The singer-composer performed in front of 10,000 people, bringing them some of his greatest hits. During the three-hour concert, Rahman also spoke about composing the music for the upcoming film Ramayana, while taking a jibe at the criticism of its soundtrack.AR Rahman performed at Mumbai's Jio World Garden as part of his Wonderment Tour. (Photo by FleckMedia)Rahman talks Ramayana and criticismOn Sunday evening, Rahman played some of his biggest hits in a three-hour show in Mumbai, the first of his India leg of the Wonderment Tour.

In the middle of the concert, Rahman had his team perform Mangal Rang, the track from Ramayana released last month. Before the song was performed, the composer spoke about the film. “The biggest Indian film is set to come out, Ramayana,” he said, adding, “It's an honour to serve my country, to serve such belief in India.”Speaking to the audience from the stage, Rahman added, “With whatever little talent I have, I'll use that to bring beauty into the music and the soundtrack.

They say now, if everybody likes your work, get out from that place.”The criticism of Ramayana's soundtrackRahman’s comment came after mixed responses to Mangal Rang and other songs in the Ramayana soundtrack. Many have said the songs are similar to Rahman’s earlier compositions, while others have said that the upbeat vocals and beats in Jai Jai Ram evoke a sports track.

Many have even compared Mangal Rang to Kun Faaya, Rahman’s composition from Rockstar, saying a Sufi-esque track looked out of place in Ramayana.Last week, while speaking with Hindustan Times, Rahman had addressed the reactions. “We do so much work, filtration, ideation, and iteration that there's no energy left to look at feedback! We just put it out because it's been tried and tested so much.

My son keeps telling me, 'This is what they said yesterday, now they're apologising...' I say fine, I've done my work sincerely and hope people celebrate it,” he had said.All about RamayanaThe music for Ramayana is composed by Rahman alongside Hans Zimmer, who is making his Indian film debut. Talking about collaborating with the legendary composer, Rahman had told Hindustan Times: “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.”Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a two-part film starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Part One releases worldwide on November 5, ahead of Diwali.

The second part is slated for release around Diwali 2027.Rahman's Wonderment TourAR Rahman, meanwhile, performed at Jio World Garden, Mumbai on November 1. Following this, he will perform at the Backyard Sports Club, Gurgaon on November 21, as part of his Wonderment Tour.

The three-hour musical experience brings together some of his most iconic 90s compositions alongside his contemporary work, with a large-scale live production and international ensemble.Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news.

Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age.

He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border.

He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day.

Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read MoreAr Rahman