Tamil song row: No language for music, say Rahman fans

The “ Netru Indru Naalai ” (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow) concert at Wembley Arena on July 8 attracted hundreds to what was described as a celebration of the Chennai-born star’s 25-year musical journey. But a few concertgoers claimed on Facebook and Twitter later that they had walked out over the lack of Bollywood tunes from Rahman’s repertoire. 

Some of the users on Twitter complained that they felt duped by the organisers, as they were promised the performances would be in Hindi and Urdu. 

“#ARRahman very disappointed with the concert tonight in Wembley. Waited for a very long time to be disappointed. Not expected from a legend,” he wrote.  The Oscar-winning composer’s sister Raihanah said there was a decent number of Hindi songs in the set list. 

“I think we are Indians. We should not think small. We should think as Indians. It’s an Indian language. So, we should think beyond boundaries. Music is all about love and harmony,” she said. Many celebrities and singers also came out in support of Rahman. 

“That is rude. I don’t have knowledge about it, so I can’t comment further. All I will say is that it was rude,” Priyanka Chopra said. Singer Chinmayi Sripada also took to Twitter to support the  ward-winning composer by tagging the outrage by the fans as another show of intolerance and double standards. 

“When Rahman sir wins 2 Oscars and creates history, he is ‘An Indian’, but 7-8 Tamil gaane kya gaa liye aap naraaz hote ho (all this furore over playing 7-8 Tamil songs?). What yaar? The show was called ‘Netru Indru Naalai’, had 65 per cent, 6 Hindi songs (Set List is out there). Music knows no boundaries/ language,” wrote Sripada.