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AR Rahman faced Hindu intolerance, similar to that being directed at Aamir Khan

Oscar-winning music composer A R Rahman has expressed his concerns over growing intolerance in India, saying he faced a situation similar to Bollywood actor Aamir Khan in September.

"I had gone through something similar a couple of months ago," Rahman said, speaking at a film festival.

"Nothing should be violent. We're all ultra-civilized people and we should show the world that we

By GEO ENGLISH
November 25, 2015
Oscar-winning music composer A R Rahman has expressed his concerns over growing intolerance in India, saying he faced a situation similar to Bollywood actor Aamir Khan in September.

"I had gone through something similar a couple of months ago," Rahman said, speaking at a film festival.

"Nothing should be violent. We're all ultra-civilized people and we should show the world that we are the best civilization," the composer was quoted as saying by Indian media.

When a Mumbai-based Muslim academy issued a fatwa against Rahman for composing music for an Iranian film, his scheduled concerts in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were cancelled. The fatwa prompted Hindu hardlines groups to bring up the issue of religious conversions, asking the composer to "re-convert to Hinduism" and saying it was time for Rahman's "ghar wapsi" (return home).

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," he said.

Earlier this week, actor Aamir Khan said in an interview that his wife Kiran had suggested leaving India in view of growing intolerance in the country.

The actor of PK – Aamir Khan's blockbuster movie of 2014 – also showed support for the artists and creative people who had returned their awards in protest over the growing climate of intolerance in India.