The makers of Ramayana stirred up a controversy recently with the release of their film’s latest single ‘Mangal Rang.’ The songs for the Ranbir Kapoor-Sai Pallavi starrer are composed by AR Rahman.
After the song was released on Sunday, many netizens took to X to express their criticism about the song, which allegedly is composed in a Qawwali-like style, instead of authentically capturing the soundscape of the times (Treta Yug) its set in. Among other complaints, film lovers also took objection to the depiction of the alleged ‘Haldi’ sequence that’s part of the ‘Mangal Rang’ song video, which captured a pre-wedding ritual with Lord Rama and Sita.
An X user with the handle @Taparam wrote, “What I was afraid of - some Ramayana songs sound qawwali coded. Why ARR why? It was clever, perhaps even subversive, in Varaha Nadikkarai Oram; it is plain inappropriate and disrespectful in Ramayana.” Another X user AshkSingh penned, “AR Rahman needs to stop with his QAWWALI-CODED songs. He cleverly did the same here with Mangal Rang in Ramayana.” Another X user with the handle Mr Gaur was particularly critical of Rahman, alleging him of incorporating ‘Qawwali-style and Sufi devotional beats rather than traditional Indian classical instruments (like the veena or sitar) and Sanskrit verses.’
Penned by Dr Kumar Vishwas, ‘Mangal Rang’ is sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh.
With respect to the pre-wedding ritual, a user with the handle @PinkiPragya noted, "Since when did the bride sit and watch the groom’s Haldi ceremony in traditional Hindu weddings? The groom has his Haldi at his home, and the bride has hers at her own home in many Indian traditions. But Bollywood has to make everything cinematic, even if it means taking creative liberties with religious epics."
Meanwhile, some music lovers also defended the song and its musical choices. An X user @StriderEl wrote, “Ramayana’s Mangal Rang is a mediocre song, yes, but to call it qawwali-coded is a stretch. The Hindi word “rang” has its roots in Sanskrit and ultimately Proto-Indo-European, so it is found in Persian too. The chorus and the guitar make it a qawwali? Really?”
Another X user named @pnamblat wrote, “So is “Om Jai Jagdish Hare” a qawwali, with Punjabi Keherwa taal and Lead singer + chorus repeating? Obviously not. Same logic applies to Mangal Rang. Genres don’t own ragas or rhythms. Qawwali itself is built on Indian ragas and talas, so a tabla groove.”
Meanwhile, Ramayana has been registering great ticket sales at the advance booking counters. The mythological epic is set for a grand worldwide release on November 5.
