Ramayana: Armaan Malik Reacts To Mangal Rang Row, Calls Singing For Ranbir 'Personal Milestone' | Exclusive

News movies bollywood Ramayana: Armaan Malik Reacts To Mangal Rang Row, Calls Singing For Ranbir 'Personal Milestone' | Exclusive

Ramayana: Armaan Malik Reacts To Mangal Rang Row, Calls Singing For Ranbir 'Personal Milestone' | Exclusive

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Last Updated: November 03, 2026, 07:48 IST

In light of critics calling Ramayana's Mangal Rang culturally misplaced, Armaan Malik states art is subjective. He also lauds Ranbir Kapoor for bringing the song alive onscreen.

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With Mangala Sangama, Armaan Malik lends his voice to Ranbir Kapoor for the first time in his career, a feat he refers to as a 'huge personal milestone'.

The track, Mangal Rang, from Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend has sparked a debate over its musical treatment. Critics have stated that the composition carries Sufi-qawwali influences and seems culturally misplaced in a film based on the Hindu epic. Sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, it chronicles the wedding sequence of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita.

Many others have also compared it to AR Rahman’s earlier songs, particularly Kun Faya Kun from Rockstar and Enna Solla Pogirai, accusing him of recycling familiar musical patterns. Speaking exclusively to News18, Armaan Malik, who has lent his vocals to the Kannada version of Mangal Rang titled Mangala Sangama alongside Bela Shende, reacts to the debate.

“The entire music team was completely united in one single goal – ensure the sonic experience reflected the pure love and divinity portrayed onscreen by Ranbir (Kapoor) and Sai Pallavi. How a listener interprets the music is always going to be subjective and that’s the nature of art. But as an artist, my only focus was the deep devotion of the moment and ensuring we delivered that with the utmost respect," he says.

Further lauding Ranbir and Pallavi for bringing the track alive, Armaan remarks, “Portraying Shri Ram and Mata Sita comes with an immense sense of responsibility, and both Ranbir and Sai Pallavi carry an innate grace that translates effortlessly on camera. Their screen presence brings a certain dignity and purity to the visual world of the song."

“As a playback singer, your voice is only one half of the emotion. When actors of their caliber internalise the music and reflect that honesty in their eyes, the song truly comes alive and reaches people the way it was intended to," Armaan adds. Interestingly, the musician had earlier shared that he dreams of being the voice for Ranbir and Shah Rukh Khan someday.

With one of his dreams being fulfilled, how does he feel? “It’s a huge personal milestone. We all grow up watching certain icons define cinematic romance and emotion, and Ranbir has undoubtedly been that figure for my generation. What makes this even more special is the journey behind it," Armaan tells us. For the unversed, he had sung in Nitesh Tiwari’s Chillar Party as a teenager.

However, the tracks weren’t picturised on Ranbir, who had a cameo in the film. “To reunite all these years later on a canvas as monumental as Ramayana feels completely surreal. It’s a genuine full circle moment, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to check that wish off my list. Hope my next one one is a romantic song for our very own King Khan – SRK sir," Armaan says.

At A Glance 1 . The track Mangal Rang from Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend sparked debate over its Sufi-qawwali musical influences in a film based on a Hindu epic. 2 . Armaan Malik and Bela Shende provided vocals for the Kannada version of the track titled Mangala Sangama. 3 . Armaan Malik described singing for Ranbir Kapoor as a huge personal milestone and a full circle moment after previously working on Chillar Party. 4 . Armaan Malik praised the composition by A Rahman and expressed gratitude for working on a project of Ramayana's stature. Show More

Quiz him about singing for Rahman in Kannada for the first time and he shares, “When Rahman sir envisions your voice for a particular composition, you trust that instinct completely without overthinking which language market it targets. I’ve had an incredibly emotional bond with Kannada listeners. To be trusted with a track for a project of Ramayana’s stature in a language that has given me so much unconditional love wasn’t just exciting but deeply meaningful too."

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Quick Answers Powered by Ask News18 What is the controversy surrounding the song Mangal Rang from Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend? The track Mangal Rang sparked debate because critics claimed its composition carries Sufi-qawwali influences that feel culturally misplaced in a film based on a Hindu epic, while others accused AR Rahman of recycling familiar musical patterns. How did singer Armaan Malik react to the musical row involving the track Mangal Rang? Armaan Malik defended the creative team, stating that their unified goal was to reflect the pure love and divinity portrayed onscreen, and noted that listener interpretation is always subjective. Which version of the song did Armaan Malik sing for the film Ramayana? Armaan Malik lent his vocals to Mangala Sangama, which is the Kannada version of the track, alongside singer Bela Shende. Powered by Ask News18

About the Author Titas Chowdhury Senior Correspondent Titas Chowdhury is a Special Correspondent at News18 Showsha. She writes about cinema, music and gender in cinema. Interviewing actors and filmmakers, writing about latest trends in showbiz and bringi... Read More

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First Published: November 03, 2026, 07:48 IST