AR Rahman soundtrack, filmed entirely on iPhone 17 Pro Max: Apple’s Diwali Rangoli dance reel crosses 1 million views

A Diwali-themed Rangoli dance reel, captured entirely on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, has struck a chord online, amassing over 1 million views on Apple’s Instagram within days of its release on October 19.

The short film reimagines traditional rangoli, turning the static floor art into a flowing, cinematic spectacle that celebrates Diwali as a festival of light, joy, and human connection.

The reel was conceptualised and directed by howareyoufeeling.studio, a Mumbai-based multidisciplinary duo. Their vision sought to translate the patience, rhythm, and emotion of making rangoli into a vibrant moving installation.

Using a palette inspired by traditional rangoli powders—deep magenta, turmeric yellow, indigo, and emerald—the dancers’ swirling fabrics mimic the flowing patterns of coloured sand, creating a dynamic, visual feast.

A collaborative festive celebration

The production involved 30 dancers, accompanied by phoolwalas and lantern cyclewalas, highlighting the communal spirit of Diwali.

Choreography was led by Aneesha G., responsible for classical sequences, while Somya K. and Tanuj F. oversaw the broader scene choreography. The performance is set to ‘Kehna Hi Kya’, composed by A.R. Rahman, lending a familiar and emotive soundtrack to the visuals.

iPhone 17 Pro Max brings the vision to life

Director of Photography Himanshu Lakhwani leveraged the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s advanced camera system, including an 8x optical-quality zoom, to capture both intimate gestures and wide-angle shots from heights of 45 feet.

The device’s technology preserved true-to-life colours and skin tones, even under shifting festival lights, ensuring the reel achieved a cinematic and immersive feel.

The creators describe the final piece as a celebration of light, shared through motion and gesture, making rangoli a living, breathing spectacle for the festival season.