Concert-goers furious at AR Rahman for performing Tamil songs and not enough in Hindi

music

Updated: Jul 18, 2017 16:10 IST

Music lovers are demanding refunds after attending music composer AR Rahman’s concert in Wembley, London on July 8. The concert-goers walked out when he performed mostly his Tamil songs and not enough of his Hindi ones.

The angered fans, mostly North Indians, took to Twitter to express their disappointment at the Oscar-winner.

Same here buddy we were totally disappointed by it and don't think we will ever go again — Faisal Amjad (@FaisalAmjad1) July 9, 2017

Was total disaster,for someone who made his name in Bollywood(at least on sheer numbers) it was disrespectful from him,even speaking Tamil — Apoorva Dixit (@apoorva_dixit) July 9, 2017

@arrahman seems like he has forgotten Hindi music has brought him to international fame — Jagruti (@JCookingOdyssey) July 9, 2017

However, Twitter user @musicaloud tweeted that he was at the concert himself and the set list of songs had 16 Hindi songs and 12 in Tamil.

Rahman, who won the Oscar in 2009 for his work in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, accepted the award on stage with a speech in Tamil. He was born in Chennai and is also called the Mozart of Madras. He may be best known for his work in Bollywood films but he has also composed music for films in several other languages. His first project was the Tamil original, Roja.

Even Rahman’s concert was titled Netru Indru Naalai, Tamil for ‘yesterday, today, tomorrow.’

Several other fans of the musician flocked to his defence on Twitter and schooled those complaining how this is a classic example of ‘imposing Hindi’ on South Indians.

AR Rahman performs Tamil songs, did'nt perform any in Hindi. Not able to tolerate an hour of music in another language #stopHindiImposition pic.twitter.com/UCQDhCiOQh — Saravanan Annadurai (@asaravanan21) July 12, 2017

Tasting the own medicine eh.. this is how we feel when you do Hindi imposition#ARRahman #antihindiimposition pic.twitter.com/4GIoEh57H7 — யுவன் (@hithisissabari) July 12, 2017

I think some of these Bollywood kiss asses forget AR Rahman is Tamil and Bollywood did not make him famous , many great Bollywood movies — joanna gnanathayalan (@jognanathayalan) July 13, 2017

1.#India is Not Hindia

2. #Hindi is not mother of Music

3.This Earth not only for Hindi speaking ppl #ARRahman #stopHindiImposition — Mani Vasu (@ManiVasu2) July 14, 2017

This is how v feel when Hindi is imposed or Hindi songs r in list in Yuva Dasara Mysuru or Hindi is heard in flight announcement.#ARRahman — Abhi Nandan (@Abhinandan248) July 13, 2017

Hindis want concert ticket refund coz #ARRahman sang Tamil songs. NonHindi states be refunded for taxes that subsidize Hindi states frm 1947 — Garga Chatterjee (@GargaC) July 13, 2017

Not one to respond to controversies, Rahman has not reacted to any criticism yet.

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