AR Rahman Accused of Reusing His Own Cult Classics Ahead of Global Release
Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has found himself at the center of a brewing musical controversy on the eve of the worldwide theatrical release of Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra’s magnum opus Ramayanam. With the ambitious cinematic spectacle set to hit cinemas across the globe on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in over 40 languages, social media platforms and music review circles have erupted with accusations claiming that multiple tracks from the film’s soundtrack bear unmistakable melodic resemblances to Rahman’s previous compositions and popular digital series tracks. The casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and South superstar Yash as Ravana had already pushed audience anticipation to unprecedented highs, but the emergence of plagiarism and self-recycling debates has injected unexpected friction into the film's promotional momentum.
'Mangal Ram' Under Fire: Comparisons Drawn to 'Kun Faya Kun' and 'Enna Solla Pogirai'
The controversy initially ignited with the debut of the devotional track "Mangal Ram," which drew immediate scrutiny from listeners who argued that its structural cadence leaned too heavily into Sufi and Qawwali undertones rather than traditional Vedic or classical Indian melodic frameworks. Beyond stylistic debates, digital creators and audiophiles quickly highlighted tonal and chordal parallels between "Mangal Ram" and Rahman’s revered 2011 composition "Kun Faya Kun" from Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar, which coincidentally also featured Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. Scrutiny mounted further as Tamil cinema enthusiasts pointed out striking melodic overlaps with another celebrated Rahman composition, "Enna Solla Pogirai," from the 2000 romantic classic Kandukondain Kandukondain featuring Ajith Kumar, leading critics to argue that the new track borrows foundational harmonic structures directly from the maestro's own vintage catalog.
'Jai Jai Ram' and 'Jodi-Jodi': Similarities With 'Rhythm' and 'Bandish Bandits' Spark Online Debate
The online scrutiny quickly expanded to encompass two additional tracks from the film's album, widening the debate across musical forums. The romantic melody "Jodi-Jodi," rendered by playback singer Shreya Ghoshal, faced claims from listeners who noted distinct melodic phrases echoing "Labb Par Aaye" from the acclaimed Indian web series Bandish Bandits. Simultaneously, the high-energy anthem "Jai Jai Ram" came under fire for featuring signature middle-stanza hooks that listeners found nearly identical to the rhythm patterns of "Thaniye," Rahman’s celebrated track sung by Shankar Mahadevan from the 2000 Tamil feature Rhythm. Compounding the controversy, several online commentators have voiced dissatisfaction with lyrical repetitions across the album, arguing that familiar poetic hooks were reused across different songs. While neither the filmmakers nor Rahman’s music production team have issued an official response to the allegations, the passionate online discourse surrounding the soundtrack continues to dominate social feeds just hours before audiences pack theaters worldwide.
