Rahman, Mani Ratnam criticised for choosing Vairamuthu for Ponniyin Selvan

Following Vairamuthu's revelation that he is penning the songs of Mani Ratnam's upcoming magnum opus,

Ponniyin Selvan

, Twitterati have expressed displeasure in the decision of the director and composer

AR Rahman

for choosing to work with the #MeToo-accused lyricist. Vairamuthu had revealed in an interview that the Mani Ratnam-AR Rahman-Vairamuthu combination is coming together again for Ponniyin Selvan, and informed that there will be 12 songs in the film, and they will capture the beauty of the Tamil of yore.

Many fans immediately expressed their disappointed that the acclaimed Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman have chosen to overlook the multiple

#MeToo

accusations against Vairamuthu and are working with him. A few even contrasted this with how Hollywood had handled accusations against producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Kevin Spacey by choosing to remove them from their projects. Some also felt that it was injustice that while a #MeToo-accused continues to get work, the survivors, like singer

Chinmayi

(the most prominent among the women who have called out Vairamuthu), are being sidelined by the industry. One user singled out Mani Ratnam saying that he can sign a letter protesting mob lynchings, but cannot stand up against a sex offender. Quite a few commented on the irony of AR Rahman coming up with

Singapenney

, a song that is about female empowerment, and then going on to work with a lyricist,especially after his own sister (AR Raihanah) had claimed that Vairamuthu's transgressions were an open secret in the film industry.








However, there were a few who also came out in support of the director and the composer, saying that the lyricist should be considered not guilty until his offence is proven. Some felt that the director would have gone with the lyricist on the merit of his lyrical prowess, opting to keep the professional and the personal separate. A few even asked the outragers if they would boycott the film and choose not to see it.





It remains to be seen if such mixed reactions to the move might force Mani Ratnam and Rahman to reconsider their decision.