AR Rahman Shrugs Off Backlash Over 'Ramayana' Music and Hans Zimmer Team-Up
Double Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has broken his silence on the online debate and social media trolling directed at the newly unveiled track "Mangal Raag" from director Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated cinematic saga, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. Despite sections of internet audiences scrutinizing the contemporary and semi-classical inflections of the music—with some questioning its atmospheric tonalities—the musical maestro remains completely unperturbed by online outrage. Rahman emphasized that dedicating decades to sonic storytelling has taught him to operate with absolute artistic integrity, pointing out that an epic of this historical magnitude demands continuous evolution rather than repetitive reliance on nostalgia.
Beyond Past Glories: Why Moving Like a River Trumps Social Media Noise
Speaking about public reception and the rigorous creative effort invested into the magnum opus, Rahman explained in an interview with the Hindustan Times that the filmmaking and scoring process is far too intense to waste bandwidth on transient internet criticism. The composer noted that by the time a track reaches public ears, it has already passed through rigorous filters, countless iterations, and extensive internal testing, leaving his creative team with little energy to entertain casual trolling. Addressing discussions surrounding tracks like "Raavan Tandav" and the weight of composing for the pan-Indian epic after three decades in the industry, Rahman remarked that artists cannot simply rest on celebrated benchmarks like Rockstar or Slumdog Millionaire. Dismissing the expectation to repeat his earlier musical eras, he affirmed that creativity must flow forward like a running river, adding with a smile that even when early skeptics criticize his tracks, his son frequently observes those same detractors returning to apologize once the depth of the composition finally settles in.
A Historic Dual-Composer Spectacle: Star-Studded Cast Prepares for November 5 Worldwide Debut
The music of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend marks an unprecedented milestone in Indian cinema, featuring a historic collaboration where Rahman broke his longstanding rule against co-composing to join forces with celebrated Hollywood maestro Hans Zimmer. Backed by producer Namit Malhotra on a sprawling scale, the two-part mythological adaptation features a five-language soundtrack designed to resonate across global cultural landscapes. The cinematic ensemble brings together Indian cinema’s biggest stars, led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Mata Sita, Rocking Star Yash as the formidable demon king Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey portraying Lakshman. With the post-production work reaching its final crescendo, the first installment of the epic saga is locked for a massive global theatrical premiere on November 5, setting the stage for the climactic second part slated for a worldwide release on Diwali 2027.
