I didn't write qawwalis, nursery rhymes: Manoj Muntashir defends Adipurush songs

Manoj Muntashir defended Adipurush songs after comparisons with Ramayana's Mangal Rang. He accepted the film's failings but insisted its music reflected devotion and poetry.

In Short

• Manoj Muntashir defends Adipurush songs amid Ramayana comparisons
• Adipurush film and dialogues widely criticised, songs praised
• Muntashir apologised for dialogues but stands by devotional quality of songs

"I didn’t write nursery rhymes for Ram, nor qawwalis." Lyricist and writer Manoj Muntashir has a sharp message for those questioning the songs of Adipurush amid comparisons with Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana. The lyricist and dialogue writer has admitted that the 2023 Prabhas-starrer was a "very bad film" and its dialogues were even worse, but insists its songs were written with devotion and shouldn’t be challenged.

The controversy picked up on October 25, when Muntashir shared Tu Hai Sheetal Dhara, a song from Adipurush, on X. The post came on the same day the team behind Ramayana released Mangal Rang, prompting several users to question the timing and bring up the backlash over the dialogues Muntashir had written for the Prabhas-starrer.

The music of Ramayana Part One, composed by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer, has received mixed reactions, with some listeners initially criticising the songs before warming to them. A report comparing the response to Mangal Rang with the publicity surrounding Adipurush also caught Muntashir’s attention. He was quick to push back.

Writing in Hindi on X, he said, "A Manoj Muntashir-style stunt? The country's self-proclaimed best news channel has said something as ignorant as the illiterate masses (sic)."

He then made it clear that he had no intention of defending the film as a whole. "My brother, I wish my stunt had been repeated in the songs of Ramayana. Adipurush was a very bad film, the dialogues were even worse, but the songs – every child in the country sings them. Go to Shri Ayodhya sometime, and you'll hear nothing but Adipurush songs playing in every alley (sic)," he wrote.

Muntashir also addressed the criticism that the songs lacked the devotion expected of music inspired by the Ramayana. Referring to the apology he had previously offered over the film's dialogues, he said he had apologised to Ram devotees countless times and had been forgiven. But he drew a firm distinction between the dialogues and the music.

"The mistake I made. I've apologised to the Ram devotees for it countless times, and forgiveness was granted, but don't challenge the songs. There was no lack of devotion, dedication, or poetry in them. I didn't write nursery rhymes for Ram, nor qawwalis. People ahead are wise; they know who's worth what (sic)," he added.

Read his post here:

The comments have brought Adipurush back into the conversation just as audiences begin forming opinions about Ramayana's music. While Muntashir has accepted the criticism of his earlier film's dialogues, he believes its songs deserve to be judged on their own merits.

Directed by Om Raut, Adipurush was released in theatres in June 2023. It starred Prabhas as Lord Ram, Kriti Sanon as Sita and Saif Ali Khan as Raavan. Inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana, the film faced widespread criticism over its dialogues, visual effects and portrayal of the characters. It was panned by critics and audiences alike, becoming one of Bollywood's biggest box-office failures. Following the backlash, the makers revised some of the dialogues, and Muntashir later apologised for lines that had hurt viewers.

Namit Malhotra's Ramayana, meanwhile, is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and planned as a two-part film. It stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Part One is scheduled for a worldwide release on November 5, ahead of Diwali, while Part Two is slated to arrive around Diwali 2027.

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