A.R. Rahman

A.R. Rahman

Diplomacy is key for Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman who has urged the Australian media to be wary of reporting recent attacks on Indian students in the country - insisting the stories could be "misused and provoke people."

Indian government officials recently issued a travel advisory to nationals studying Down Under following a spate of attacks last year, as well as the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old Indian earlier this month.

And during a visit to Sydney this week, Rahman - who composed the music for award-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire - urged the Aussie media to write about the incidents in an honest way.

He told reporters, "Media's a great tool but it can also be misused and provoke people. Just one wrong news item can kill thousands of people - that's happened in the past. We are being extremely careful and strict about what (is) the truth."