AR Rahman on composing for Ramayana, working with Hans Zimmer and why he is a nervous performer

In 2026, AR Rahman, the Academy Award-winning composer, is set to deliver the music for Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming mythological action-drama, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. Rahman will be working alongside celebrated German composer Hans Zimmer, bringing together the best of East and West on this project.

Hailing from a family deeply rooted in music, Rahman's father, RK Shekhar, passed away when he was just nine years old. Rahman's spiritual journey has been shaped by his family's embrace of Islam, allowing him to draw inspiration from diverse devotional traditions. This could be a significant factor in the composition of Ramayana, as the story itself has lived for centuries, with characters worshipped, sung about, and debated in living rooms and news studios.

Rahman has faced criticism in the past, often taking years for his tunes to gain acceptance in the public imagination. However, he remains patient, believing that some tunes need to be allowed time to mature. He acknowledges that people sometimes fail to see the whole picture, leading to hasty judgments. Rahman's advice echoes Steve Jobs' words, suggesting that one should not try to satisfy everyone, as doing so would be akin to selling ice cream.

For Ramayana, Rahman drew from shuddh (natural) notes of Bilawal as the parent scale, infusing it with touches of Maand—a serene raga often used in bhajans and wedding songs—as well as elements of the romantic Pahadi. This differs from the qawwali's typical use of komal (lowered/flat) notes in parent scales like Kafi, Khamaj, and Asavari.

Collaborating with Hans Zimmer, Rahman believes Zimmer's presence will attract a new audience to engage with the epic story. The film features a score with multiple languages, including five different versions: Hollywood and Indian, adding to the pressure on the makers. Rahman acknowledges the significance of this project for the Subcontinent's cultural imagination, expecting that Zimmer's involvement will draw a diverse audience.