AR Rahman Shrugs Off Trolling Over 'Mangal Raag' in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana
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Double Oscar-winning composer and music maestro A.R. Rahman has broken his silence regarding the online trolling and polarizing social media commentary directed at the newly released track "Mangal Raag" (also referred to by listeners as "Mangal Rang") from the forthcoming magnum opus Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. Helmed by director Nitesh Tiwari, the multi-lingual mythological saga is gearing up for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026. Addressing the criticism in an interview, Rahman explained why digital hostility no longer sways his creative process, how he broke his long-standing rule against co-composing to collaborate with Hollywood scoring legend Hans Zimmer, and why an artist must continuously reinvent their sonic palette rather than merely replicating past vintage hits.
"We Don't Have the Energy to Look at Feedback": Rahman on Creative Dedication and Online Trolls
Addressing the immediate social media backlash and divided reactions that erupted following the track's digital premiere, Rahman underscored that rigorous studio standards leave zero room for digital distraction:
Exhaustive Creative Filtering: Rahman revealed that composing for a monumental cinematic project involves months of testing, refining motifs, and discarding weak sketches, leaving creative teams completely exhausted yet satisfied before a song meets the public.
Tuning Out Social Media Noise: Explaining his detached philosophy, Rahman shared that the rigorous schedule leaves him virtually no bandwidth to monitor trending hashtags, stating that once a track passes thorough studio checks, it belongs entirely to the audience.
Advice from His Son: Sharing a domestic perspective on the fleeting nature of internet outrage, the composer recounted how his son often alerts him that online critics who posted negative remarks one day issue apologies the next, to which Rahman calmly responds that genuine honesty in one's craft is the only benchmark that outlasts digital chatter.
The 'Raavan Tandav' Debate: Evolving Past Slumdog Millionaire and Rockstar
Reflecting on the fierce public discussions and aesthetic comparisons sparked by both "Mangal Raag" and the earlier energetic composition "Raavan Tandav," Rahman addressed the expectations placed upon his three-decade-long career:
Refusing to Live in the Past: The maestro observed that after his first decade in Indian cinema, observers frequently urged him to copy the musical formula of his nineties classics, an urge he resisted through genre-defining scores like Rockstar and Slumdog Millionaire.
The Metaphor of the Flowing River: Insisting that creative stagnation is the death of art, Rahman stated that musicians cannot afford to remain stranded in their historical triumphs, but must move forward dynamically like a flowing river across differing musical textures and spiritual traditions.
Pan-India Responsibility in Five Languages: Composing original songs in five languages for an ancient epic familiar to nearly every household across the nation is a historic responsibility, which the composer described as an immense cultural honor to present alongside India to the global stage.
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Star-Studded Ensemble and Worldwide Release Roadmap
Produced on a monumental scale by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend represents one of Indian cinema's most ambitious two-part cinematic spectacles:
All-Star Lead Cast: The mythological drama features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi portraying Mata Sita, Kannada superstar Yash essaying the fierce demon king Ravana, Ravi Dubey appearing as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol taking on the divine role of Lord Hanuman.
Theatrical Schedule for Part 1: The inaugural installment is locked to hit cinema screens internationally on November 5, 2026, ahead of the festive Diwali weekend.
Global Part 2 Roadmap: The second concluding chapter of the cinematic retelling has officially locked its release window for Diwali 2027, promising an expanded visual scale and continuation of Rahman and Zimmer's sweeping musical landscape.
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