DirectorRam Gopal Varmahas publicly addressed renewed discussions over his past remarks about the Academy Award-winning songJai HofromSlumdog Millionaire. The controversy reignited after a vintage interview of Varma resurfaced online, where he appeared to suggest that singerSukhwinder Singhcreated the track, despiteAR Rahmanbeing credited as the composer.
Responding to the renewed scrutiny, Varma posted onX, stating:"I am being misquoted and misread out of context in the matter of the Jai Ho song. In my view, @arrahman is the greatest composer and the nicest human being I ever met and he’s the last person to take away anybody’s credit. I hope this puts an end to the negativism surrounding the issue."
The resurfaced interview recounts incidents during the making of Subhash Ghai’s filmYuvraj, where Rahman reportedly visitedSukhwinder Singh’s studioto finalize tracks under tight deadlines. Varma described the interactions between Rahman, Ghai, and Singh, including Subhash Ghai’s frustration over delayed compositions. Varma also alleged that Rahman requested Sukhwinder to complete a song later used inSlumdog Millionaire, though Singh later clarified in an interview that he only performed the vocals.
Singh firmly stated,"I have only sung it. Ram Gopal Varma ji koi chhoti hasti toh hai nahi, shayad unhe kuch galat pata chala hoga"(meaning Varma may have been misinformed). Despite the controversy,AR Rahman remains officially creditedas the composer of Jai Ho, with Sukhwinder Singh recognized as the singer. The incident highlights how past statements can resurface online and spark debates, even years after a film or song’s release.
