‘AR Rahman doesn’t know Hindi’; Rabbi Shergill sparks new controversy

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Singer Rabbi Shergill has sparked a conversation regarding the balance between melody and meaning in the work of Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman. Speaking on a recent podcast, Shergill characterised the ‘Rahman era’ as a period where the Hindi film industry shifted its priority away from poetry, treating lyrics as mere ‘ornaments’ rather than the soul of a composition. Shergill argued that when linguistic expression becomes secondary to sonic texture, a degree of human connection is lost, though he was quick to clarify that the blame lies more with the industry’s lack of guidance than with the composer himself. He noted that because Rahman’s primary language is Tamil, his most representative work remains in his native tongue, where the synergy between words and music is reportedly more profound.

Despite these technical critiques, Shergill spoke with deep admiration for Rahman’s personal character, describing him as a spiritually evolved and ‘almost saintly’ individual who frequently seeks solitude at Sufi shrines. This perspective on Rahman’s linguistic detachment is a challenge the composer himself has addressed in the past; Rahman has previously reflected on how he purposefully studied Hindi, Urdu, and Arabic a decade into his career to better honour the languages of his listeners. While the debate highlights a fundamental tension between the ‘sound-first’ approach of modern production and the traditional importance of lyrics, it underscores a mutual respect for Rahman’s spiritual journey and his ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between global soundscapes and local sentiment.