I Didn’t Write Nursery Rhymes For Ram: Adipurush Lyricist Manoj Muntashir Reacts To Ramayana Song Controversy

Namit Malhotra’s upcoming 'Ramayana: Part One' has sparked debate over 'Mangal Rang', composed by AR Rahman. Some listeners have criticised what they perceive as qawwali and Sufi influences in the song, which accompanies the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita. The controversy has drawn lyricist Manoj Muntashir back into discussion of his 2023 film 'Adipurush'.

The day 'Mangal Rang' was released, Muntashir shared 'Tu Hai Sheetal Dhara', a song from 'Adipurush', on X. The timing prompted users to question his intentions, while a television news report compared the reactions to 'Mangal Rang' with the criticism surrounding 'Adipurush'.

Muntashir responded sharply, calling the channel’s remarks ignorant. He defended the songs he wrote for 'Adipurush' while acknowledging the film’s wider failures. “ Adipurush was a very bad film, the dialogues were even worse, but the songs, every child in the country sings them,” he wrote.

He claimed the songs remained popular in Ayodhya, saying they could be heard playing in its streets and lanes. Muntashir said he had apologised to devotees of Lord Ram countless times for the mistakes associated with the film and believed he had been forgiven. However, he insisted that the songs should be judged separately from the film’s reception.

“There was no lack of devotion, dedication, or poetry in them. I didn’t write nursery rhymes for Ram, nor qawwalis,” he added. He ended his response sarcastically, saying he wished his “stunt” had been repeated in the songs of 'Ramayana'.

The debate over 'Mangal Rang' has included comparisons with Rahman’s earlier work, including 'Kun Faya Kun' from 'Rockstar'. Some viewers have argued that the song’s sound does not suit the epic, while others have defended its musical approach. The track features vocals by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas. The film’s music is being composed by Rahman and Hans Zimmer.