Armaan Malik defends Mangal Rang from Ramayana amid online debate

Singer Armaan Malik has responded to criticism of Mangal Rang, a song from Nitesh Tiwari's film Ramayana, saying the music team's focus was on conveying the devotion and love of the story. The song, which shows the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita, has been debated online since its release on October 25.

Some listeners questioned whether the song's Sufi and qawwali influences suited a film based on a Hindu epic, while others compared it with AR Rahman's earlier hit Kun Faya Kun and defended his freedom to experiment. Malik said listeners may interpret music differently and that, as an artist, his priority was the devotion of the moment. He also sang the Kannada version, Mangala Sangama, with Bela Shende.

Malik called singing for Ranbir Kapoor a personal milestone. Rahman said he is his own first critic and that songs are often refined over months. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita, with Yash as Ravana.