Director - Nitesh Tiwari
Cast - Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Rakul Preet, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, and Anupam Kher (voice-over)
Writers - Sridhar Raghavan, Nitesh Tiwari, Shreyas Jain
Producers - Namit Malhotra, Yash
Duration – 3h15m
 
There are some stories that never get old, no matter how many times they are told. The Ramayana is one of them. Generations have grown up watching, reading and listening to the epic, and every new attempt to bring it to the screen comes with enormous expectations. Director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana takes on that challenge with breathtaking ambition, an impressive ensemble cast and visuals designed to make the mythological world look larger than life. But does this grand cinematic experience manage to touch the heart as deeply as it dazzles the eyes? The answer is a little complicated.
 
Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, alongside Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta and Vivek Oberoi, the film brings a familiar epic to the big screen with a fresh visual approach. Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, this first instalment focuses on the origins of Ravana, Rama's journey, his marriage to Sita and the events that eventually lead to her abduction. The film opens with Anupam Kher's powerful voice as Jatayu, taking viewers back to an age when the Devas and Asuras were locked in a mighty conflict. From Ravana's extraordinary penance to his rise as the ruler of Lanka, the opening portion establishes a fascinating world of ambition, revenge and arrogance.
 
Interestingly, the first 40 minutes belong almost entirely to Yash. His introduction as Ravana gives the film an energetic beginning, and the larger-than-life presentation of his character is among its biggest attractions. The visuals of Lord Indra's Airavata, Lord Vishnu in the ocean and the earth scorching under Ravana's intense penance are genuinely spectacular. Once the story moves to Ayodhya, the film shifts its attention to Rama's birth, childhood, journey with Vishvamitra, Sita Swayamvar and eventual exile. The recreation of Ayodhya, the forest sequences and the grand wedding are visually impressive. However, the narrative moves so quickly that several important relationships never get enough breathing space. A story built around devotion, sacrifice and love needs emotional pauses, but the film often seems more interested in reaching the next spectacular frame.
 
Yash is undoubtedly one of the film's strongest attractions. Playing Ravana is a demanding assignment, especially when audiences already have a deeply established image of the character. Yash brings arrogance, intensity and physical power to the role. His scenes involving the ten heads are particularly impressive. Sharad Kelkar's dubbed voice adds tremendous weight to the character and makes several moments more commanding. Ranbir Kapoor, meanwhile, approaches Rama with a calm and dignified screen presence. He performs well in the action sequences and shares a touching moment with Jatayu, but his portrayal occasionally feels restrained to the point of awkwardness. The character needed greater emotional authority, and some scenes leave Ranbir looking visibly uncomfortable. Sai Pallavi is graceful as Sita and gets a chance to display her action skills, but the screenplay gives her and Ranbir very little time together. Their limited interactions make it difficult to judge their chemistry.
 
Arun Govil is a delightful casting choice as King Dasharatha. His familiarity with the world of Ramayana brings an emotional connection that few other performers can match. His dialogue delivery, expressions and portrayal of a father's helplessness are among the film's finest acting moments. Rakul Preet Singh makes an impressive impact as Shurpanakha, while Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and Sheeba Chaddha add value in their respective roles. Ravi Dubey's Lakshmana, however, feels less convincing. His dialogues sometimes sound too casual and hurried for a character who is traditionally remembered for his discipline, loyalty and fierce devotion. The problem appears to be as much in the writing as in the performance. Several supporting characters, including Mandodari, are also disappointingly underdeveloped.
 
Technically, Ramayana is a massive achievement in terms of ambition and visual scale. The battle between Jatayu and Ravana is easily the film's biggest highlight and delivers the kind of cinematic spectacle audiences expect from an epic of this magnitude. The battle between the Devas and Asuras, the grand presentation of Lanka and the forest sequences also offer plenty of big-screen moments. However, the heavy dependence on VFX occasionally makes the world feel artificial. Some action sequences lack the natural impact of practical performances, while certain digitally created characters fail to leave a lasting impression. The background score also falls short of expectations. With names like A R Rahman and Hans Zimmer associated with the musical vision, the soundtrack and background music needed to be more memorable. Unfortunately, neither the songs nor the central theme leave a particularly strong impression.
 
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is a film of enormous ambition, spectacular visuals and a few genuinely memorable performances. Yash's Ravana, Arun Govil's Dasharatha and the emotionally charged Jatayu sequence give the film its strongest moments. Yet, beneath all the visual grandeur, the storytelling needed more heart. Rama and Sita's relationship deserved greater attention, Lakshmana needed stronger writing, and several emotional moments could have benefited from better editing and more breathing space.
 
The film is certainly worth experiencing on the big screen if you enjoy grand mythological adventures, elaborate action sequences and cutting-edge visual effects. It has enough spectacle to keep audiences entertained and offers a promising foundation for the next instalment. However, viewers looking for the deep emotional connection associated with Ramanand Sagar's iconic Ramayana may find this version somewhat lacking.
 
Ramayana has the scale of an international cinematic event, but its heart needed to be as powerful as its visuals. It impresses the eyes, entertains the audience and raises expectations for Part Two, even if it does not always stir the soul.