Has her own personality, fought all her 'wars': AR Rahman about daughter who was trolled for Hijab
Chennai, Mar 11: Top music director A R Rahman is proud of his daughter Khatija, who had to face online trolling for wearing burqa and says she has her own personality and has fought "all wars" by herself.
The Oscar-winning Rahman feels India will rise up in art and culture if 'Naatu Naatu', the hit number from S S Rajamouli-directed 'RRR' bags the coveted Oscar award. It has been shortlisted for Original Song in the 95th Academy Awards.
In an interview to PTI, Rahman talked about the need for ensuring safety and security of every unit in the cinema industry that makes a movie possible.
He also shared his personal story as to why he has taken up this initiative to support the light man in Tamil cinema industry.
Excerpts from the interview
Q; What kind of songs you are listening to recently?
A: I am listening to 'naga naga' song from my own composition from the movie Ponniyan Selvan and also songs composed by son Ameen.
Q: When there are lot of production units in the cinema industry why is your concern particularly for the light man unit to raise funds for them?
A: Recently one of the light men died. Deep down I was shocked and I couldn't sleep for days when I was in London....I was devastated by it and I felt I had lost my brother. When I enquired about the Union and what they are going to help the deceased family--even my father died when I was young--then we discovered they don't have any insurance, website, safety equipment and they don't have anything.
Everybody thinks someone is going to do it and as an industry we have grown from a Rs 20 crore industry to Rs 1000 crore now.
We have taken our people and it's important (to note) that they don't have a voice. We need to give a voice to them, treat them like human beings.
Every month two or three people die and they get unnoticed. They get crushed in the vehicle where they load and lights fall on them, some people lose their hands. So it's pretty inhumane. It's not intentional but it's time that we notice all the stuff.
Also, recently my son met with an accident, and had a narrow escape. Its time to address safety of the lives of people who are making us look good.
Q: Why is there a deviation from pop music concerts to concerts which are exclusively for Sufi music?
A: People are wanting to hear these kind of Sufi concerts in Chennai, they have been asking me for years, here is the opportunity to have fun and to raise awareness for people who need a lot of love.
Q: What are your expectations from Naatu Naatu song which has been nominated for an Oscar?
A:....it is going to make the profile of India and raise the profile of India. It will be an ambassador. After Jai Ho (from Slumdog millionaire) won Oscars people started to listen to my other sound tracks and they listened to other Indian composers. The whole profile of India will rise up, art and cultural wise.
Q: Musician Khatija Rahman's song "Sagavasi" has got millions of views on YouTube and how to do you see it?
A: As a father I am always proud of her, she is a unique daughter, she has her own personality....lot of tough things on social media, she has single-handedly fought all those wars and yet she is kind. She is an amazing human being and god bless her.
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UP: Govt hospital staff booked for sexually assaulting woman in pretext of ultrasound test
Gorakhpur (PTI): A hospital employee was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the pretext of an ultrasound test here in the district women's hospital, police said on Saturday.
According to the complaint, the woman, a resident of the Gulriha area, visited the district women's hospital on Thursday morning for an ultrasound test.
She was directed to a room, where Abhimanyu Gupta was conducting ultrasounds. When her turn came, the accused allegedly stared at her and told her to remove all her clothes, claiming it was necessary for the test and that a massage would also be required, she said.
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The woman alleged that once she complied, the accused began making obscene advances and tried to force himself on her. When she screamed, he allegedly gagged her, abused her and threatened to kill her before pushing her out of the room.
She said her complaints within the hospital went unheard, forcing her to approach the police.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the hospital administration constituted a three-member inquiry committee, officials said.
Senior consultant (paediatrics) Dr Jay Kumar said, "The woman has levelled serious allegations against a staff member. Senior officials have been informed, and a departmental inquiry is underway. Strict action will be taken if the charges are proved."
Kotwali Station House Officer Chatrapal Singh said a case has been registered, and efforts are on to nab the accused.
