AR Rahman honored at IIFA Awards 2017, responds to Wembley concert controversy

July 18, 2017: AR Rahman’s selection of songs for his recent ‘Netru, Indru, Naalai’ concert at Wembley Stadium, London received flak for some strange reason from the Hindi speaking audience. Many of them sought refund of tickets, alleging that AR Rahman sang too many Tamil songs which they couldn’t understand.

While widespread North Indian gripes continue over the playing of Tamil songs at the concert, people down south have expressed support for the man known as Oscar Tamilan. Many have called attention to the fact that Rahman is Tamil himself and has composed most of his songs in Tamil first. Some social media users opined that it was obvious that considerable number of Tamil songs are going to be played, as the concert was titled in Tamil words 'Netru, Indru, Naalai.'

It is being revealed that some fans went to the extent of walking out of ARR's Wembley show on 8 July just because 12 Tamil songs and only 16 Hindi numbers were performed. And then they went to Twitter and began their prejudice-laden rant, triggering a war of sorts between the north and the south on social media.

Regaling the audience with his evergreen tunes. A memorable IIFA ROCKS indeed! Kudos to the magician behind the show! @arrahman #IIFA2017 pic.twitter.com/crddlzJcGs

— IIFA Awards (@IIFA) July 15, 2017

Double Oscar-winner AR Rahman, who also holds two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, and numerous Filmfare Awards, has now opened up on the controversy.

“We try our best. We try to be honest. I love the way how people have supported for all these years without them I’m nothing. I’m grateful to all of them,” he said.

AR Rahman was honored at the IIFA Awards 2017 for having completed 25 years in the industry. The Mozart of Madras performed the original Tamil version of his Urvasi Urvasi for the IIFA Rocks audience who kept chanting “Once more, once more,” even at 2 am on Saturday morning.

Here's a look at some of the twitter reactions:

That was my first ever Tamil concert guys. Albeit completely unintentional #ARRahman #SSEArena #Fail #Refund?

— Omer Chowdhury (@OmChow) 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 #Ssearena #mustberefunded #falseadvertising #wishweknew all songs in southindian #disapointment. Why #JavedAliji not singing more

— Archana Sawant (@archana_ssawant) July 9, 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

When Rahman sir wins 2 Oscars and creates history, he is "An Indian", but 7-8 Tamil gaane kya gaa liye aap naraaz hote ho. What yaar?

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) July 14, 2017

When Rahman sir wins 2 Oscars and creates history, he is "An Indian", but 7-8 Tamil gaane kya gaa liye aap naraaz hote ho. What yaar?

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) July 14, 2017