Ramayana Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Bring India’s Greatest Epic to Life

Ramayana movie review: Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is finally in theatres, bringing one of India’s most celebrated epics to the big screen on an extraordinary cinematic scale. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the film attempts something Indian cinema has rarely explored with such ambition.

Produced by Namit Malhotra, this mythological spectacle combines Indian storytelling with international filmmaking talent. However, when a film retells a story that generations already know and cherish, impressive visuals alone are not enough. It also needs emotion, strong performances and a genuine connection with its characters.

So, does Ramayana: Part 1 deliver? Let’s explore its strengths, weaknesses and overall cinematic experience.

Ramayana Movie Review: A Grand Retelling of a Timeless Epic

The story of the Ramayana needs little introduction. Nitesh Tiwari begins this adaptation by exploring Ravana’s background before moving towards Rama’s birth, his life in Ayodhya, his marriage to Sita and the events leading to their exile.

The first instalment gradually builds towards Ravana’s abduction of Sita, setting the stage for the larger conflict that will unfold in the second part.

The decision to divide the epic into two films gives the makers room to introduce its characters and establish the world. At the same time, this approach creates a pacing challenge, particularly during the first half.

Nevertheless, the film deserves appreciation for attempting to bring such a vast story to life without reducing it to a collection of familiar mythological scenes.

Ramayana Movie Review: India’s Most Expensive Movie

Nitesh Tiwari’s Making and Visual Spectacle

The biggest achievement of Ramayana is undoubtedly its production scale.

Nitesh Tiwari, who previously delivered films such as Dangal and Chhichhore, takes a different creative route here. Instead of presenting the epic as a conventional mythological drama, he creates an expansive cinematic world filled with magnificent kingdoms, forests, palaces, celestial creatures and elaborate action sequences.

The visual effects by DNEG are among the film’s biggest attractions. Ancient India looks colourful and enormous, while Lanka and its surroundings receive an elaborate fantasy treatment.

The Jatayu sequence, in particular, stands out for its visual execution and emotional impact. The battle involving Ravana and the courageous bird is one of the film’s memorable moments.

However, not every visual effect works equally well. A few computer-generated creatures look artificial, and certain scenes lose their natural appearance. Still, the overall ambition and technical effort deserve considerable appreciation.

Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama

Ranbir Kapoor faces one of the most challenging roles of his career.

Playing Lord Rama is not simply about wearing traditional costumes or delivering powerful dialogues. The character represents patience, responsibility, sacrifice and righteousness. Ranbir approaches the role with a composed and restrained performance.

He is particularly effective in scenes that require calmness and emotional control. His action sequences also add energy to the narrative.

However, the performance may not connect equally with every viewer. Some scenes could have benefited from greater emotional depth, especially when the story explores Rama’s personal relationships.

Nevertheless, Ranbir deserves credit for accepting a role that comes with enormous expectations and public scrutiny.

Yash as Ravana Steals the Show

If one actor creates a particularly strong impression, it is Yash.

As Ravana, he brings an intimidating screen presence and commanding personality. His portrayal gives the character an imposing quality without making him a one-dimensional villain.

The film also explores Ravana’s devotion to Lord Shiva, adding another dimension to his personality. Yash makes these portions visually engaging, and his screen presence becomes one of the film’s major highlights.

His performance, appearance and powerful moments are likely to remain among the most discussed aspects of Ramayana: Part 1.

Sai Pallavi as Sita and Supporting Performances

Sai Pallavi brings grace and emotional strength to Sita. Her performance avoids unnecessary melodrama, and she gives the character a dignified presence.

The film also gives Sita moments of courage and independence, making her more than just a supporting character in Rama’s journey.

Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana makes a noticeable impression with his loyalty, energy and human approach to the character. Arun Govil’s appearance as King Dasharatha is another interesting casting choice, particularly for viewers who remember his iconic portrayal of Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s television adaptation.

Lara Dutta, Sheeba Chadha, Vivek Oberoi and the rest of the supporting cast contribute to the film’s expansive world.

Ramayana Movie Review: Music and Background Score

The collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer created enormous expectations.

Their background score adds scale to several important sequences, especially the action and dramatic portions. Some musical moments also bring a spiritual atmosphere to the film.

However, the music does not work consistently. Certain songs and background passages feel less memorable than expected, while the score occasionally becomes too loud.

For a story with such emotional and spiritual depth, the music needed to connect more strongly with the audience throughout.

What Works and What Doesn’t Work in Ramayana?

What works well

• Extraordinary production design and cinematic scale.
• DNEG’s impressive visual effects in several major sequences.
• Yash’s commanding portrayal of Ravana.
• Sai Pallavi’s graceful and emotionally grounded performance.
• Ranbir Kapoor’s composed approach to Lord Rama.
• The memorable Jatayu sequence.
• Ambitious world-building and large-scale action.
• The technical achievement of bringing the epic to a global theatrical canvas.

What could have been better

Some sequences feel more like visual set pieces than organic storytelling.

The first half takes time to establish its characters and narrative.

Some emotional moments lack the depth expected from the epic.

A few computer-generated creatures look artificial.

The music and background score are inconsistent.

Ramayana Movie Review: Critics and Audience Reactions

The early response has been mixed, although the film’s visual ambition and performances have attracted considerable attention.

Several critics have praised the production scale, VFX and Yash’s portrayal of Ravana. Sai Pallavi’s Sita has also received appreciation for her grace, while Ranbir’s restrained interpretation of Rama has divided opinion.

Audience reactions on social media similarly highlight the visual spectacle, action sequences and performances. The Jatayu episode has emerged as a particularly popular talking point.

On the other hand, some viewers have questioned the pacing, music and emotional connection between the central characters. The film’s grand presentation has impressed many, but not everyone feels that its storytelling consistently matches its technical ambition.

This makes Ramayana: Part 1 a film that audiences may experience differently depending on their expectations.

Ramayana Box Office Collection and Records

Ramayana: Part 1 opened worldwide on November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English.

Its advance booking performance created considerable excitement before release. The film reportedly recorded around ₹42.96 crore in Indian opening-day advance gross bookings, placing it among Bollywood’s biggest opening-day pre-sales and making it the highest pre-sales figure for a non-sequel, according to trade tracking reports.

Its actual theatrical collection is still developing. Early November 5 updates from box-office trackers showed different figures as shows continued across India. Therefore, the opening-day total should not be treated as final yet.

The film’s reported production budget also varies across media reports, with estimates ranging from around ₹2,000 crore to ₹4,000 crore. The makers have not established one universally confirmed figure. Its final box-office performance will be important in determining the commercial success of this ambitious two-part project.

IMDb Rating and Google Stars

As the film has only just released, its IMDb user rating and Google audience stars may change considerably as more viewers submit their ratings. A stable, verified rating is not available to quote confidently at the time of writing.

Readers should check the live IMDb title page and Google movie listing for the latest audience scores rather than relying on early ratings.

Behind-the-Scenes Facts About Ramayana

There are several interesting details behind this ambitious production.

• The film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.
• Oscar-winning composers A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer collaborated on the film’s music and background score.
• Hollywood action specialists Terry Notary and Guy Norris were part of the action team.
• The film was designed for a global theatrical audience and released in multiple Indian languages, including Malayalam.
• Arun Govil, remembered by generations as television’s Lord Rama, appears as King Dasharatha.
• Sunny Deol appears as Hanuman in a post-credit reveal, building anticipation for the next instalment.

The film’s technical and creative collaboration reflects the makers’ intention to present Indian mythology on an international cinematic scale.

Bollywood Movie Revisit: Is Ramayana Worth Watching?

A Bollywood movie revisit usually allows us to appreciate a film beyond its initial excitement. Ramayana: Part 1 is an interesting case because its source material has already been part of Indian culture for centuries.

The film’s greatest strength is its attempt to create a world that audiences can experience on the biggest possible screen. Its visual ambition, Yash’s powerful Ravana and the memorable Jatayu sequence make it a theatrical experience worth considering.

At the same time, the makers could have given more attention to emotional storytelling and the musical experience.

Highlights of Jailer 2 Movie Review

Ramayana movie review: Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash lead Nitesh Tiwari’s grand epic, with spectacular visuals and mixed storytelling.

• Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious adaptation of the Ramayana.
• Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash lead the cast.
• Yash’s Ravana and the Jatayu sequence are major highlights.
• DNEG’s visual effects create an expansive mythological world.
• The film receives mixed reactions for pacing, music and emotional depth.
• Part 1 sets up the story for the next instalment.

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is one of the most ambitious mythological films made in Indian cinema. Featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the film combines grand production design, impressive visual effects and large-scale action. While Yash’s commanding performance and the memorable Jatayu sequence stand out, the slow first half, uneven music and occasional lack of emotional depth hold it back. This Ramayana movie review explores the film’s strengths, weaknesses, audience reactions, box-office opening and behind-the-scenes details. Is this epic worth watching in theatres? Here’s our verdict.

Ramayana Movie Review: Final Verdict

Ramayana: Part 1 is an ambitious cinematic achievement that deserves appreciation for its scale, production design and attempt to bring India’s timeless epic to a new generation.

Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra have taken on a challenging responsibility. While the film does not get every creative decision right, its strongest moments demonstrate the possibilities of Indian mythological filmmaking.

Ranbir Kapoor brings dignity to Rama, Sai Pallavi adds grace to Sita, and Yash makes Ravana a commanding presence. The technical team also deserves recognition for creating several visually impressive sequences.

The slow portions, uneven music and occasional artificial-looking visuals prevent the film from becoming a completely satisfying experience. Yet, its ambition and theatrical moments make it worth watching.

Watch Ramayana: Part 1 on the big screen. It may not be a perfect retelling, but it is a major cinematic attempt to bring one of India’s greatest stories to life. The journey is only half complete, and the next instalment has plenty of expectations to fulfil.