Ramayana arrives in theatres tomorrow. Nitesh Tiwari’s epic is the biggest film in Indian cinema history in terms of scale and ambition, and here’s everything you need to know before it opens.
Ramayana Censor Details
Ramayana has been certified ‘U’ by the censor board, which makes it suitable for audiences of all ages.
- Certificate: U
- Runtime: 195 minutes (3 hours 15 minutes)
At over three hours, it is one of the longest big-budget Indian films in recent years.
Official Plot Summary
The official censor plot summary reads:
“When Rakshasa emperor Ravana, invincible to all but man, conquers the three worlds, Lord Vishnu descends as noble prince Rama. Bound by his father’s vow, Rama enters perilous exile with virtuous Sita and devoted Lakshmana. When Ravana abducts Sita, God in human form rises to fight the greatest war ever.”
A Massive Budget
Ramayana Part 1 is estimated to have been made on a budget of ₹1,300 Cr to ₹1,400 Cr. That makes it the most expensive Indian film ever made, and one of the costliest films produced outside Hollywood.
The Break-Even Target
Setting aside non-theatrical revenue, Ramayana needs to gross at least ₹2,000 Cr worldwide to break even.
To make it a profitable venture for everyone involved, the film needs to collect around ₹1,500 Cr gross in India and around ₹600 Cr gross overseas.
Ramayana Break-Even Target (Gross)
- India: ₹1,500 Cr
- Overseas: ₹600 Cr
- Worldwide: ₹2,000 Cr+
In simple terms, Ramayana needs to become the biggest grosser in the history of Indian cinema to be a safe venture.
Pre-Sales Cross ₹75 Cr
Advance bookings have picked up strongly in the final days. Ramayana is now carrying ₹75 Cr or more in worldwide pre-sales for its opening day.
Ramayana Opening Day Pre-Sales (Worldwide)
- India: ₹43 Cr (including 3D charges)
- Overseas: ₹32 Cr
- Total: ₹75 Cr+
The final pre-sales figure is expected to reach around ₹85 Cr before the shows begin.
Day 1 Estimates
Ramayana’s opening day is estimated to come in between ₹130 Cr and ₹140 Cr gross worldwide. That would make it the second-biggest opening ever for a Bollywood film, behind Dhurandhar 2’s ₹190 Cr.
Ramayana at a Glance
- Certificate: U
- Runtime: 195 minutes
- Budget: ₹1,300 Cr to ₹1,400 Cr (estimated)
- Break-Even: ₹2,000 Cr+ gross worldwide
- Pre-Sales: ₹75 Cr+ (expected to reach ₹85 Cr)
- Day 1 Estimate: ₹130 Cr to ₹140 Cr
The Diwali Advantage
Ramayana is releasing just ahead of Diwali, which could work hugely in its favour. If the word of mouth is good, the film is expected to grow day by day through the festival.
On the big Diwali days, Ramayana could even go beyond ₹100 Cr nett in India in a single day.
The Real Test Begins Tomorrow
The opening may not break records, but Ramayana’s journey will be decided by how audiences respond from the first shows. With a ₹2,000 Cr target ahead, word of mouth will be everything.
