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Armaan Malik says there is ‘absolutely no better duo than AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer to capture the musical DNA of ‘Ramayana’
Armaan Malik says there is ‘absolutely no better duo than AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer to capture the musical DNA of ‘Ramayana’
Armaan Malik has praised the music team of ‘Ramayana’, saying the film could not have asked for a better pairing than AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. In a recent chat, the singer spoke about his trust in the composers, his approach to the wedding song and the criticism that followed its Hindi version.
Armaan Malik on Rahman and Zimmer
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, and is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, who also made ‘Dangal’. Oscar-winning composers Zimmer and Rahman have worked together on the score. Armaan sang the Kannada track ‘Managala Sangama’, the wedding song shown on Ranbir and Sai Pallavi. Speaking about the music in an interview with PTI, he said, “With a legacy like ‘Ramayana’, there is naturally a massive wave of emotion and expectation attached to it… However, I believe there is absolutely no better duo than AR Rahman sir and Hans Zimmer to capture the musical DNA of ‘Ramayana’.He added that he did not get to interact directly with Zimmer. He also said, “They have given it the exact larger-than-life cinematic glory that a project of this scale truly deserves.”
Armaan Malik’s reply to the criticism over ‘Mangal Rang
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The Hindi version of the song, called ‘Mangal Rang’, drew criticism online for its qawwali-style beats and Sufi-inspired arrangement. Armaan said he did not allow the debate to affect him and had full faith in the composers. He said, “When collaborating with someone like Rahman sir, you just completely surrender to his musical vision. I went into the studio with absolute trust, rather than letting external opinions or internet debates weigh me down.”He also shared, “You can never predict how the public will react, but you can control your own honesty and dedication to the art. The entire team poured their hearts into this, and I truly hope listeners feel that pure devotion in whichever language or version they choose to experience it in.”
Armaan Malik on keeping the singing simple
Armaan Malik said singing for such a popular epic came with a big responsibility, as he had to balance love, devotion and divinity. He explained how he approached the song, “My entire focus was on internalising the ultimate grace, patience, and serenity that he represents. Instead of doing too much vocally, I consciously stripped everything back.”He added, “Even when hitting the higher notes, the goal was never to sound overpowering, but to maintain a pure, grounded sense of peace. I wanted the devotion to feel completely authentic and free of any vocal pretense.”
A last-minute call from Rahman’s team
The 31-year-old singer said he did not know the song was for ‘Ramayana’ when Rahman’s team called him to record a Kannada track. He recalled, “I received a last-minute call from Rahman Sir’s team to record a Kannada track, and at that point, I had absolutely no idea it was for ‘Ramayana’.”He said, “It was only during the recording session that I realised the magnitude of what I was singing for.”
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Singing in Kannada made it more special, he said, because of the warmth he has always received from Kannada-speaking listeners. He has earlier sung Kannada songs such as ‘Sariyaagi’, ‘Ondu Malebillu’, ‘Naa Hege Helali’ and ‘Ninyaarele’.
Reunion with Nitesh Tiwari
Armaan first worked with Tiwari on the 2011 family comedy ‘Chillar Party’. He called the reunion on a film of this size a career milestone. He said, “I’ve always deeply admired Nitesh sir’s storytelling and the absolute care he takes in bringing complex emotions to life on screen. To reunite on this specific canvas is a huge milestone for me.”
About ‘Ramayana’
‘Ramayana’ released in theatres on November 5. The cast also includes Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Sheeba Chaddha, Vivek Oberoi, Kajal Aggarwal, Kunal Kapoor and Adinath Kothare. It is produced by Namit Malhotra, CEO of the eight-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company DNEG, along with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The second part is set to release on Diwali 2028.
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