Here's some basic advice if you are an AR Rahman fan. When you buy tickets to a concert titled 'Netru Indru Nalai', do not assume that the major chunk of the music played will be in Hindi. It's Tamil for yesterday, today, tomorrow. That should be the first hint. Then definitely don't take to social platforms to air your grouse about how you felt cheated. And most importantly, don't use your grievance to make a case for language chauvinism.
This is exactly what happened at the Grammy and Academy Award-winning music composer's Wembley concert in UK on 8 July. Disgruntled fans allegedly walked out of the concert and then swarmed to Twitter and Rahman's Facebook page to complain about most songs sung being in Tamil.
Such was the righteous indignation that one man even said that Rahman, who has his best work in Tamil, and is literally called the 'Mozart of Madras', made his career in Bollywood and therefore was being "disrespectful" by "even speaking Tamil." One person said she "left halfway through" and held the promoter responsible for not advertising the fact that "99% of the songs would be in Tamil."
One fan said he "felt out of place".
Read some of the responses.
Was total disaster,for someone who made his name in Bollywood(at least on sheer numbers) it was disrespectful from him,even speaking Tamil
— Apoorva Dixit (@apoorva_dixit) July 9, 2017
That was my first ever Tamil concert guys. Albeit completely unintentional #ARRahman#SSEArena#Fail#Refund?
— Omer Chowdhury (@OmChow) July 8, 2017
Same here buddy we were totally disappointed by it and don't think we will ever go again
— Faisal Amjad (@FaisalAmjad1) July 9, 2017
Was so disappointed and left half way through. The promoter #HumsiniEntertainment should of said 99% songs will be Tamil. I wouldnt of come
— Rita Mistry (@RitaMistry) July 8, 2017
Need more Hindi Punjabi songs #ARRahman#Wembley#ssearena feels like come to a South Indian concert @arrahman
— Saurabh Sethi (@Saurabh_Sethi25) July 8, 2017
Yeah felt out of place for half the show. Shame @arrahman could hv done a lot better
— Saurabh Sethi (@Saurabh_Sethi25) July 8, 2017
So true, going to his fb page to complain. Some lady next to us flew in from NY just to see him. She was so angry too.
— Rita Mistry (@RitaMistry) July 8, 2017
Agreed, music was great but couldn't follow a word. Complete disgrace from the legend. #HamsiniInternational#weneedrefund
— Saurabh Sethi (@Saurabh_Sethi25) July 9, 2017
This comes amidst the raging debate over whether Hindi should be made India's "national language", with both support and opposition for the proposal. The non-Hindi speakers are suspicious that this is a hegemonic attempt to impose a 'one nation, one language' diktat on a country known for its vibrant heterogeneity. Hindi activists argue that it will promote the language and bring it global recognition.
Tamils on Twitter, however, saw a great opportunity to rub in the fact that this is exactly how most people from the South feel on imposition of Hindi, which is one of India's official languages.
The concert was titled 'Naetru Indru Naalai'. Which language do you think it is, dumbheads?😂 #ARRahman#ARRForever#UK
— Divine Bovine (@DesiSage) July 12, 2017
lol! Few ppl who term us as parochial when we speak for our linguistic rights are very upset about #ARRahman show. #nammametrohindibeda
— Girish Kargadde (@girishkargadde) July 13, 2017
Thank you #ARRahman for inadvertently exposing Hindian bigotry https://t.co/kbpUbKJRnJ
— சிவா (@aususa7) July 12, 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
#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
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
Faced with a barrage of complaints from Hindi speakers, the Facebook page of the event posted the track list that showed that there were 16 full tracks in Hindi, 12 full tracks in Tamil and a medley with a mix of Tamil and Hindi.
Just hearing Rahman should be an opportunity of a lifetime. Does the language even matter?