AR Rahman used AI to recreate the vocals of late singers, Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for a song in Lal Salaam. The film directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth features Vishnu Vishal and Rajinikanth in a special appearance.
AR Rahman used the voices of late singers for a song titled Thimiri Yezhuda in Lal Salaam. Following mixed reactions, the music maestro issued a clarification. He took to his X account and wrote, “We took permission from their families and sent deserving remuneration for using their voice algorithms ..technology is not a threat and a nuisance if we use it right…#respect #nostalgia.”
The late singer Bamba Bakya, who was a frequent collaborator with AR Rahman passed away in 2022 after a cardiac arrest. Singer Shahul Hameed passed away in a car crash in 1997.
AR Rahman’s decision to use AI to recreate their voices has left the internet divided. While some saw it as a homage to the singers, others are calling it a disrespectful move that could also limit opportunities for talent in the music industry.
Lal Salaam is set to hit theatres on February 9, 2024.