AR Rahman faces backlash over ‘qawwali-coded’ song in Ramayana

Mumbai: A grand wedding sequence, Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi’s chemistry, and an AR Rahman composition. Ramayana’s latest song, Mangal Rang, has plenty to get fans talking. However, a section of social media users has turned the spotlight on its sound, calling the track “qawwali-coded” and questioning whether the musical treatment suits the story.

The song features Ranbir and Sai Pallavi as Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, capturing their wedding celebrations. Composed by AR Rahman, the Hindi track features vocals by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas.

Why are viewers calling it ‘qawwali-coded’?

In reactions circulating online, some listeners have drawn comparisons between Mangal Rang and Rahman’s Kun Faya Kun. Others have pointed to the chorus and the use of the word “rang” while explaining why they felt the composition carried qawwali influences.

“What I was afraid of – some Ramayana songs sound qawwali coded. Why ARR why?” one user wrote.

Another listener compared the song with Kun Faya Kun and said they would have preferred instruments such as the veena, sitar, mridang and tabla, along with more Sanskrit words in the lyrics.

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The comparisons did not stop there. Some users also linked the melody to Rahman’s Tamil song Enna Solla Pogirai, while another commented, “A R Rahman recycling his own homework.”

These are listeners’ interpretations of the song, rather than an official classification of Mangal Rang as a qawwali.

Meanwhile, AR Rahman has addressed the wider criticism surrounding Ramayana’s music. The composer said the effort involved in creating and refining the songs leaves him with little energy to follow online feedback. “I’ve done my work sincerely and hope people celebrate it,” he said. His remarks concerned reactions to the film’s soundtrack overall, without specifically addressing the “qawwali-coded” comments about Mangal Rang.

Praise for Ranbir and Sai Pallavi

Amid the criticism, the song has also found admirers. Viewers have praised its grand visuals and the chemistry between Ranbir and Sai Pallavi, with some describing the track as “pure magic” and “soulful.”

For now, Mangal Rang has become a talking point for both its wedding visuals and its musical choices. Will the composition grow on listeners, or will the “qawwali-coded” debate continue to dominate the conversation?

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