AR Rahman On Abhijeet Bhattacharya's Claims About Overusing Technology In Music: 'I Don't Show Off, So...'
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has addressed recent remarks made by singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who accused him of contributing to the decline of live instrumentation in the music industry
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has addressed recent remarks made by singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, who accused the maestro of contributing to the decline of live instrumentation in the music industry by heavily relying on technology.
In a recent interaction with ANI, Abhijeet expressed his disappointment over what he perceives as Rahman’s disregard for traditional musicians.
Abhijeet alleges Rahman brought an end of 'live musicians' in industry
He alleged that Rahman’s preference for tech-heavy production processes has left many instrumentalists jobless, claiming, “Sahab ne bol diya ki ab main hi kamaunga, musicians ki zarurat nahi hai. Aapko cello chahiye, violin chahiye, sirf ek flute wale ko bula lenge...” The singer further criticized the increasing use of AI and technology in music, stating that it has stripped the industry of the freshness that live musicians once brought.
Now, AR Rahman has responded gracefully to the criticism in an interview with India Today, saying, “It’s nice to blame me for everything. I still love Abhijeet, and I would send cakes to him. Also, it’s his opinion, and there’s nothing wrong with having one.”
AR Rahman issues clarification
Rahman also clarified his continued commitment to live musicians, revealing, “I recently set up an orchestra with 60 women in Dubai. They’re being employed every month with insurance, health benefits, and everything. In every movie I work on, whether it’s ‘Chhaava’ or ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, there are around 200-300 musicians involved. Some songs have over 100 people working on them. I don’t post photos or show off about it, so people don’t always know.”
Addressing the use of technology in music composition, Rahman added, “The more you refine your musical craft, the more you value live instrumentation. Computers are tools for designing harmonies and refining music. We can’t afford to call in musicians to record and reject takes repeatedly — all preliminary work is done digitally, and the final recordings are always done live. Anyone can verify with the producers I’ve worked with how many musicians are involved in my projects.”
The ‘Jai Ho’ composer’s response highlights a balanced approach between tradition and technology, reaffirming his respect for live musicians while embracing the creative possibilities of modern tools.
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