Ramayana Movie Review: 'Mankind’s greatest story comes to life.'
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 (also styled Ramayana: Rise of a Legend) is one of the most ambitious and expensive Indian films ever made, a sprawling three-hour-plus mythological epic that attempts to bring Valmiki’s ancient poem to the big screen with Hollywood-level scale. Produced by Namit Malhotra with visual effects from DNEG and a score by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Yash as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Released in November 2026 as the first half of a planned two-part saga, it arrives with enormous expectations after years of anticipation. The movie aims to blend reverence for the source material with modern blockbuster spectacle, drawing comparisons to The Lord of the Rings while remaining rooted in Indian storytelling traditions. It is both a cultural event and a technical showcase that tests whether Indian cinema can match global epic filmmaking standards.
Plot Overview
The film opens by establishing Ravana’s formidable rise. Yash’s demon king is given substantial backstory: his devotion to Shiva, his origins, his ascent from adversity, and his conquests, including dramatic confrontations that showcase his power and complex motivations. Parallel to this, the narrative follows Rama’s journey in Ayodhya—his youth, training under sages such as Vishwamitra, the lifting of Shiva’s bow, his marriage to Sita, and the palace intrigue involving Kaikeyi and Manthara that leads to his 14-year exile. Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana head into the forest, where they face rakshasas and other challenges. Key sequences include encounters that build tension toward the abduction of Sita, with Shurpanakha’s involvement serving as a catalyst. The first part largely covers the early kandas of the epic, ending in a way that sets up the larger conflict for the sequel while emphasizing themes of duty (dharma), sacrifice, righteousness, and the human cost of destiny. The structure interweaves the parallel rises of the hero and antagonist, giving Ravana more textured development than in many traditional retellings.
Performance
Ranbir Kapoor delivers a restrained, dignified portrayal of Rama as the ideal of maryada purushottama—calm, compassionate, and burdened by duty. He conveys quiet authority and emotional depth through what he sacrifices rather than through overt heroics, though some critics note the character can feel somewhat static or overly perfected. Sai Pallavi brings grace, strength, and humanity to Sita, making her more than a passive figure and allowing vulnerability and resilience to shine, particularly in the forest portions. Yash steals much of the film as Ravana in his Hindi debut. His commanding physical presence, intensity, and layered performance—humanizing the antagonist through devotion, trauma, and principled rule—make him magnetic; many reviews highlight him as the standout who dominates the screen. Ravi Dubey is effective as the loyal, fiery Lakshmana. Supporting turns include Arun Govil as Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, and Anupam Kher voicing Jatayu. The ensemble generally understands the blend of theatricality and realism required, though some secondary roles receive less development.
Technical Aspects
Visually, the film is often spectacular. DNEG’s effects create vast landscapes, grand battles, mythical creatures, and striking sequences such as Ravana’s confrontations and aerial set pieces. Cinematography captures beautiful skyscapes, detailed production design, and epic scale that frequently evokes Lord of the Rings or classic sword-and-sandal adventures. Costumes and sets are lavish. The score by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman provides stirring, thunderous accompaniment that elevates action and emotional moments, though some find portions derivative of the composers’ earlier work or less distinctive than expected. Action choreography is ambitious and imaginative in places. At around 195 minutes, the runtime is substantial; pacing is generally brisk enough to justify the length for many viewers, though certain stretches feel overstretched or weightless. Technical ambition is high, even if occasional CGI inconsistencies or artificial imagery draw criticism.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths lie in its sheer scale and ambition: India’s most expensive film feels like a genuine event, with impressive world-building, strong central performances (especially Yash), and moments of genuine emotional and visual power. Humanizing Ravana adds texture and moral complexity without undermining the epic’s core. The film balances spectacle with quieter character beats and delivers rousing, engaging storytelling energy. Technical craft—VFX, production design, and score—sets a new benchmark for Indian mythological cinema and aims successfully at both domestic and international audiences.Weaknesses include uneven emotional depth at times; Rama’s arc can feel rushed or overly idealized in the first half, and the central Rama-Sita relationship occasionally lacks fire amid the pageantry. Some action sequences and CGI creatures feel weightless or lack personality. The music, despite the pedigree of its composers, is sometimes described as functional rather than inspired. The long runtime and cautious, reverential approach mean the film rarely takes bold interpretive risks, prioritizing spectacle and familiarity over deeper innovation or riskier dramatic choices. Supporting characters beyond the leads sometimes feel under-served.
Final Verdict
Ramayana: Part 1 is a grand, often exhilarating spectacle that succeeds more as an immersive cinematic experience than as a flawlessly profound character study. It honors the source material while delivering the kind of large-scale entertainment modern audiences expect from tentpole epics. Fans of mythological cinema, visual effects showcases, and big-screen storytelling will find much to admire; those seeking radical reinterpretation or tighter emotional intimacy may feel slightly short-changed. As the opening chapter of a two-part saga, it effectively builds anticipation for the sequel. It is a significant achievement for Indian cinema—rousing, ambitious, and frequently spectacular—even if it does not fully transcend its self-imposed reverence and length. Recommended for viewing on the largest screen possible.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
A visually spectacular and ambitious epic with strong performances (especially Yash as Ravana), though it occasionally prioritizes scale over deeper emotional resonance.
