AR Rahman: 3 Ramayana songs in, fans now apologise to him
AR Rahman on the Ramayana song cycle: criticism, then apologies. Plus the Hans Zimmer collab he once skipped to chill, and release dates.
AR Rahman has seen this exact loop play out in public. A new song from Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana drops, the internet reacts, and some of the loudest critics turn around and apologise. Speaking exclusively to Hindustan Times, the composer says he is amused rather than worried.
“My son keeps telling me, ‘This is what they said yesterday, now they’re apologising…’” Rahman said. “I say fine, I’ve done my work sincerely and hope people celebrate it.”
Three songs in, the discourse is loud
Three songs from Ramayana are out so far, and the sharpest conversation has been around Ravana Tandav. It drew criticism first, then social media users began walking their words back and apologising to Rahman. The composer knew about the chatter but chose to sit it out.
“We do so much work, filtration, ideation, and iteration that there’s no energy left to look at feedback,” he said. “We just put it out because it’s been tried and tested so much.”
A flowing river, not a greatest-hits replay
Rahman frames Ramayana as proof that an artist has to keep moving. After his first decade, he said, people kept telling him to return to his early sound. He refuses to treat past work as a ceiling.
“You can’t stagnate yourself—you have to be like a flowing river,” he said, pointing out that these songs travel across five languages for a story almost every Indian knows.
- Three Ramayana songs released so far, including Ravana Tandav
- Five languages in one epic score
- Part One releases worldwide on November 5, ahead of Diwali
- Part Two planned around Diwali 2027
- Wonderment Tour: Mumbai on November 1, Delhi on November 21
Why Hans Zimmer changes the narrative
Rahman usually composes alone, but this project became the exception. He called Hans Zimmer’s involvement a blessing and a smart producer move: global audiences may skip another Indian title, but a Zimmer credit makes them curious.
“If someone in New Zealand or Europe sees Hans Zimmer’s name, they will watch,” Rahman said.
There was almost a collaboration much earlier. Zimmer invited him to work together 14–15 years ago, soon after Slumdog Millionaire, but Rahman let it pass. “Back then I was in chill-out mode,” he said with a laugh.
For fans, the next test is close: Part One arrives on November 5, with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. If the first three songs are anything to go by, the conversation will keep moving as fast as the music.
Source: Hindustan Times
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