AR Rahman urges wife not to speak in Hindi but in Tamil, receives backlash on social media

CHENNAI: A video of musician AR Rahman asking his wife to speak in Tamil instead of Hindi at the Ananda Vikatan Film Awards is going viral on social media. The incident occurred during the award function in Chennai.

AR Rahman bagged the best playback singer and best music director awards. On receiving the award, Rahman dedicated the best singer award to his wife Saira Banu and asked her to come on stage. Rahman also shared on the stage that his wife was the first fan of his voice. "My wife was the first to tell him that his voice is good. It was with this courage that I started singing", Rahman said. He further said that his wife listens not only to his songs but also to his interviews.

As Saira Banu was given a mic to speak, Rahman requested her speak in Tamil instead of Hindi. Hearing this, Saira was shocked and said, "Oh my God." Then Saira Banu clarified in English that she doesn't know how to speak fluently in Tamil. She added that AR Rahman's voice is her favorite and she fell in love with his voice. AR Rahman's wife Saira Banu hails from Kutch, Gujarat.

After this, AR Rahman received a lot of criticism for asking his wife to speak in Tamil instead of Hindi. A Twitter user wrote that Rahman made money and fame by making Hindi songs and is disrespecting the language.

Sari izzat, paisa hindi music banake kamai. And look at the disdain for the language..and its not the first time he has done that. Ungrateful https://t.co/Ckp6SVdHef

— tea_addict 🤡 (@on_drive23) April 27, 2023

"Shame on disrespecting Hindi. Don't test the patience of Hindi speaking people who made him real hero, while he acts like a villain for Indians who respect Hindi. Shame on Rehman.", another person tweeted.

Shame on disrespecting Hindi. Don't test the patience of Hindi speaking people who made him real hero, while he acts like a villain for Indians who respect Hindi. Shame on Rehman. https://t.co/LoZxaKhVCy

— Suprabhat Nagar (@SuprabhatNagar) April 26, 2023

"He won the Oscar for the Hindi Song "Jai Ho" and in an event he asked his wife NOT to speak in Hindi. Later his wife spoke in English... What a hypocrisy", another tweet reads.

Shame on @arrahman .. He won the Oscar for the Hindi Song "Jai Ho" and in an event he asked his wife NOT to speak in Hindi. Later his wife spoke in English... What a hypocrisy https://t.co/pV1OEXJNLd

— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) April 26, 2023