A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer Score 'Ramayana' as Amazon Music Pushes Indian Film Soundtracks

Seven in ten streams of Indian language music on Amazon Music in India drive the platform's strategy for its biggest film partnership yet.

The statistic underscores the commercial weight behind 'Ramayana Part 1,' which opens in theaters on November 5. The film marks the first time A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer have composed a score together for an Indian production. T-Series serves as the music label, while Amazon Music acts as the streaming partner.

Namit Malhotra, founder of visual effects studio DNEG, produced the film with Yash's Monster Mind Creations. DNEG has won eight Academy Awards, most recently for 'Dune: Part Two.' Malhotra states that the project became feasible only when the necessary talent and experience aligned. He describes the collaboration as a way to bring global ambition to a story that holds deep religious significance for many people.

Director Nitesh Tiwari, known for 'Dangal' and 'Chhichhore,' approached the adaptation by focusing on intimate character moments rather than plot surprises. He argues that audiences already know the outcome of the epic, so the emotional impact must come from the relationships and difficult choices of the characters. Tiwari worked with the composers to ensure the music supported the emotional purpose of each scene without becoming distracting.

The orchestral score was recorded at AIR Studios in London. Malhotra watched Indian and Western musicians collaborate on the material. He noted that the goal was to create a new sound that combined the emotional familiarity of traditional melodies with modern expression. The recording process allowed the composers to blend their distinct styles for the narrative.

Amazon Music is using the album to solidify its position in the Indian market. The company has spent more than two years building standalone launch events for major film albums. Rishabh Gupta, general manager of Amazon Music India, says the service is becoming a cultural collaborator rather than just a repository for songs. He points to previous successful launches for films like 'Dhurandhar' and 'Border 2' as evidence of this shift.

For 'Ramayana,' the platform hosted a live event on October 21 at the Chennai Trade Centre. A.R. Rahman performed songs from the film alongside actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash. The track 'Jai Jai Ram' released on September 14 to coincide with the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Amazon Music is also rolling out short-form content on social media and creating dedicated playlists named after characters from the epic.

Bhushan Kumar of T-Series describes the album as an effort to honor the Indian roots of the story while creating a distinctive international experience. Gupta measures success by long-term engagement rather than initial release numbers. He aims for the songs to remain in circulation long after the film leaves theaters, serving as a gateway for global listeners to Indian music.