News Desk: AR Rahman’s latest composition, Mangal Rang, from the upcoming mythological film Ramayana, has sparked a debate on social media. Soon after its release, several listeners criticised the song’s musical style, with some comparing it to the composer’s popular track Kun Faya Kun from the 2011 film Rockstar.
Featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ramayana is one of the most anticipated Indian films. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the ambitious project aims to bring the ancient epic to the big screen on a grand scale.
Released on Sunday, Mangal Rang celebrates the divine love and sacred union of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. The song has been composed by AR Rahman and sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. However, the track has received mixed reactions from listeners, with some questioning whether its sound suits a film based on the Ramayana.
Why Is Mangal Rang Facing Backlash?
Several users on X criticised the song for what they described as its qawwali-like or Sufi-inspired musical arrangement. Some listeners felt that the composition closely resembled Kun Faya Kun, another spiritual track composed by Rahman for Rockstar.
One user pointed out similarities in the chorus, singing style and overall musical structure, questioning whether the new song was a deliberate callback to the earlier composition or a familiar formula presented in a different setting.
Others argued that a song dedicated to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita should have incorporated more traditional Indian classical instruments, such as the veena, sitar, mridangam and tabla. Some also expressed disappointment over the lyrics, suggesting that Sanskrit words and a more devotional approach would have better suited the subject.
A section of listeners went further, criticising Rahman’s choice as music director for the project. Some users described the track as underwhelming despite the presence of Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh, whose vocals were expected to add emotional depth to the composition.
However, these reactions represent individual opinions expressed online, and the song has also attracted attention because of the scale and expectations surrounding the film.
All About Ramayana
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is being produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.
The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The ensemble cast also includes Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi and Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari.
Reportedly being made on a budget of around ₹4,000 crore, the first instalment is scheduled to release in theatres on November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. The second instalment is expected to arrive in 2027 or 2028.
With anticipation building around the film, the reaction to Mangal Rang has added another talking point to the discussion surrounding this ambitious adaptation of the Ramayana.
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