AR Rahman talks about
next film “Ramayana”
AR Rahman, the Oscar-winning music maestro born into a Hindu family and later embraced Islam, has never shied away from speaking his mind openly about faith and spirituality. Over the years, he has often reflected on how religion shapes his worldview and how it never limits his art.
Now, as AR Rahman composes the music for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, a film intensely rooted in Hindu mythology, the legendary composer has eventually addressed the irony many pointed out.
In a recent interaction with BBC Asian, AR Rahman revealed that his upbringing made him open to all faiths and philosophies. Having studied in a Brahmin school, the composer said he grew up learning the Ramayana and Mahabharata, absorbing their core values of virtue, morality and higher ideals.
He studied in a Brahmin school, and every year they had Ramayana and Mahabharata, so he knows the story. The story is about how virtuous a person is, higher ideals, and all that stuff. People may argue, but Rahman values all those good things any good things that you can learn from. The prophet has said that knowledge is something invaluable, no matter where you get it from — a king, a beggar, a good act or a bad one. You can’t shy away from things.
The maestro further highlighted the global and inclusive spirit of the project, pointing out the unique collaboration behind it.
He said, he thinks we need to elevate from small-mindedness and selfishness. Because when we elevate, and we become radiant, we become a radiant of that, and that’s very important. He is proud of the whole project, because it’s from India to the whole world, with such love. Hans Zimmer is Jewish, he’s Muslim, and the Ramayana is Hindu.”
The Nitesh Tiwari directorial Ramayana features an ensemble cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Kajal Aggarwal and Arun Govil. The film releases in two parts, with part 1 slated for Diwali 2026 (around November 2026 in India) and part 2 for Diwali 2027.
News Edit KV Raman
