| Movie Name | Ramayana |
| Rating | |
| Cast | Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravi Dubey, Sunny Deol, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kajal Aggarwal, Shobana, Kunal Kapoor, Sheeba Chaddha, Indira Krishnan |
| Director | Nitesh Tiwari |
| Produced By | Prime Focus Studios, Monster Mind Creations |
| Release Date | 5th Nov, 2026 |
This Ramayana review looks at Ramayana, the much-awaited epic that is now out in theatres. Said to be mounted on a massive budget, the film has built good craze through its promos, posters and promotional interviews. After the trailer impressed with Yash’s Ravana, here is how the final film turned out.
Ramayana Story
The film starts with the rise of Ravana, the powerful ten-headed Rakshasa who worships Lord Brahma, gains immortality and becomes the emperor of Lanka, driven by a desire for vengeance.
As Ravana becomes too powerful to suppress, Lord Vishnu’s avatar Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya and an ideal prince (Maryada Purushottam), is born to end his atrocities. The rest of the story follows Rama, his wife Sita and his loyal brother Lakshmana, who cross paths with Ravana during the 14-year exile ordered by King Dasharatha.
Performances
Despite all the pre-release doubts on social media, Ranbir Kapoor fits the role of Lord Rama quite well. Alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita, the duo brings tenderness and a calm, divine feel to their characters, delivering convincing performances.
However, Yash is the major standout. He fits the role of Ravana perfectly, bringing a towering screen presence and intense acting to his crucial scenes. (His highly anticipated physical face-off with Rama is reportedly reserved for Part 2).
The supporting cast is brilliant. Rakul Preet Singh deserves a special mention for absolutely nailing the role of Surpanakha, while Ravi Dubey brings immense charm and heart to his portrayal of Lakshmana. Furthermore, Lara Dutta (Kaikeyi) and Arun Govil (Dasharatha) deliver exceptional performances, especially shining during the heavy interval block. Shobhana also makes her presence felt beautifully.
Ramayana Movie Analysis
Director Nitesh Tiwari opens the epic by establishing the backstory of the Rakshasas. Ravana’s grand entry and the world-building of Lanka work solidly. One of the best creative choices in the film is the handling of Ravana’s ten heads. Instead of relying on the usual floating CGI heads seen in older adaptations, the director takes a brilliant psychological route, showcasing them as ten distinct personalities clashing inside his own mind.
While the first half feels a bit ordinary in places, it picks up wonderfully in the final 30–40 minutes. The Rama-Sita portions naturally lead into the Vanavasam episode, which sets up a fantastic interval block. In fact, the pre-interval confrontation between Kaikeyi and Rama is easily one of the best-written emotional sequences in the film.
The second half features engaging sequences like the Ravana-Vidyutjihva portions and the Soorpanaka-Rama encounter. The climax is an absolute visual treat, with the Ravana vs. Jatayu clash taking the cinematic impact to the next level.
For the regional audience, the Telugu dubbing and lip-sync are highly impressive, making it feel almost like a straight Telugu film rather than a dubbed release.
On the downside, the background score is the biggest letdown. Several grand action and emotional sequences fail to achieve their full impact because the BGM lacks the required elevation. A more powerful, emotionally driven soundtrack could have taken these moments to another level. However, the music does work quite well during the interval block, adding much-needed emotional weight.
Positives
- Grand visuals and stunning world-building (A true big-screen experience)
- Yash’s standout screen presence as Ravana
- Creative execution of Ravana’s ten heads scene
- Performances by Ranbir, Sai Pallavi, Rakul Preet, and Ravi Dubey
- The Kaikeyi–Rama confrontation (Interval) and Jatayu climax sequence
- Excellent Telugu dubbing and lip-sync
Negatives
- Disappointing background music lacks the required emotional elevation
- An ordinary feel in the first half for a while
- The runtime feels stretched in certain parts
Ramayana Review and Verdict
Overall, Ramayana is a visually rich and engaging epic. The makers have largely stayed true to the story while adding brilliant creative touches, like the internal clash of Ravana’s ten heads. The lead actors deliver strong performances, and the grand visuals, Ravana’s introduction, and the climax are highly effective.
While a stretched runtime and a lackluster background score hold the film back from becoming a true cinematic masterpiece, it remains a highly significant improvement over many of the adaptations we have seen in recent years. It is a visually grand experience that deserves to be watched on the big screen!
