Active discussion among fans was already underway surrounding the film 'Ramayana,' starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. However, a heated debate erupted in social media after the release of the new track 'Mangal Rang.' Some users believe the music in the song resembles a qawwali, while others draw parallels with A.R. Rahman's famous hit 'Kun Faya Kun.' Furthermore, some commentators have raised accusations of similarity to Tamil compositions.
The song 'Mangal Rang' from director Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated film 'Ramayana' was released on October 25th. In this composition, Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama, and Sai Pallavi portrays Mathi Sita. The creators aimed to demonstrate the divine love of the couple through grand visual effects.
Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh performed the vocals for this track, and Kumar Vishwas wrote the lyrics. Attention was drawn to questions related to the music, which is associated with A.R. Rahman. Despite the song's appearance, various reviews appeared online: some highly praised the melody, while many users questioned its style and sound. Some listeners called it a qawwali, and another group compared it to the song 'Kun Faya Kun' from the film 'Rockstar.'
One user on the social network X expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the 'Kun Faya Kun formula' was used and subsequently adapted for 'Mangal Rang' and presented as music for 'Ramayana,' extending gratitude to A.R. Rahman. This comment intensified the debate about the track's originality, although it remains only a personal opinion of the user and not proof of plagiarism.
Another commentator criticized not only the music but also the visuals, noting that the song seems lifeless despite the vocal performance of such a talented singer as Shreya Ghoshal. He also expressed disappointment, comparing Sai Pallavi's portrayal of Mathi Sita to Anshuka Shetty's portrayal of Devasena in the film 'Baahubali.'
Yet another user ironically addressed Rahman, hinting that a 'reworked qawwali' in the style of Tamil songs was provided for 'Ramayana.' Another comment pointed out that Rahman never misses an opportunity to disappoint the public. Meanwhile, one user claimed that the song incorporates influences from various musical genres. He suggested that the use of the word 'rang' in the chorus was inspired by the phrase 'Aaj rang hai,' and also mentioned a supposed similarity to the Tamil song 'Enna Solla Pogirai' and the use of the Bulbul Tarang instrument.
The disappointment was not limited to the track 'Mangal Rang.' Some viewers expressed doubts about the entire film's music. One noted that none of the songs from 'Ramayana' had managed to win his favor so far. He questioned why, given the strong emotional connection the audience has with the story of 'Ramayana,' the creators showed such carelessness in working on the soundtrack, assuming that quality lyrics would be sufficient.
Nevertheless, public opinions remain mixed, and it is this diversity of reviews that sustains interest in 'Mangal Rang.' In the context of 'Ramayana: Part One,' directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, and Sai Pallavi plays Mathi Sita. Other actors listed include Yash, Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Arun Govil, and Lara Dutta. According to available data, the project's budget is estimated at approximately 400 billion rupees, and the premiere is scheduled for December 2026. After the announcement, the film sparked discussions regarding the cast, character appearances, and scale. Now, the issues raised by the music of 'Mangal Rang' have added a new dimension to the ongoing discussions surrounding the movie.