AR Rahman has finally responded to the online criticism around the songs of ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’. He said that he does not track social media reactions and would rather stay sincere to his craft. His comments come after the film’s new track, ‘Mangal Rang’, triggered another round of debate on the internet.
AR Rahman on trolling and feedback
In a conversation with Hindustan Times, the Oscar-winning composer said the heavy workload behind each song leaves him with little time to follow online chatter. He said, “We do so much work – filtration, ideation, and iteration – that there’s no energy left to look at feedback! We just put it out because it’s been tried and tested so much. My son keeps telling me, ‘This is what they said yesterday, now they’re apologising...’ I say fine, I’ve done my work sincerely and hope people celebrate it.”His remark appears to refer to ‘Ravana Tandav’. That song first faced a backlash, but many listeners later warmed up to it.
A new responsibility three decades into his career
Rahman said that taking up a project of this scale after thirty years in the industry brings its own pressure. “After the first 10 years, people said, ‘Oh, you should do what you did in those first 10 years.’ But I can’t stay on old glory like Rockstar or ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. You can’t stagnate yourself — you have to be like a flowing river. Now Ramayana has come, and these songs are in five different languages. It’s an epic story almost every Indian knows. It’s such a great honour to do those songs and be part of that celebration with India and the world,” he said.
Why ‘Mangal Rang’ split opinion
The latest release, ‘Mangal Rang’, features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita. Some viewers feel its qawwali influences do not match the epic’s traditional world. The mix of styles has started a wider discussion on whether such musical choices suit films rooted in Indian mysticism.
Working with Hans Zimmer
The film also takes AR Rahman away from his usual solo approach, as he has teamed up with German composer Hans Zimmer. AR Rahman revealed that Zimmer first invited him to collaborate around 14–15 years ago, after the Oscar win for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. He turned the offer down then because he was in “chill-out mode.”Rahman said that he generally prefers working alone, but Zimmer’s presence on this project is “such a blessing because it changes the narrative.” He explained that audiences in places like New Zealand or Europe might see it as “just another Indian movie” if only local names were attached. Zimmer’s involvement, he said, will create curiosity worldwide. “It’s a great move by the producer,” Rahman added.
About the film
Produced by Namit Malhotra and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana’ is a two-part cinematic saga. Yash plays Ravana, Ravie Dubey plays Lakshman, and Sunny Deol appears as Lord Hanuman. Part One is set for a worldwide release on November 5, just ahead of Diwali. Part Two is slated for Diwali 2027.
AR Rahman’s upcoming live shows
Before the film arrives, AR Rahman will perform live as part of his Wonderment Tour. The first show is at Jio World Garden in Mumbai on November 1. He will then perform at Backyard Sports Club in Delhi on November 21.
