AR Rahman’s latest composition for Ramayana, titled Mangal Rang, has sparked debate on social media, with some listeners describing its sound as “qawwali coded” and questioning whether the musical style suits the Hindu epic.
Released on October 25, the song features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, depicting their wedding celebrations. Composed by Rahman, the Hindi track features vocals by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas.
While some viewers have praised the song’s visuals and the lead actors’ chemistry, others have criticised its perceived Sufi influences and drawn comparisons with Rahman’s earlier compositions.
Why Is ‘Mangal Rang’ Facing Criticism?
Several social media users have compared the song’s chorus, melody and musical arrangement with Rahman’s popular Sufi composition Kun Faya Kun from the 2011 film Rockstar.
One user wrote that the chorus and the use of “rang” reminded them of qawwali traditions, also drawing parallels with the composer’s Tamil song Enna Solla Pogirai from the 2000 film Kandukondain Kandukondain.
Another listener said Mangal Rang had similarities with Kun Faya Kun, pointing to its singing style and spiritual tone. The user questioned whether the resemblance was a deliberate callback to Rahman’s earlier work.
Some critics have argued that the song should have used more traditional Indian instruments, including the veena, sitar, mridangam and tabla, along with more Sanskrit lyrics.
One social media user said the composition did not fit the film’s setting, although they praised Shreya Ghoshal’s contribution to the track.
However, not everyone agrees with the criticism. Some listeners have argued that the song does not qualify as qawwali, while others have defended its musical arrangement.
The term “qawwali coded” has largely been used by listeners to describe what they perceive as similarities to qawwali or Sufi music. It is not an official classification of the composition.
AR Rahman Responds to Criticism of ‘Ramayana’ Music
Amid the debate, Rahman has spoken about the wider response to the music of Ramayana, saying he prefers to focus on his work rather than follow online reactions.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, the composer said the process of developing and refining music leaves him with little time or energy to track public feedback.
“We do so much work, filtration, ideation, and iteration that there’s no energy left to look at feedback! We just put it out because it’s been tried and tested so much,” Rahman said.
He added that his son sometimes tells him about people who initially criticised the music but later changed their views.
“I’ve done my work sincerely and hope people celebrate it,” he said.
Rahman’s comments addressed the broader response to the film’s soundtrack and did not specifically respond to the criticism of Mangal Rang.
The composer also said he could not rely on past successes and needed to keep experimenting rather than repeat earlier achievements.
A Two Part Adaptation of the Epic
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is planned as a two part cinematic adaptation of the Hindu epic. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi portrays Sita, and Yash appears as Ravana. The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
Rahman is composing the music alongside German composer Hans Zimmer, marking a collaboration between the two composers.
Mangal Rang is the latest song from the film to draw public attention after discussions surrounding earlier tracks, including Ravana Tandav and Jai Jai Ram.
