AR Rahman: Mangal Rang Hits No. 1 After Backlash

AR Rahman has responded to the mixed reactions around “Mangal Rang”, the song from Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. The composer said he does not automatically approve of everything he makes, and that some musical ideas only reveal their strength over time.

Rahman’s first critic is himself

Speaking to The Indian Express, Rahman said, “I am my first critic. It is not that I just love everything I do.” His point: a composer cannot make every decision based on how the public reacts.

He quoted Steve Jobs to make the same argument: “If you want to satisfy everyone, go sell ice cream.”

Rahman’s argument will sound familiar to anyone who follows film music. A song that feels unusual at first can become the one listeners return to. In a project this big, the composer’s job is to make the music serve the film rather than chase an instant thumbs-up.

What went into the song

The arrangement is more layered than the initial criticism suggested. “Mangal Rang” draws on multiple classical influences:

• Shuddh notes of Bilawal
• Maand, a raga traditionally tied to bhajans and wedding music
• Touches of Pahadi

That blend points to a devotional and traditional sound, even if the surface texture surprised some listeners. The song features Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, who lead the film as Lord Ram, Sita and Ravana.

From backlash to No. 1

Despite the debate, “Mangal Rang” reached the No. 1 spot on YouTube’s trending music chart in its release week. The chart position is a useful counterweight to social media noise: chatter can make a mixed reaction look bigger than it is, while actual listening data can tell a different story.

The bigger music story is the collaboration between Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Zimmer, known for Interstellar, Inception and Gladiator, has joined the project. Rahman said Zimmer’s name “would bring a whole set of new audience curiosity” to Ramayana.

Ten movies’ worth of music

Rahman also described the scale of the assignment. The film has a score, songs, multiple languages and separate Hollywood and Indian versions. He said it felt like “10 movies worth of work”, with pressure on every note and tune.

For Bollywood fans, that signals how carefully the team is treating the adaptation. The attention to detail may not settle every debate about “Mangal Rang”, but it explains why the film’s music is being built for both Indian and international audiences.

Source: The Times of India