{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "AR Rahman Responds to Criticism Over Music in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana",
  "summary": "Composer AR Rahman addressed the online debate surrounding the song Mangal Rang from the upcoming film Ramayana, stating that completing demanding projects leaves him with no energy to track internet reactions.",
  "content": "Director Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming high-budget production Ramayana has become a focal point of intense discussion across digital platforms ahead of its theatrical release. Much of the attention is centered on the film's musical compositions, notably the tracks Mangal Rang and Ravan Tandav. Following the unveiling of the newest melody Mangal Rang, composer AR Rahman faced criticism from sections of social media users, prompting him to openly share his perspective on the creative journey and audience commentary.\n\nCreative Investment and Managing Online Feedback\nReflecting on the extensive musical design behind the project, AR Rahman explained that crafting an original score is never a straightforward undertaking. Every film demands a distinct sonic approach, requiring extensive experimentation and dedicated artistic commitment. He noted that every composition undergoes rigorous scrutiny and fine-tuning before it reaches the public, with the creative team investing exhaustive effort into every detail.\n\nAddressing the barrage of online critiques, Rahman stated that once an entire project is finalized after such demanding labor, he is left with virtually no energy to browse social media and absorb audience feedback. He mentioned that his son keeps him updated regarding viral discussions and online trends. Despite the divided reactions, the composer expressed confidence in his work, emphasizing that he gave his complete effort and remains hopeful that listeners will genuinely connect with the music over time.\n\nPlagiarism Claims and Comparisons with Mangal Rang\nThe song Mangal Rang, featured in the big-budget spectacle starring Ranbir Kapoor, initially received appreciation upon its debut. However, the tone of public conversation shifted within hours as allegations surfaced questioning its compositional uniqueness. Several listeners began drawing parallels between its acoustic arrangement and the hit 2012 track Kun Faya Kun from the movie Rockstar.\n\nSung by leading playback artists Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, the track was described by some listeners as leaning heavily into a qawwali cadence. Meanwhile, other commentators argued that parts of its tune resembled an existing Malayalam melody. These varied musical comparisons quickly triggered widespread debate across social channels regarding its thematic inspirations.\n\nQuestions Over Visual Sequence and Ritual Portrayal\nBeyond the auditory elements, a specific visual sequence inside the song also attracted critical scrutiny from viewers. In the scene, Ranbir Kapoor appears portraying Lord Ram, surrounded by female members of the family who apply a yellow paste onto him.\n\nObservers initially interpreted the portrayal as a haldi ceremony before considering whether it depicted a separate regional ritual. Certain commentators questioned the cultural framing, arguing that if the sequence represented a customary pre-wedding haldi ritual, depicting the bride and groom together in such proximity did not align with traditional conventions. Consequently, both the visual staging and the background compositions have generated persistent debate.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe public reaction to the music of Ramayana highlights how closely audiences examine both sonic and cultural choices in major mythological adaptations.\n\n• For music listeners and fans: Listener expectations surrounding sacred and historic themes remain exceptionally sensitive. Audiences will likely evaluate future track releases and background scores from the film with heightened analytical attention.\n• For the entertainment industry: Filmmakers mounting large-scale productions face growing scrutiny regarding the authenticity of traditional rituals depicted on screen. Instant feedback on digital platforms compels marketing and creative teams to navigate public reactions cautiously.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe contention surrounding the song Mangal Rang emerged primarily from perceived structural similarities to previous music tracks and differing interpretations of cultural rituals depicted in its visuals.\n\n• Acoustic and stylistic parallels: Listeners recognized melodic cadence similarities between the new track and earlier devotional or Sufi compositions. This prompted comparisons to the song Kun Faya Kun from Rockstar alongside claims of resemblance to regional tunes.\n• Cultural interpretations of ceremonial scenes: The visual application of a yellow paste was widely perceived as a pre-wedding haldi ritual. Certain viewers contested this depiction, arguing that conventional customs discourage showing both partners together during the ceremony.\n• Exhaustion from creative production: Extensive labor invested in scoring large-scale cinematic music leaves creative talent drained at the conclusion of projects. The composer indicated that after dedicating maximum energy to production, tracking digital discourse is unfeasible.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Which song from the movie Ramayana triggered controversy?\nThe newly released song Mangal Rang faced criticism regarding its musical originality and a specific ceremonial sequence.\n\n2. How did AR Rahman respond to the online criticism?\nHe stated that after investing complete effort into a project, he has no energy left to track public feedback on social media.\n\n3. Which existing tracks were compared to Mangal Rang?\nListeners drew comparisons to the 2012 song Kun Faya Kun from the film Rockstar, as well as an unspecified Malayalam melody.\n\n4. What concern did viewers raise regarding the video sequence?\nViewers questioned a scene involving the application of a yellow paste, asking whether depicting the bride and groom together during a haldi ritual was culturally accurate.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/nitesh-tiwari-ki-ramayana-ke-sngita-para-uthe-savala-to-sngitakara-ar-rahman-ne-rakhi-bata-52054",
  "category": "Bollywood",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-26",
  "tags": [
    "Ramayana",
    "AR Rahman",
    "Ranbir Kapoor",
    "Nitesh Tiwari",
    "Mangal Rang",
    "Bollywood"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}