Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman who is known worldwide for his soulful music, has found himself at the centre of a controversy after years of steering clear from everything. His recent collaboration with choreographer Jani Master is now facing heat online.
The choreographer was accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offense (POCSO) Act and is currently reported to choreograph the newly released Peddi track “Chikiri Chikiri”. What began as a routine song launch has now turned into a major controversy in Telugu cinema.
Collaboration that sparked the uproar
On November 9, Jani Master posted photographs on Instagram showing himself with A.R. Rahman and the film team of Peddi.
His caption read: “We grew up watching and dancing to Legendary @arrahman Sir’s songs and I can’t believe I choreographed this chartbuster #ChikiriChikiri in his composition. Thank you for your kind words of support Sir.
Grateful for the opportunity Mega Power Star @alwaysramcharan Anna #BuchiBabuSana garu @rathnaveludop Sir & entire @peddimovieoffl movie Team”
Immediately, social-media users reacted strongly to Rahman’s decision to work with someone who has been accused of sexual wrongdoing. Many tagged the move as “insensitive” and even “hypocrisy” given Rahman’s previous stance on similar issues. 
The allegations against Jani Master
Jani Master (Shaik Jani Basha) is a popular Indian choreographer who has choreographed energetic dance numbers for stars like Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, and NTR Jr.
Last year in September, Jani Master was arrested by Cyberabad Police in the case of sexually assaulting a woman assistant choreographer multiple times when she was a minor (her name is not publicly disclosed). She also claimed that he threatened her to stay silent.
Based on her complaint, the police arrested Jani under multiple sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offense (POCSO) Act.
He was remanded for 14 days in custody and after a few weeks, he was released on bail. The case is still under investigation. Since then, Jani has stayed out of public eye until he shared the post of the collaboration with A.R. Rahman for ‘Chikiri Chikiri.’
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Why this matters
A.R. Rahman is not just a name, but a brand strongly associated with integrity and global recognition. The public demands professionalism from an artist who has earned global acclaim. The current incident raises serious ethical concerns in the entertainment industry. The backlash is on the decision behind the scenes in choosing collaborators, ignoring a criminal background. It’s not only offensive to the victim but derogatory as a society.
What happens next
As of now, Rahman has not issued a formal public statement regarding his decision to work with Jani Master or the backlash. The film Peddi continues its promotional run. It remains to be seen whether Rahman or the production team will respond to these concerns, or whether the controversy will affect public perception and box-office impact.
About the song
The song Chikiri Chikiri is a song of the film ‘Peddi’ which is directed by Buchi Babu Sana, starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ram Charan. The music is composed by A.R. Rahman and has crossed 46 million views within 24 hours of its release.
Despite the promotional buzz, the controversy poses a significant threat and could overshadow the film’s success and marketing campaign.
Written by: Supriya