Rahman on Aamir Khan,says Fatwa issued against him recently

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PANAJI: Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman on Tuesday said he identified with Bollywood star Aamir Khan's statement on growing intolerance and that his (Khan's) wife felt like leaving the country when he said he (Rahman) too faced a similar situation a couple of months ago.

Rahman was referring to Mumbai-based Raza Academy's fatwa against him after he composed the music for Iranian film 'Muhammad: Messenger of God', which alleged that the title was humiliating to the Prophet. At that time, chief ministers of Delhi and UP had cancelled Rahman's concerts at the last minute. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad was quick to invite the Oscar award singer to "re-convert to Hinduism", saying it was time for his "ghar wapsi".


Speaking at NFDC's Film Bazaar at the 46th International Film Festival of India (Iffi) at Panaji, Rahman said he too had faced intolerance and insisted that people should not be violent in a civilized society. "I had gone through something similar a couple of months ago," Rahman said.

"Nothing should be violent. We're all ultra-civilized people and we should show the world that we are the best civilization," the composer said.


On artists returning their awards in protest against "rising intolerance", Rahman said, "Everything should be done classily. I feel what people are doing is very poetic. We should set an example for the world because we come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi; he has shown how a revolution can have an impact without any violence."