AR Rahman controversy Manoj Muntashir Mithoon on celebrity responsibility and freedom of expression

AR Rahman’s comment that the industry may have turned communal has sparked widespread debate. While many have vehemently denied that something like this exists, others have dismissed the statement as a personal opinion. However, several voices have also strongly condemned the social media attacks that followed the remark. India Today spoke to Manoj Muntashir and Mithoon to get their perspectives on the controversy and on an artiste’s freedom of expression.

The lyricist and music composer were promoting Border 2, and Muntashir did not hold back while speaking about a celebrity’s responsibility. He said that he does believe that one cannot be unaffected by what’s happening in society, but one also needs to be cautious of the weight their words carry, especially in a global domain.

“There is one thing common to both water and speech (paani and vaani). If it crosses its limits, the result is the same: destruction. So when you speak, when you are a hero, when many people listen to you, I am talking about Mithoon as well, and I am also talking about others; it becomes our shared responsibility. If we are saying anything in the public domain, we must think a hundred times. We must ask ourselves whether what we are saying could impact the social fabric of this country. Whether it could send out a message that should not go out from this country. This applies to every celebrity. We need to weigh our words carefully and speak with wisdom. That’s all I want to say,” he said.

When asked how he views the controversy as an artiste, Mithoon said he does not relate to it and preferred not to comment at length, calling A R Rahman an institution for him. He said that he grew up listening to his music, and learnt not just from his work but also from his demeanour.

“What he said, obviously, he has the right to express what he felt. But from my perspective as an audience member, I think this country has celebrated him beyond everything. People from all cultures, people of different faiths even today in the industry, my colleagues, someone like Anurag Singh (director of Border 2), when we sit together and work, there is only praise for that man. And that goes beyond caste, colour, and creed. So I believe this country has only celebrated him, and it continues to celebrate him. I think India loves Rahman sir, and that is non-debatable. So I am not part of this controversy,” Mithoon said.

Manoj Muntashir, too, has often found himself at the receiving end of social media backlash for his political views and his takes on social and religious issues. When asked whether art and politics can be segregated, he was quick to disagree.

“No, they cannot be kept separate, and there is no need to keep them separate either. Anyone who says, ‘I am apolitical’ is lying. If you are 18 years old, and you have ever voted, if you haven’t voted, then that’s very wrong. But if you have voted, then you are not apolitical. You have chosen a side. Even if you choose NOTA, you have still chosen a side. So no, you cannot remain apolitical,” he said.

Muntashir added that, however, one also has the freedom to hold a different political view: “We can stand wherever we want. That does not make us good or bad people. Everyone has their own personal way of thinking. I believe that whenever something has happened to me, I have never regretted a single statement I have made to date. Some of my statements, however, were misunderstood, things I never even said. But whatever I have said, I have said it with full responsibility. And I stand by those statements.”

Earlier, Javed Akhtar, Kangana Ranaut, Varun Grover, Paresh Rawal, Shaan, Chinmayi Sripaada and Shankar Mahadevan, among other celebrities, also reacted to Rahman’s “communal” statement.

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