AR Rahman speaks on healing through Music after divorce in first public appearance

• AR Rahman announced his separation from Saira Banu after 29 years of marriage.
• Rahman shared his experiences with suicidal thoughts and the advice of his mother to “live for others.”
• Despite rumors about his separation, Rahman remains calm and focuses on fulfilling his work commitments.

AR Rahman’s announcement of his separation from his wife, Saira Banu, after 29 years of marriage shocked everyone. Recently, the composer made his first appearance since the announcement and discussed how music can play a significant role in healing and “filling a void,” rather than giving in to carnal needs.

AR Rahman attended the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2024 in Goa, where he participated in a conversation about promoting musical theater. He discussed how music holds transformative power and can serve as a potent tool for addressing mental health challenges like depression.

He shared that music and storytelling can help fill the “emotional void” people often experience in modern life, offering a positive alternative to catering to “carnal needs like violence and s*x.”

He explained, “That void can be filled by storytellers, by philosophy, by entertaining in a way where you don’t even know that you are taking medicine, by not just catering to your carnal needs like violence and sex and all that stuff. There’s much more than all that stuff.”

Earlier this year, the Oscar-winning composer spoke at the Oxford Union, sharing his experiences with suicidal thoughts during his youth. He revealed that his mother had offered him valuable guidance to “live for others,” advice he believes helped him steer away from dark thoughts. He emphasized how supporting others can have a significant impact on our own lives.

AR Rahman’s announcement of his separation from Saira Banu sparked numerous rumors and speculations about the reasons behind it. However, the music composer has remained calm and is focusing on fulfilling his work commitments.

On the work front, the 57-year-old singer and music composer has worked on the music for upcoming films such as “Chhaava”, starring Vicky Kaushal, “Lahore 1947”, starring Sunny Deol, and Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana”, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles. Last month, filmmaker Hansal Mehta announced that AR Rahman will compose the musical score for his upcoming series, “Gandhi”.

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