Overview
- Speaking on a panel titled “Criminalising Dissent! Who Gets Locked Up for Speaking Out?”, Prakash Raj cited the reaction to A.R. Rahman as an example of skewed public discourse.
- He praised Rahman’s stature, said the composer was not seeking favors for work, and criticized what he described as “barking” around the controversy.
- Raj asserted that Kangana Ranaut labeled Rahman anti-national after he declined to work on her film Emergency, which he also termed propaganda.
- Ranaut had posted on Instagram calling Rahman prejudiced and claiming he refused to meet about composing for Emergency.
- The dispute traces back to Rahman describing Chhaava as divisive and suggesting communal factors affect his Bollywood opportunities, after which he issued a video expressing love for India and saying he never intended hurt.