Oscar-winner AR Rahman’s daughter, Khatija Rahman, is set to follow in her father’s footsteps. Joining a family tradition that includes her grandfather RK Sekhar, aunts AR Raihana and Ishrath, cousins GV Prakash Kumar and AH Kaashif, and her brother AR Ameen, Khatija will make her debut as a music composer. She recently discussed her work on composing music for Halitha Shameem’s film ‘Minmini’ at a press conference.
Appa called my first song refreshing
At the press conference, Khatija revealed that she played the first song, ‘Iruperum’, for her father. She shared his feedback, saying, “I sent appa (father) the first song and after hearing it, he said it was refreshing and calming. He advised me to find my own sound and assured me that he would always be there for me.”
When asked why her father wasn’t present she said, “It is better if I start slow and prove myself before he speaks about me. Otherwise, I know what will happen on social media and I have no interest in feeding the trolls. I can’t escape criticism or comparison, but I want to be my own person first.”
Imposter syndrome
When Khatija’s debut as a music composer was first announced, she encountered significant trolling online. She shared, “I had self-doubt when I read the comments about my launch as a composer. In fact, I was dealing with imposter syndrome, and I understood that my work has to do the talking.”
Khatija also added that she knows the privilege of having the opportunity, “I have not taken this opportunity for granted, and I’ve worked really hard for this. I hope people give constructive feedback about Minmini instead of choosing to bash me on social media.”
Minmini
‘Minmini’ features Esther Anil, Pravin Kishore, and Gaurav Kaalai in the lead roles. The film was shot and co-produced by Manoj Paramahamsa, with additional backing from R Murali Krishnan. It was filmed in various locations, including Chennai, Ooty, and Ladakh.
A trailer for the film was released on Wednesday and the official synopsis reads, “Minmini is a poignant and powerful drama by Halitha Shameem, exploring the complex emotions of survivor’s guilt with unflinching honesty and heartfelt depth shot over an extraordinary eight-year period. Shot in two phases, 2015 and 2022, this deliberate approach allowed child actors to mature and reprise their roles as adults lending a remarkable continuity to the narrative.”