AR Rahman's Ramayana song 'Mangal Rang' draws backlash over qawwali-like sound; Chinmayi backs him

Criticism of this kind says as much about the expectations that surround the film as about the song. The Ramayana is one of the most loved stories in the country, and every choice made in a big-budget version of it is read for what it says about tradition. The song's lyrics and its use of the word 'Mangal' for an auspicious occasion are in a devotional register, and the objection is mostly to the music and not to the words.

The defence

Not everyone agrees. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has publicly supported Rahman as the backlash grew. Supporters point out that the styles of devotional music in India have long overlapped, that qawwali-like rhythms and Sufi-inspired melodies have been used in songs of many faiths, and that Rahman has made a career of combining forms. Some listeners praised the song for its melody and the voices of the two singers.

Rahman has not answered the comments about qawwali directly, according to the reports. He has said that he did his work sincerely and hoped that people would celebrate it, remarks that referred to the reception of the soundtrack as a whole. He has not been reported to have said that he would change the song.

Ramayana is a large production in which Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash are reported to be among the cast, and Sunny Deol is said to play Hanuman. The story is to be told in two parts, and the first part is the one that is reported to come out on 5 November. The soundtrack is one of the main ways in which the makers build interest before release, so a debate about a song is part of the campaign whether or not they wanted it.

Rahman has faced online criticism in the past over choices of style and over remarks that were taken out of context, and he has usually left the controversy to run its course. In the present case, a separate controversy about a claim that he refused to sing patriotic songs in an interview, which Chinmayi disputed, has run at the same time and has added to the heat.

The music of a film of this scale is released in stages, and 'Mangal Rang' is one of several songs that the makers have planned before the release. The other songs, and the background score, which is where much of Rahman's work in a film of this kind is heard, have not yet been judged by the public. Whether the first song sets the tone for the rest of the soundtrack is something that listeners will be able to decide only after the whole album is out.

Songs that cause a row often do well on the charts, because the argument sends listeners to hear it. The question is whether the film's makers respond. They could ignore the criticism, as is common, or they could add context in interviews about the choice of the music. A change to the song in the film is unlikely so close to the release date.

For viewers, the real test will come in the theatre, where the song will be heard in the setting of the scene. Many songs that sound out of place on their own have fitted well when heard in the film, and the opposite is also true. The release date of 5 November is only days away, and by then the argument over the song will be joined by reactions to the film itself.