New Delhi: AR Rahman has responded to criticism of the music in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, saying composers cannot satisfy everyone. Addressing questions about the sound and treatment of the recently released song Mangal Rang, Rahman quoted Steve Jobs, saying, “If you want to satisfy everyone, go sell ice cream.”
The composer explained that music requires time and thought, adding that he sometimes spends months working on a tune before deciding what works.
“I am my first critic. It is not that I just love everything I do. We don’t decide something in a day. We live with it for months sometimes. There’s a thought process,” he said in an interview.
Comparing certain compositions to pickle, Rahman said some tunes improve with time. “Sometimes you need to take anthropology into consideration. Sometimes, you let something be, like pickle: for certain tunes, the older it is, the better it becomes,” he said.
He added that listeners sometimes focus on one aspect of a composition without understanding the larger idea behind it, urging them to be patient before judging the music.
Mangal Rang, featuring Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas, sparked debate over its musical treatment. Depicting the wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, the song faced criticism over its perceived qawwali influences and whether its arrangement suited the epic.
Some listeners wanted music more rooted in Sanatan Dharma, while others felt the electronic treatment of the Ravana tandava lacked the expected energy. The lyrics also faced scrutiny over their emotional depth and fluidity.
Discussing his collaboration with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, Rahman said Zimmer’s association could attract new audiences. He described the project as “probably like 10 movies’ worth of work”, involving scores, songs, five languages and Hollywood and Indian versions.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman.
The first instalment is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026, with the second part reportedly planned for 2027.
