AR Rahman Explains Musical Choices for Ramayana and Past Work

AR Rahman is facing online criticism over 'Mangal rang', a song he composed for the upcoming mythological action-drama film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. The film is produced by Namit Malhotra and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, with Rahman sharing the musical duties alongside German composer Hans Zimmer. Released last week, the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash-starrer drew immediate social media pushback from listeners who questioned its 'qawwali-like' treatment and electronic Ravana tandava, while others raised concerns about the lyrics by Kumar Vishwas. Rahman used shuddh notes of Bilawal with touches of Maand and Pahadi to root the tune in familiar devotional traditions.

Reactions and Process

Despite the debate on social media, 'Mangal rang' climbed to the top spot on YouTube's trending music chart this week. Addressing the pushback, Rahman noted that he is his own first critic and often lives with compositions for months before release. He compared the creative process to pickle, noting that certain tunes get better with age, and quoted Steve Jobs by saying that anyone wanting to satisfy everyone should sell ice cream. Speaking about Hans Zimmer's involvement, Rahman stated that the global composer's presence will bring a new set of audience curiosity to a story deeply tied to the Subcontinent's cultural imagination. The massive project involves five different languages, two versions including Hollywood and Indian formats, and a score spanning roughly ten movies' worth of work.

Career and Collaborations

Beyond the Ramayana project, Rahman discussed his long-standing creative partnerships and early career in advertising jingles. He recalled adapting Mozart's Symphony No. 25 for Titan Watches, working on a Boost ad with Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev, and creating a Leo Coffee piece before Mani Ratnam's Roja launched his film career in 1992. Discussing his work with lyricist Irshad Kamil on projects like Rockstar, Tamasha, Highway, Amar Singh Chamkila, and the recent Partition saga Main Vaapas Aaunga directed by Imtiaz Ali, Rahman highlighted the freedom and collaborative depth of building a full film score. His upcoming projects include Shekhar Kapur's Masoom: The Next Generation, Mani Ratnam's Inji Vellam, and Ramayana: Part 2.

Context

Film music in India has evolved from traditional story-driven soundtracks to include digital streaming algorithms and short-form media trends. Major epics like the Ramayana carry deep cultural significance for audiences, naturally leading to intense public interest and debate whenever contemporary artists reinterpret traditional narratives. AR Rahman has spent a three-decade career bridging diverse musical traditions, often blending Western orchestration with classical Indian roots to shape modern cinema soundtracks.