“Ramayana Part 1” arrives worldwide on Nov. 5, launching a two-film adaptation of the Indian epic led by Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film’s score brings A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer together on an Indian movie for the first time. T-Series is releasing the music, with Amazon Music as its streaming partner.
Producer Namit Malhotra says the project became possible when the necessary talent and filmmaking experience were in place. He also describes adapting the story on this scale as a responsibility, given the significance of Lord Ram to many people. Malhotra produces through Prime Focus Studios alongside Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Visual effects are being handled by DNEG and ReDefine, companies associated with Malhotra’s DNEG group.
For Malhotra, reaching international audiences begins with respect for the source material. He says Hans Zimmer was interested in why the Ramayana continues to resonate thousands of years after its origins. The production brings artists from different parts of the world together, with the aim of making Indian audiences proud while helping newcomers understand the story’s significance.
Tiwari says his approach focuses on the characters’ relationships, emotions and choices, alongside the film’s large-scale presentation. Since many viewers already know the epic’s major events, he sees the emotional discovery in how characters respond to them. Small gestures and honest performances, he says, are important to giving the larger scenes their impact.
Music was part of Malhotra’s vision from the beginning. He says he wanted Rahman and Zimmer to develop a new sound together, combining an emotional familiarity with contemporary melodies. The score was recorded with an orchestra at AIR Studios in London. Tiwari says music is guided by what a scene needs, with some moments calling for a strong musical statement and others benefiting from restraint or silence.
The soundtrack’s releases began with “Jai Jai Ram,” which arrived on Sept. 14 to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi. Malhotra says the songs are intended to connect audiences with the film before they see it, while giving viewers additional meaning when they encounter them in the story. He also hopes the music will sustain interest between the first film and its planned second installment.
Amazon Music is expanding its role in Indian film music through live events and album launches. The company says Indian-language music makes up around 70% of what its customers in India stream. For “Ramayana,” it held a Chennai event on Oct. 21 featuring a live performance by Rahman, joined onstage by Kapoor, Pallavi and Yash. The service is also releasing short-form videos, including “Decoding Ramayana with A.R. Rahman,” and has created an album destination and four character-themed playlists. Amazon Music says tracks are released internationally at the same time as in India.
Rishabh Gupta, Amazon Music India’s general manager, says streaming services increasingly participate in the cultural rollout of film music, rather than simply hosting albums. He says the company uses listening data to understand which songs connect with audiences, while release choices remain with the filmmakers and T-Series.
T-Series chairman Bhushan Kumar describes the soundtrack as an effort to honor the epic’s Indian roots while creating a musical experience for contemporary and international listeners. Amazon Music says it will assess the partnership by whether audiences keep returning to the album over time, beyond the film’s opening period.
Sources: Variety.