AR Rahman's Ramayana song Mangal Rang out in five languages, splits listeners

AR Rahman's new song "Mangal Rang" from Ramayana: Part One, the wedding track for Ranbir Kapoor's Rama and Sai Pallavi's Sita, was released on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in five languages, and has drawn both praise and criticism online. The Hindi version is sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas. Within hours, some social media users compared its style and structure to Rahman's own Sufi-style qawwali "Kun Faya Kun" from the film Rockstar, while others praised the song as soothing. The makers have not responded to the comparisons. The film releases worldwide on November 5, 2026.

Ramayana is one of the most expensive and closely watched Indian film projects in years, produced by Namit Malhotra, with Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Music plays a large role in how a mythological film connects with audiences, especially a wedding song meant to be played at real weddings and family functions. That is why "Mangal Rang" was always going to be judged closely, both as a piece of music and as a representation of a sacred moment in the epic.

The criticism centres on style rather than lyrics. Some listeners felt the song's chorus and vocal arrangement recalled a qawwali, a devotional form rooted in Sufi tradition, and in particular Rahman's "Kun Faya Kun". A few argued that a Ram-Sita wedding song should have been simpler and closer to familiar devotional music. Others online defended the track and praised the pairing of Kapoor and Sai Pallavi on screen. Arijit Singh, one of the singers, said the melody took him "somewhere beyond words, into a space where love blossoms in its purest form."

Debates of this kind are not new for Rahman, whose music has often blended Indian classical, Sufi, folk and Western influences. The response to "Mangal Rang" is a snapshot of first reactions on release day. How the song settles with audiences is likely to become clearer once it is heard in the context of the film.

The five-language release also shows the scale of the film's plans. By recording separate versions with well-known regional singers, the makers are aiming for a pan-India audience rather than dubbing a single Hindi track.

Short-term: The online debate has pushed AR Rahman and the song up India's search trends a day after release, adding attention to the film ten days before it reaches cinemas.

Long-term: The reception of the soundtrack may shape how audiences approach the film and the planned second part, and whether "Mangal Rang" becomes a fixture at weddings.

Who is affected: The film's makers and music label, AR Rahman and the singers, cinema owners preparing for the November 5 release, and audiences across five language markets.

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