RGV Recalls ‘Rangeela’ Music: Wanted to Hit AR Rahman for Delays

As the film Rangeela prepares for a theatrical re-release, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) looked back on the challenging experience of working with Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman on the movie’s iconic soundtrack. RGV admitted in a new interview that Rahman’s delays left him intensely frustrated, recalling a moment when he “felt like hitting him.”

The Hai Rama Saga

RGV discussed the turbulent composition process for one of the film’s most popular tracks, Hai Rama, in an interview with Pinkvilla.

• Five Days of Waiting: RGV revealed they traveled to Goa specifically for the song’s composition, spending five days together. During this time, Rahman repeatedly delayed the work.“First day he told me, ‘Ramu, I’m just thinking of something, I’ll make you listen tomorrow.’ Second day he said something else. Third day he said something… all five days he was not doing anything.”
• The TV Confession: Rahman eventually returned to Chennai without delivering the song. RGV shared that the composer later admitted the reason for the delay:“And then he told me, ‘Next time you get me to a hotel, make sure there is no TV. Because all this time I was watching TV.’ I wanted to hit him, you know.”

RGV concluded that despite the annoyance, the wait was ultimately justified. He stated that for such “great things,” patience is necessary, and Rahman ultimately “proved it” with the final song.

About Rangeela

• Release: The film, released on September 8, 1995, was directed by Ram Gopal Varma.
• Plot: Rangeela centered on Mili (Urmila Matondkar), a middle-class aspiring actress caught in a love triangle between her childhood friend Munna (Aamir Khan) and her film’s leading man, Raj (Jackie Shroff).
• Success: The film was a blockbuster success and earned critical acclaim, largely due to its memorable songs composed by AR Rahman.