Ramayana has arrived at its biggest promotional moment yet, and the internet is split in two. The team behind Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part epic released its second song, Ravana Tandav, on Dussehra. Yash, playing Ravana, has walked away with the applause. The composer, AR Rahman, has walked into a wave of criticism.
A sequence built for spectacle
The one-minute-55-second clip puts Ravana front and centre. It opens with him cutting his palm with a dagger and applying a Tripundra tilak before a ritual, then moves to an aarti in front of a large Shiva idol and finally the Tandav itself. The song is written by Dr Kumar Vishwas, composed by AR Rahman, and sung in Hindi by Vishal Dadlani.
On visual terms, the reaction is largely positive. Viewers are sharing clips of Yash’s intense, commanding presence and praising the choreography. That is exactly the reaction a film of this scale wants from a festival-day drop.
Where the backlash is landing
The criticism is aimed squarely at the music. Fans who expected a high-energy devotional track have described the score as dull or “mid”. Some are calling Rahman a bad fit for the film; others want him replaced for Part 2, with Ajay-Atul floated as a preferred alternative.
Some of the comments are blunt. “AR Rahman is a bad choice for the movie,” one user wrote. Another added, “ARR is past his prime.” A third aimed frustration at the makers directly, saying it was “not too late” to change the composer for the sequel.
- The track: Ravana Tandav, set to the Shiv Tandav Stotram, released on Dussehra.
- The praise: Yash’s Ravana look and the Tandav choreography are being widely shared.
- The backlash: Several viewers say the music lacks the energy the sequence needed.
Why the debate travels so fast
Ramayana is not a modest release. The two-part project is reportedly mounted on a budget of ₹4,000 crore, with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Yash as Ravana. For a film carrying those expectations, a song is not just a promo: it is a proof point for tone, scale and casting.
The stakes are higher because Rahman is working with German composer Hans Zimmer, who is making his Indian cinema debut with the project. Listeners are measuring the result against Rahman’s own catalogue and Zimmer’s blockbuster reputation, which leaves very little room for a flat first impression.
No change has been announced. With the first instalment dated November 5, 2026, the next musical drop will have an even sharper spotlight on it.
Source: Hindustan Times
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