress.com
“"It is a divisive film. I think it cashed in on divisiveness, but I think the core of it is to show bravery."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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