Singer Shweta Mohan draws ire for ‘tone-deaf’ post supporting AR Rahman over Marakkuma Nenjam concert issue

In addition, numerous women who attended the event alleged instances of harassment and molestation.

Amidst this turmoil, Shweta Mohan, one of the event’s singers, became entangled in the controversy after she responded to a tweet from an audience member who claimed to have been groped during the concert. In response to Shweta’s post, many netizens argued that it focused more on AR Rahman than addressing the distressing experiences of women at the concert.

Shweta shared a tweet by a woman who posted a video of herself visibly shaken after leaving the concert venue, where she claimed to have been “groped”. In response, Shweta composed a long post, supposedly expressing solidarity with the survivor.

Despite starting the post by noting “unable to ignore this tweet,” Shweta began heaping praise on Rahman. “For an icon who has stood for peace, love and humanity all his life, it is extremely unfortunate that this has happened at his concert where the music has always eased the pain for all attending,” she noted.

“Does ARR Sir deserve such perpetrators as fans attending his concert? He deserves better, way better. In every concert, he dedicates a song especially to women as a reminder to every man of the respect he needs to carry for every woman. But Alas!”

“Stay strong, #Singapenne!! We live in a heinous society. My heart goes out to you. Sending you energy to help overcome this and rise again! Unakkaaga Neeye Udippaai Amma,” the singer wrote.

Dearest Chennai Makkale, those of you who purchased tickets and weren’t able to enter owing to unfortunate circumstances, please do share a copy of your ticket purchase to arr4chennai@btos.in along with your grievances. Our team will respond asap🙏@BToSproductions @actcevents

— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) September 11, 2023

Outraged by Shweta’s post, one Twitterati noted: “It’s all about ARR isn’t it? You just didn’t want that to happen at HIS concert, because HE deserves better? For once, for the love of god, take a small break from the ARR worship and focus on the victims instead.”

“Truth is the audience deserved better arrangements. That’s it. That’s the tweet,” another user noted.

AR Rahman interview on his ‘Marakkuma Nenjam’ concert: I’m terribly disturbed and accountable for what happened – The Hindu https://t.co/Xi8QBDXLPs

— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) September 11, 2023

“Highly insensitive and tone deaf post that too directly Qting someone’s trauma with ungaluku dhaana ma singa penne paatu potaaru cha andha manushan deserves better fans than perpetrators nu. Fans deserved better arrangements,” one person noted.

Several industry insiders, including composer Yuvan Shankar Raja and actors Karthi and Khushbu Sundar, have stepped up in support of the Academy Award winner.