AR Rahman is composing the music for Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming mythological epic. Ramayana: The Rise of a LegendWorking with Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer. Bringing two legendary composers together for a cinematic adaptation of one of India’s most revered epics has naturally raised expectations.
However, the music has also faced scrutiny, especially after the release of Mangal Rang, which drew criticism from some audiences for its musical treatment.
Now, Rahman has opened up about the creative process behind the film’s music, the criticism surrounding the song, his experience working with Zimmer and why he is constantly nervous about performing live.
During the conversation with Indian ExpressRahman said that he is often his own harshest critic and not everyone necessarily immediately appreciates his works.
“I’m my first critic. It’s not like I love everything I do,” he said, adding that the team doesn’t arrive at musical decisions in a day. Sometimes, compositions live for months before being finalized.
He further explained that listeners may not always immediately understand the thought process behind a particular musical choice. Comparing the process of making pickles, Rahman said that some creations get better with time.
“Sometimes you need to take the anthropology into account. Sometimes, you let something live like a pickle: for some tunes, the older it is, the better it is,” he said.
The musician also admitted that eventually one has to learn not to be swayed by every comment. Quoting Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, he added, “If you want to satisfy everyone, sell ice cream.”
On the criticism of Mangal Rang, A.R. Rehman
The release of Mangal Rang, features Ramayana The characters played by Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash sparked a conversation on social media, with some listeners questioning its Qawwali-like treatment for a song associated with a mythological epic.
However, Rahman’s musical approach was rooted in a combination of classical influences. For the composition, he drew from Bilawal’s Shudh Notes, elements of manda, a raga often associated with bhajans and wedding songs, with touches of romantic Pahari.
The composer was trying to find a musical language that was connected to devotional traditions while retaining his creative approach.
Despite initial criticism, Mangal Rang claimed the top spot on YouTube’s trending music chart during the week of its release.
AR Rahman on working with Hans Zimmer Ramayana
Another major talking point around Ramayana There is a collaboration between Rahman and Hans Zimmer, who is known for his work on films interstellar, the beginning And gladiator.
Speaking about bringing the two musical worlds together, Rahman said Zimmer’s presence could encourage new audiences to explore the story.
“His name is coming Ramayana will bring a whole set of new audience curiosity. The film has a score and it has songs and it’s probably 10 films worth working on, where there were five different languages and two different versions: the Hollywood version and the Indian version and also the whole team was under pressure for every note, every tune. It is when one realizes that there is so much at stake for them (makers) that they really want to be sure,” he said.
Rahman also said that the response to the music from the audience in different parts of the country has been encouraging.
AR Why Rahman said he is a nervous performer
Although Rahman is widely recognized for his musical talent, performing live did not always come naturally to him. The musician revealed that his biggest challenge during his early concert years was translating the layered sound of his studio recordings to the stage.
The turning point came around 2015, when his long-time collaborator, percussionist Ranjit Barot, took over as music director of his live concerts.
Rahman recalled that the change made the performance much more comfortable. What once felt like a nightmare slowly became an experience he could enjoy. He also talked about how seeing the audience sing his songs changed his relationship with live performances.
“I was a complete non-performer. But then I questioned myself. Would I rather see someone hiding behind a keyboard or someone who can entertain people?” He said.
Over time, he began to loosen up on stage, joking around, interacting with the audience and singing. However, the musician admitted that he still gets nervous when he doesn’t rehearse properly.
What we know about Ramayana
It was made under the direction of Nitesh Tiwari. Ramayana: The Rise of a Legend Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash in the villain role of Ravana, Ravi Dubey as Laxman and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The lineup includes Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi and Sheeba Chadha in lead roles.
Reportedly made on a whopping budget of Rs 4,000 crore, the first installment of the mythological saga is slated for a theatrical release on November 5 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
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