Proud of her response to critics: AR Rahman on daughter Khatija’s debut

AR Rahman is fully backing his daughter Khatija Rahman, who has made her debut as a film music director with the movie Minmini, directed by Halitha Shameem. After the film's premiere, Rahman congratulated Khatija and praised her work, stating that she has effectively responded to her critics with her music.

Rahman mentioned that Minmini marks Khatija’s first venture into music direction. He also commended the film’s director, Halitha Shameem, as well as the cinematographer and producer, Manoj Paramahamsa, for their contributions.

"Minmini is my daughter Khatija's first project as a music director. It was Halitha who provided her with this opportunity. Halitha's storytelling and direction are unique for Tamil cinema. Khatija's music direction is exceptional. I’m not just saying this because I’m her father; she has set a high standard for herself," Rahman said.

"Any news about Khatija has been ridiculed by many. She has responded to that criticism with this film. I am very proud of her. May God bless her to reach even greater heights," Rahman added.

Reflecting on his own career, Rahman compared his current feelings of pride to when he first saw his name in the credits for Roja. He noted that he is thrilled to see Khatija's name on screen and has observed outstanding growth in her talent over the past decade. She has now gained the confidence to compose music independently.

Although Rahman did not attend the film’s audio launch on 24 July, Khatija had expressed a desire for her father to acknowledge her achievements only after she had proved herself. She also mentioned her wish to avoid ridicule on social media.

Minmini features Esther Anil, Praveen Kishore, and Gaurav Kalai in the lead roles. Directed by Halitha Shameem, the film is a long-awaited project that began shooting years ago when the actors were children. Halitha patiently waited until the actors were old enough to shoot the final scenes. The film is set to be released on 9 August.