Ramayana Review: A visual spectacle that falls short of becoming an epic masterpiece
Ramayana Rating: 3.5 Stars
Watched Ramayana movie in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my view on this movie.
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan and Lara Dutta
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Release Date: 5th November 2026 in cinemas
Story: Movie begins with battle between the Devas and Asuras which is won by the Devas with the help of Lord Indra (Kunal Kapoor) who had been blessed with special powers from Lord Vishnu. Ravan’s mother Kaikasi (Shobana) is unhappy with this situation and encourages her son to gain the power needed to defeat the Devas. Through severe penance Ravana (Yash) pleases Lord Brahma and receives several boons. He defeats Kuber, takes control of his kingdom of Lanka and leads a happy life with Mandodari (Kajal Aggarwal).
Meanwhile, King Dasharath (Arun Govil) rules Ayodhya. His three wives give birth to four sons Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughn. Ram (Ranbir Kapoor) accompanies Sage Vishwamitra and kills the demons Subahu and Tataka. He later marries King Janak’s daughter Sita (Sai Pallavi) through a swayamvar.
After Ram returns to Ayodhya, Dasharath begins preparations for his coronation. However, due to the boons he had previously promised Kaikeyi (Lara Dutta), Dasharath is forced to send Ram into exile. During their stay in Panchavati, Lakshman (Ravi Dubey) builds a small forest dwelling for Rama and Sita.
One day, Surpanakha (Rakul Preet Singh) arrives and develops feelings for Ram. Lakshman cuts off her nose and sends her away. Humiliated and heartbroken, she approaches her brother Ravan and demands revenge. The first instalment explores these defining moments that shape the epic’s larger conflict, setting the stage for the battle between Rama and Ravana in the second part. It beautifully establishes the emotional foundation of a story rooted in duty, sacrifice, love and righteousness.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Direction
4. First Half
5. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Dialogues
3. Uneven Screenplay
4. Background Music
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film plan to watch it on its release date as liked the trailer and the biggest reason is I am a big Ram Bhakt. It chronicles the events leading up to the battle between good and evil, embodied by Ayodhya’s Prince Ram and Lanka’s mighty king Raavan. Blessed with a boon from Brahma, Raavan is seemingly invincible, while Ram, the human incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is destined to be the one who vanquishes him.
Ramayana celebrates the glory of Indian culture and the eternal triumph of good over evil. One of the biggest challenges for any filmmaker is narrating a story that has been deeply rooted in our lives for centuries. Making a movie on Ramayana is like walking on a double-edged sword, but Nitesh Tiwari showcases his mastery by handling the subject so impressively that the film could serve as a reference point for other filmmakers. There have been several interpretations and adaptations of Valmiki’s Ramayana, but director take the story to an entirely different cinematic scale. The film remains faithful to its source material while delivering a visual experience that stands shoulder to shoulder with the grandest international productions. More importantly, its technical ambition never comes at the expense of its emotional core. Despite its lengthy 3-hour-15-minute Hindi runtime, Ramayana largely holds your attention. There are several standout sequences that blend visual grandeur with devotion, drama and deeply moving moments. Some of the most memorable portions include the sequence between Brahma and Ravana in the beginning, followed by Ravana staking his claim on Lanka; the forest fight between Lord Ram and the rakshasas. The Shurpanakha episode and the Ravana-Jatayu fight on the Pushpaka Vimana are other sequences that stand out. The technical aspects are among the biggest strengths of Ramayana, with the visual effects standing out as a major achievement. The VFX work is top-notch and ranks among the most impressive seen in Indian cinema. The film creates several larger-than-life moments that look spectacular on screen, making the world of Ramayana feel grand and immersive. The attention given to the visuals, especially during the action sequences, adds considerable value to the overall theatrical experience. The production design is equally impressive. The sets, locations and overall visual presentation give the film a rich, detailed and grand atmosphere. The film is a significant step towards taking Indian storytelling to a global cinematic platform. The epic introduction and the glimpse of what’s to come towards the end set the stage for an even bigger sequel.
What I liked the most is instead of showing Ravana as just an evil character, the director narrated the backstory and the purpose of Ravana very well. There is a sequence where the ten personalities of Ravana tell him ten different good, bad and ugly things. He listens to all ten perspectives and eventually selects the ‘bad’ perspective. With this sequence, the director beautifully portrayed that just like all human beings, Ravana also has a good and bad side to him, and it is his tendency to choose the wrong thing driven by his ego, that led to his downfall. ‘Show your antagonist as powerful as possible to eventually elevate and talk about the greatness of your protagonist’, is the simple commercial formula of the films which Nitesh Tiwari used very well to narrate the Ramayana to this generation of people and while doing so ad he succeeded mostly. If there is something one wishes the film had included, it is some of the smaller, emotionally rich episodes from the Ramayana. Rama’s meeting with Shabari and his encounter with Ahilya, who is restored to human form after being turned into a stone, would have added further warmth and depth to the narrative. These are memorable episodes that could have offered a welcome counterpoint to the film’s larger-than-life action.
Ranbir Kapoor is perfectly suited to the role of Lord Rama and delivers a performance that carries dignity, sincerity and grace. His solid screen presence makes him convince as the divine figure, and he handles the character’s calm and composed nature well. He brings the required seriousness to the role without going overboard, making him one of the film’s major strengths. Yash emerges as the biggest highlight of the film. His portrayal of Ravana is powerful, commanding and filled with intensity. He brings tremendous screen presence to the character, and whenever he appears, the film gets a noticeable boost. Yash’s ability to balance Ravana’s arrogance, power and larger-than-life personality adds considerable impact to the narrative. Sai Pallavi is decent as Sita, but her casting may not work for everyone. While she performs adequately, the character does not leave the expected impression. Arun Govil makes a good impression as Rama’s father, bringing the required maturity and presence to the role. Ravie Dubey is excellent and brings remarkable conviction and sincerity to the role. His earnest portrayal makes the character both engaging and endearing. Rakul Preet Singh is superbly cast as Soopanaka and delivers a solid performance. Kajal Aggarwal is wasted in her role. Lara Dutta, meanwhile, is superb as Kaikeyi. She makes the character’s presence felt and delivers one of the more effective performances among the supporting cast. Apart from these performances, the remaining casting choices feel less convincing and do not make much of an impact. Nitesh Tiwari deserves appreciation for bringing an epic of this scale to the big screen. The ambition behind the film is evident in every frame, from its detailed world-building to its spectacular visual presentation.
However, the film is not without flaws. The biggest disappointment with Ramayana is the gap between its enormous ambition and the final cinematic experience. For a story that has been emotionally connected with generations of Indians, the film needed much stronger storytelling and a deeper emotional impact. The screenplay feels uneven, with several sequences stretched beyond what the narrative requires. Instead of allowing the characters and their relationships to drive the story, the film sometimes relies too heavily on visual spectacle. The VFX, despite the massive production scale, is inconsistent. Some sequences look impressive, while others feel artificial and fail to create the immersive mythological world audiences expect. The background score also doesn’t consistently deliver the spiritual depth and emotional intensity that a film like these demands. Additionally, several supporting characters deserved better development and screen time. With such a powerful source material and enormous expectations, the execution should have been much stronger. A couple of sequences feel unusual. In one scene, Sita runs alongside Rama and Lakshmana while an Asura army chases them. While Rama and Lakshmana run to gain time to use their weapons, Sita running along with them feels somewhat awkward. The screenplay rushes through significant events, including Rama’s early life, Sita’s swayamvar, and the developments leading to his exile, all of which lack the drama and emotional weight they deserve. These important moments could have benefited from more breathing room and stronger emotional development. The uneven pacing causes the overall experience to lose momentum at times. There are several aspects and characters that resonate with devotion for Rama that got skipped from Ahilya to Kevat to Shabari. Consequently, Rama’s exile and the subsequent events in the forest do not always achieve the emotional impact they deserve. Additionally, certain dialogues lack the poetic richness and timeless grandeur traditionally associated with the Ramayana. Moreover, while Ranbir and Sai are individually impressive, there seems to be a certain lack of chemistry between the actors portraying this iconic couple.
Overall, movie is a visually spectacular epic that delivers a grand theatrical experience, backed by impressive VFX, stunning production design and terrific performances. However, slow pacing, lack of emotion and uneven drama prevent it from reaching its full potential. Despite these shortcomings, the film has enough big-screen moments to make it worth watching in theatres. It succeeds because it understands that spectacle alone cannot sustain a story of this magnitude. It needs characters we care about, relationships that move us and moments that stay with us after the credits roll. Namit Malhotra deserves special appreciation for backing a film that matches international standards in scale, visual grandeur and technical excellence. My view on this film Highly Recommended.
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