After Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman spoke of not getting enough work in the Hindi film industry because of some people spreading misinformation about him, his Slumdog Millionaire (2008) colleague and fellow Oscar-winner, sound designer Resul Pookutty, said he, too, had faced a similar situation.
Pookutty tweeted that he went through ''a near breakdown" as nobody was giving him work. He was replying to Shekhar Kapur's tweet where the director called the Oscar a "kiss of death" for anyone wanting to work in Hindi cinema.
Dear @shekharkapur ask me about it, I had gone through near breakdown as nobody was giving me work in Hindi films and regional cinema held me tight after I won the Oscar... There were production houses told me at my face ”we don’t need you” but still I love my industry,for it.... https://t.co/j5CMNWDqqr
— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 26, 2020
In an interview with Radio Mirchi, Rahman had said, "I don't say no to good movies, but I think there is a gang which, due to misunderstandings, is spreading some rumours."
The composer went on to say, "People are expecting me to do stuff, but there is another gang of people preventing that from happening. It is fine because I believe in destiny. I believe that everything comes from god. So, I am taking my own movies and doing my other stuff. But all of you are welcome to come to me. You make beautiful movies, and you are welcome to come to me."
This fuelled the controversy about cliques and nepotism in the Hindi film industry which has been raging in a section of the media and the industry following actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death by suicide last month.
Sharing a link of Rahman's interview on Twitter, Shekhar Kapur wrote, "You know what your problem is AR Rahman? You went and got Oscars. An Oscar is the kiss of death in Bollywood. It proves you have more talent than Bollywood can handle."
A discussion between Pookutty and Kapur followed. The sound designer tweeted that while there were many who shunned him, ''a few people had faith in my work." Despite the rejection, Pookutty said he still has ''faith in people''.
He also seemed to be inclined to move past the discussion, tweeting, "Oscar curse is over. We moved on. I’m also not liking the direction in which the whole nepotism discussion is going. So peace!"
All my post r not seen in my timeline, posting it here again so that it’s not wrongly interpreted.Oscar curse is over, We moved on.I’m also not liking the direction in which the whole nepotism discussion is going. So peace! I’m not blaming anybody fr nt taking me in their films🙏 pic.twitter.com/ldpzSNUlsP
— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 27, 2020
However, he also tweeted a few hours earlier that "nepotism is the cheapest and most unimaginative corruption".
Nepotism is the cheapest and most unimaginative corruption!
— resul pookutty (@resulp) July 27, 2020
It appears that the debates on nepotism and favouritism, sparked by Rajput's death, will not die down anytime soon.