Hello north Indians, here's some news for you – AR Rahman is from Tamil Nadu.
Most of the man's songs are in Tamil, and some of his most stellar work is in the language, too.
So, dear Hindi speaking fans who went to the Rahman concert in Wembley (UK) on July 8, and walked out because "most of the songs were in Tamil", you have only your ignorance to be blamed.
Repeat after us, he's NOT a Bollywood composer. His title is 'The Mozart of Madras', not Mumbai. The 'Bollywood composer' tag comes from the international media which has no idea that Rahman's work in Slumdog Millionaire which won him two Academy Awards is not a patch on what he's produced for Tamil cinema.
I'm pleased to announce "Netru Indru Nalai" on the 8th of July at the SSE Arena, Wembley.
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) March 16, 2017
Thank you for your... https://t.co/FINBvhJcFB
And oh, the concert was titled 'Netru, Indru, Naalai' - perhaps you thought this was Spanish?
Some disgruntled Hindi speakers are even demanding a refund because they had to sit through Tamil songs. Because they couldn't understand it. Whatever happened to the clichés music fans spout about music having no language?
After all, even the Japanese could dance for “Why this kolaveri di”, without seemingly getting every word of the song.
The Facebook page AR Rahman Live - UK has quite a few reviews from people who claim to have been disappointed because of the inclusion of Tamil songs. You can read the reviews here.
Naturally, a Twitter war has broken out among Rahman fans from the south and the Hindi Only folks. We're watching with verkadalai in our hands. No, we shall not translate what that means.
such nutritional hindi tears pic.twitter.com/f5kBY2A6ns
— bewarse గాడిద (@eraserheadass) July 12, 2017
#ARRahman SINGS a lot of Tamil songs and suddenly all HINDI folks erupt, lol guys that's the same feel when u want ur HINDI all over south.
— VID (@ItsmeVID) July 11, 2017
#ARRahman concert: Never seen so much #dissapointment & #masswalkouts. Approx 1% of songs in Hindi. #ssearena filled on #falseadvertising
— Gautam Vaidya (@gautamvaidya) July 8, 2017
Lovely to see @arrahman but all the songs are in Tamil! What about your Hindi/Bollywood fans? #ARRahman #london
— nazia chishty (@Nazoo_Chishty) July 8, 2017
#ARRahman very disapointed with the concert tonight in Wembley. Waited for a very long time to be disappointed. Not expected from a legend
— Archana Sawant (@archana_ssawant) July 8, 2017
That was my first ever Tamil concert guys. Albeit completely unintentional #ARRahman #SSEArena #Fail #Refund?
— Omer Chowdhury (@OmChow) July 8, 2017
#ARRahman we hear modi speaking in Hindi always, what refund Hindians gonna give???
— KarikalanTheEmperor (@newmanawakening) July 12, 2017
We must demand refund of tax paid to Indian Govt as we dont get service in my Langauge @asaravanan21 #stopHindiImposition #ARRahman
— ಅರುಣ್ ಜಾವಗಲ್Arun J (@ajavgal) July 13, 2017
#ARRahman is a Tamil born musician, We watched Doordarshan for decades in Hindi. One Show with Tamil songs and Hindi Hoopla goes mad.
— தமிழ் (@KarikaalanArima) July 11, 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
Everyone saying they want a refund for #ARRahman concert.Why?Yes the songs were in Tamil. His originally a Tamil singer.#ssearena #norefund
— ThinkLikeArt (@ThinkLikeArt) July 9, 2017
For the record, Music Aloud tweeted the actual song list for the concert. And remember music has no language, they say.
The set list from yesterday night #arr #wembley pic.twitter.com/PggTDqJJi6
— MusicAloud (@MusicAloud) July 9, 2017