AR Rahman responds to criticism of Ramayana music
The composer used a Steve Jobs quote to address debates regarding the musical treatment of the upcoming film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend.
Music composer AR Rahman has addressed criticism regarding the sound of the song Mangal Rang from the upcoming film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, according to India Today.
The song, which features Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas, has faced debate over its musical arrangement and perceived qawwali influences. Some listeners also questioned the electronic treatment of the Ravana tandava.
Rahman responded to the feedback by quoting Steve Jobs, saying, "If you want to satisfy everyone, go sell ice cream." He noted that a composer must eventually move on rather than trying to please everyone.
The composer explained that he spends months with a melody before finalizing it and suggested that some music improves with time, comparing certain tunes to pickle. He stated that listeners may need to be patient to see the whole picture.
Rahman also mentioned that the involvement of Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer could attract new audiences to the project. He described the scale of the work as being equivalent to approximately 10 movies, involving five languages and two versions.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, and Sunny Deol. The first instalment is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026.