Ranbir Kapoor’s first look from Ramayana is out, and the conversation isn’t just about its scale or casting. The film’s music has also become a talking point, with veteran Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer teaming up with AR Rahman. The collaboration has, in turn, opened up a larger discussion around bringing global talent into adaptations of Indian mythological stories. Speaking to India TV in March 2026, musicians Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan’s sons, shared their thoughts on why such global partnerships matter, especially for a story like Ramayana.
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‘Ramayana is about values’: Amaan Ali Bangash
Amaan Ali Bangash pointed out that global collaborations help widen the reach of Indian stories. “Agar aap western composer nahi laaoge toh Western world nahi jaanega isko (The Western world will not know [about an Indian film] if not for Western composers. Rahman Saab is a huge name; there is no two ways about that. But Western composers will add on to it.”
He also drew parallels with how familiarity shapes audience choices. “Today, they are making Beatles. Now, a normal Indian will not watch a Beatles till Farhan Akhtar is not there. It’s as simple as that. Range badh jaata hain apka (The range widens).”
At the same time, he underlined that the core of Ramayana remains rooted in values. “It’s about values,” he said, adding, “Bachpan se (Since childhood), Ayaan and I have grown up on Ramayana. All Indians have grown up to Ramayana – the most common story parents put across to their children for a value system. Ramanand Sagar ji ka jo Ramayana tha, whole nation used to watch, whole roads were empty.”
For him, collaborations are not new, but necessary. “It’s nice, collaborations are the way forward in life. You have to collaborate to become international.” He cited Slumdog Millionaire as an example: “Even in Slumdog Millionaire, usmein bhi toh mix tha na (Even Slumdog Millionaire was a mix of Hollywood and Bollywood). That is why it became bigger.”
Watch India TV’s exclusive interview with Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash here:
‘Ramayana is involved beyond borders now’: Ayaan Ali Bangash
Ayaan Ali Bangash echoed a similar sentiment, stressing that Ramayana as a subject already goes beyond borders. “A subject like Ramayana is involved beyond borders now. There are believers who follow the essence of Ramayana all over the world. It is beyond just India. So many people from the Western world follow Hinduism. It’s just positive that we have so many people from different cultures coming together to salute and worship the victory of good over evil.”
He also recalled how global collaborations have worked in the past. “If I look back, so many years ago, Ben Kingsley was not Indian, but he played the best Gandhi. But Richard Attenborough [director of Gandhi] thought about it and till then no one thought about it. No one made a movie of that magnitude. Over there also, Pt. Ravi Shankar ji did the music from the Indian part, and George Fenton did the music from the Western part. These amalgamations always happen and it makes a project more powerful, more beautiful and more worldly.”
The teaser of Ramayana was released on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on April 2. Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman’s collaboration seems to be one of the centres of that global ambition.
Also read: Ramayana Teaser Highlights: Ranbir Kapoor’s first look at Lord Ram out; watch video
