While Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s roles in ‘Ramayana’ remain a major talking point, the film is also drawing attention for a rare musical partnership between AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. In a new behind-the-scenes video, producer Namit Malhotra revealed that the Hollywood music composer came on board without even going through the film’s complete pitch deck.
A glimpse into the making of the music
The makers have released a video that shows AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer working side by side. Musicians from India and the West are seen coming together to build a symphony for the film. Talking about the project, Hans Zimmer said, “Together we are setting off on a journey that has never been done before, to be able to make music that is thousands of years old about the Gods and traditions that make India so important for us in the West.”
Hans Zimmer did not need the pitch deck
Namit Malhotra recalled meeting the Hollywood composer in New York with a presentation prepared on the film’s world and story. He said, “I met Hans in New York. I had made my entire pitch deck and all the world-building. I ran six or seven slides, and he said, ‘Namit, it is okay. I don’t need to see it.’” The producer also spoke about how artists from both sides of the world joined hands for the project.
How AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer shared the work
AR Rahman explained that the two composers split the work between them. He took charge of certain songs and themes, while Hans handled others, and they later merged everything together. According to him, the process involved a constant back-and-forth as they looked for what suited the film best.
‘Such a blessing’, says AR Rahman
In an earlier conversation with Hindustan Times, AR Rahman called Hans’ presence on the film a blessing. He said, “Usually I prefer solo work because I’m bad at being precious about my work. I’d just say, ‘You do everything, and I’ll watch!’ But in this case, him coming onto the project is such a blessing because it changes the narrative. If someone in New Zealand or Europe sees Hans Zimmer’s name, they will watch. If they just see Indian names, they might think it’s just another Indian movie, but they’ll be curious to see what he has done collaborating on this. It’s a great move by the producer.”
‘Ramayana’ release date
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana’ will release in theatres on November 5.