Mumbai: Lyricist Manoj Muntashir has sparked a fresh debate on social media after sharing songs from Adipurush around the release of new music from Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana. The timing of his posts has prompted users to revisit the controversy surrounding the 2023 Prabhas-starrer, with several questioning whether the repeated overlap with Ramayana song releases is coincidental.
The latest discussion began on October 25, when the team behind Ramayana released Mangal Rang. On the same day, Muntashir shared Tu Hai Sheetal Dhara, a song from Adipurush, on X. The post quickly attracted comments from users who drew comparisons between the two mythological films and recalled the backlash over the dialogues written by Muntashir for the Om Raut-directed film.
While some users accused the lyricist of attempting to bring Adipurush back into the conversation, others acknowledged the emotional appeal of its music while distinguishing it from the criticism of the film’s dialogues.
Manoj Muntashir’s Adipurush post draws attention
Muntashir shared Tu Hai Sheetal Dhara as the new Ramayana song Mangal Rang began circulating online. The timing led several users to question why a track from the 2023 film had resurfaced during another major release connected to the Ramayana.
One user suggested that Muntashir had deliberately chosen the moment to draw attention to Adipurush while the new Ramayana song was generating discussion online.
“Manoj Muntashir is way too clever for this,” the user wrote, questioning whether the post was intended to bring the earlier film’s music back into the spotlight.
Another user responded by reminding Muntashir of his role in writing the dialogues for Adipurush, which became a major point of contention after the film’s theatrical release.
The comments reflected a broader debate about the relationship between the two projects. Both draw on the Ramayana, but the reception of Adipurush was shaped by criticism of its dialogue, visual effects and interpretation of familiar characters.
However, the timing of Muntashir’s post does not, by itself, establish that he intended to compete with or respond to the new film’s music. The discussion about his motives remains speculation among social media users.
Another Adipurush song brings back the controversy
The debate intensified when Muntashir shared another song associated with the wedding of Lord Ram and Sita.
Introducing the track, the lyricist wrote: “The auspicious wedding of Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita. Listen to a song on this too, then comment whatever your heart desires, you are welcome.”
The post prompted further reactions, including criticism of the way the film’s devotional themes were presented.
One user responded in Hindi-English, saying that the song did not appeal to them. Another questioned why songs from Adipurush appeared to be returning to the discussion whenever a major track from the new Ramayana project was released.
A user also referred to Muntashir’s apology following the backlash over the earlier film’s dialogues, asking why he was now repeatedly sharing songs from the same project around the release of new Ramayana music.
The user acknowledged that Adipurush had songs they considered emotional and memorable, but argued that the music and dialogue controversy should be treated as separate issues.
The distinction is significant because criticism of Adipurush was not limited to its soundtrack. The film’s dialogue and portrayal of characters from the Hindu epic attracted widespread public objections after its release in June 2023.
Social media recalls Muntashir’s earlier apology
Muntashir’s involvement in Adipurush remains a sensitive subject in online discussions because he was responsible for both its lyrics and dialogues.
Following the film’s release, several lines attributed to characters from the Ramayana drew criticism from viewers who felt that the language was inappropriate for the revered figures being portrayed. The backlash extended to the film’s visual presentation and its interpretation of the epic.
The makers subsequently revised some of the dialogues. Muntashir also apologised for the hurt caused by certain lines, acknowledging the reactions the film had generated.
That history has now become part of the latest discussion around his social media posts. Some users argue that the lyricist’s association with the earlier controversy makes his repeated sharing of Adipurush songs particularly noticeable when Ramayana releases new music.
Others have focused on the songs themselves, saying that their appreciation for the soundtrack does not necessarily mean they agree with the film’s dialogue or creative choices.
The reactions show that the criticism of Adipurush continues to influence how audiences interpret fresh posts connected to the film, even years after its theatrical release.
A pattern linked to earlier Ramayana song releases
The latest post is not the first time users have drawn attention to the timing of Muntashir’s Adipurush songs alongside music from the upcoming Ramayana.
According to the social media discussion cited in the posts, when Ramayana released Jai Jai Ram on September 14, 2026, Muntashir shared Ram Siya Ram from Adipurush on his X account the following day.
The sequence has prompted users to compare the two instances and question whether there is a recurring pattern.
For some commenters, the repeated timing appears deliberate. Others have questioned whether the overlap is simply coincidental, particularly because songs from mythological films can attract renewed attention whenever another project based on the same epic enters the news cycle.
Neither the timing of the posts nor the online reactions establish Muntashir’s intentions. He has not, in the material cited here, explicitly stated that his uploads were intended as a response to Ramayana or its music.
The discussion therefore remains centred on how social media users interpret the sequence rather than on any confirmed explanation from the lyricist.
How Adipurush became a major talking point
Directed by Om Raut, Adipurush was released in theatres in June 2023. Prabhas played Lord Ram, Kriti Sanon portrayed Sita and Saif Ali Khan appeared as Raavan.
Inspired by the Ramayana, the film attracted substantial attention before its release because of its scale, cast and visual treatment of the epic. However, after reaching theatres, it faced widespread criticism over its visual effects, dialogue and portrayal of key characters.
The controversy became particularly intense around the language used by some characters. Critics argued that the dialogues did not reflect the dignity and cultural significance associated with the figures from the epic.
The makers revised some of the lines following the backlash, while Muntashir apologised for the hurt caused by certain dialogues.
Despite the criticism, the film’s music continued to have an audience. Songs such as Ram Siya Ram remained part of the wider conversation around the project, allowing the soundtrack to be discussed separately from the film’s more controversial elements.
This divide is evident in the latest reactions, with some users praising the music while questioning the decision to bring the film back into the spotlight during the release of Ramayana tracks.
Ramayana generates fresh interest in mythological cinema
Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana has generated considerable interest, with its music and promotional material prompting conversations about how the epic will be presented for contemporary audiences.
The release of Mangal Rang has added to that attention and, in turn, renewed comparisons with earlier screen adaptations of the story.
Such comparisons are not unusual when multiple productions draw from the same well-known narrative. Audiences often assess how filmmakers approach the characters, music, visual style and emotional themes of the epic.
In this case, the comparison has also reopened questions about Adipurush because of the controversy that followed its release.
For Muntashir, the latest discussion has centred less on the song itself and more on when he chose to share it. His posts have become a fresh point of debate, with users divided over whether the timing is meaningful or coincidental.
Online debate continues over the timing
The latest episode has once again brought Manoj Muntashir and Adipurush into the conversation surrounding Ramayana. While some users have criticised the timing of his song uploads, others have defended the music or argued that the posts should be judged independently of the earlier controversy.
The repeated overlap identified by users has fuelled speculation, but no confirmed explanation has established that Muntashir intended to draw comparisons with the new film.
For now, the debate reflects the continuing public interest in both projects and the lasting impact of the criticism faced by Adipurush. As Ramayana releases more promotional material, comparisons between the two adaptations may continue to surface online.