AR Rahman on Composing ‘Iconic’ Music for Ramayana With Hans Zimmer: ‘It’s Terrifying for Both of Us’

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has opened up about collaborating with Hans Zimmer on the music for Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated film Ramayana, calling the process both exciting and daunting. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Rahman said working on such an iconic story comes with immense responsibility.

Rahman revealed that he and Zimmer have so far worked together in only a couple of sessions but are deeply aware of the scale of the project. “It’s terrifying for both of us. We’re scoring something so iconic and so important to the world,” he said, adding that the challenge lies in presenting a story familiar to every Indian in a fresh, global way.

He explained that the music involves blending Zimmer’s soundscapes with Sanskrit lyrics and Indian classical elements, while consciously unlearning preconceived notions of how Ramayana should sound. “We have to imbibe the timeless quality that exists in the culture while giving something new — from India to the world,” Rahman said.

Rahman also spoke about collaborating with lyricist Dr Kumar Vishwas, whom he described as a scholar deeply immersed in the epic. “Every atom of his body speaks Ramayana,” he said, praising his lyrical depth and warmth.

The composer added that producer Namit Malhotra is constantly involved and curious about the creative discussions, while director Nitesh Tiwari remains equally hands-on throughout the process.

About Ramayana
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Yash as Ravana. The film is being produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations and will release in two parts—Part One on Diwali 2026 and Part Two on Diwali 2027.