Three of Tamil music's biggest names, one song. Ravana Thandavam, the new Tamil single from Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1, is composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Anirudh Ravichander and G.V. Prakash Kumar. It is the first time Anirudh and G.V. Prakash have shared a track.
Ravana Thandavam at a glance
Release date: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Language: Tamil
Film: Ramayana: Part 1
Composer: A.R. Rahman
Singers: Anirudh Ravichander and G.V. Prakash Kumar
Lyrics: Ilango Krishnan
The sound of Ravana
As the title suggests, the song is built around Ravana's devotion to Lord Shiva. The thandavam is Shiva's cosmic dance, and the track channels that energy, blending rap passages with rhythmic chants. It is the kind of high-intensity, percussion-heavy writing Rahman has used for his grandest villains and warriors, now turned up to epic scale.
In the film, Ravana is played by Yash, so expect this song to be closely tied to his character's big-screen entry.
How the collaboration came together
G.V. Prakash, who is also Rahman's nephew, has said he was invited by Rahman's studio and recorded his part in about two hours at Panchathan Record Inn in Chennai, just six days before the song's release. Anirudh thanked both Rahman and G.V. Prakash on X after the song came out.
For Tamil music fans, the pairing is a moment. Anirudh, the composer behind Jailer 2's Ala Bolelo and the Hukum theme, and G.V. Prakash, the composer-actor behind countless hits, usually compete for the top spot. Here they sing side by side under the composer who inspired them both.
Ramayana: Part 1 at a glance
Release date: Thursday, 5 November 2026, worldwide
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana
Music: A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer
We covered the film's full cast, the Rahman-Zimmer music team and its release plans in detail at https://mediamarvels.in/blog/ramayana-part-1-release-date-cast-music.
Why Ravana Thandavam matters
1. A Tamil-first release. Releasing a Tamil single ahead of a pan-India epic shows how seriously the makers are treating South Indian audiences.
2. Three generations of Tamil film music. Rahman, G.V. Prakash and Anirudh together trace the line from the 1990s to today's chartbusters.
3. A taste of the score. With Hans Zimmer also on board, Ravana Thandavam is the clearest preview yet of how big this soundtrack will sound.
Where to listen
Ravana Thandavam is available on major streaming platforms and YouTube. Track how it moves on our live India chart at https://mediamarvels.in/trends/india.
Ravana Thandavam: FAQs
Who composed Ravana Thandavam?
A.R. Rahman.
Who sang Ravana Thandavam?
Anirudh Ravichander and G.V. Prakash Kumar.
Who wrote the lyrics?
Ilango Krishnan.
When was Ravana Thandavam released?
Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Which film is Ravana Thandavam from?
Ramayana: Part 1, releasing worldwide on 5 November 2026.
Is this the first time Anirudh and G.V. Prakash have sung together?
Yes, it is their first shared track.
Composer or singer working on devotional or epic-scale music? Put your song in front of listeners who love it. Promote your music on Media Marvels at https://mediamarvels.in/promote.
Image: A.R. Rahman at the 57th Filmfare Awards. Photo via Wikimedia Commons, used under its free licence.
