Rahman’s Chennai set‑up was less a press conference than a pop‑corn‑and‑pulses kind of show. He opened with a grin, teasing the audience that the film’s music is a gamble, and then dove into how the score stitches together Hans Zimmer’s cinematic heft with his own melodic spirituality.
The maestro didn’t mince words when he recalled that 2014 email from a New Yorker, predicting the very moment he’d be creating “magical moments” for a worldwide Ramayana. He laughed, “I was stunned—people can see what you’re doing years in advance.”
Rahman’s talk was a masterclass in cultural fusion. He explained that Indian classical, whether kirtan, thumri, or varnams, is built around bhakti, and that’s the bedrock of the film’s music. He praised Namit Malhotra’s willingness to tweak the tune until it felt true to both the East and the West, calling that process a three‑year marathon of edits and re‑arrangements.
The live set highlighted the wedding anthem “Jodi Jodi,” a love duet for Rama and Sita that the composer claims will go viral. He also teased the haunting “Vanvas” track, where a violin’s sorrowful cry carries the weight of exile—no lyrics needed.
As the lights dimmed, Rahman handed the stage to the cast, letting Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, and others soak in the music they’d helped bring to life. The event closed with a bang of tribal drums from the official jewellery partner, Tribe Amrapali, hinting that the film’s visual and sonic worlds are both set to explode on November 5.