New Delhi: Ramayana, the grand VFX-loaded retelling of the Hindu mythological epic, arrived in theatres across the country Thursday, drawing largely positive reactions from moviegoers who praised its visual spectacle and performances, particularly those of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash.
The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is the first installment of a two-part cinematic adaptation of the ancient epic. It features Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.
The movie is being screened across 11,621 shows in the country on its opening day, reflecting the wide theatrical release of the big-budget production.
As the day progressed, reactions to the film began pouring in from theatres across the country. Several moviegoers praised its scale, cinematography, visual effects and performances, although some felt the storytelling and dialogues could have been stronger.
One viewer, who watched the film in 3D at Fun Republic in Andheri, praised the film’s team for their visual treatment of the epic and said the characters stayed true to the creative choices made by the team.
“The VFX, the CGI and everything is so majestic. Yet the film felt very realistic, a very accurate portrayal of Ramayana as our culture and history dictate. They showed all the details and were thorough with it,” the audience member told PTI.
“And that’s what I loved about it the most. The character portrayals were real. They stuck to the choices, and they made the choices till the end of the film,” he added.
The performances of Yash received particular appreciation, with many praising the actor for bringing a nuanced approach to Ravana rather than playing the character as a conventional antagonist.
“Yash as Ravana, marvellous. He was how I imagined Ravana to be. Not a typical mainstream Lankesh or Ravana. He did a more subtle and wonderful job,” the viewer said.
Another moviegoer also singled out Yash’s dialogue delivery and his use of Sanskrit, saying the actor had put in considerable effort to portray the character.
Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram also found appreciation, with one viewer saying the actor held the audience’s attention throughout the first half.
“When it was Rama’s turn, I didn’t know what Ranbir Kapoor would do. Ranbir Kapoor kept me tied up. So first half, full paisa vasool,” the viewer said.
Another viewer called the film “magnificent”, praising Tiwari’s direction, Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye’s cinematography and the visual effects.
“I love the movie. Especially the direction by Nitesh Tiwari is really noteworthy. It is a 3.25-hour movie, but you will not get bored even for a single second,” he said.
The moviegoer acknowledged that the film takes some time to establish its story but said its visual spectacle makes it an engaging experience.
“In the beginning, there will be some time in the build-up. There will be some sloppy scenes, but you will not get bored. You will love every frame of the movie,” the viewer said.
One member of the audience, however, said “Ramayana” failed to live up to the expectations created by its reported budget and grand scale.
“It’s a big-budget movie, so I thought it would be good. But after watching the movie, I’m disappointed. There’s nothing special in the movie. I watched it in 3D, so I got some entertainment,” the viewer said, while questioning the direction and dialogues of the movie.
“Like the Ramayana serial we saw, it was very good. It ran for a long time. There’s not even one per cent of that in the performance,” he added.
The reaction online has also been largely positive.
“Peak Cinema! Worth every single penny. Go watch it, folks! You’re about to witness nothing short of greatness. INDRA vs RAVANA was an absolute cinematic madness!” said one user on X, referring to the film’s opening fight sequence between Ravana and Lord Indra, played by actor Kunal Kapoor.
Others praised the action sequence featuring the mythical character of Jatayu, who is voiced by Anupam Kher. Many shared the short clips of the fight scene from the cinema halls on X.
“Entire Jatayu sequence is worth my ticket #Ramayana,” said one netizen.
Another comment read, “Ramayana Part 1 EPIC. Jatayu-Ravan yudh peak cinema.”
The first part of the movie ends with Rama promising to bring back Sita and a sneak peek into Hanuman as he flies across the ocean, his face invisible to the audience. The character will be played by actor Sunny Deol in the second part, slated to release next year.
According to trade tracking website, Sacnilk, Ramayana is already on its way to a blockbuster opening as the pre-sale tickets have already crossed Rs 100 crore for the weekend on the worldwide box office.
The box office figures are still updating but the movie has so far earned Rs 28 crore till 3pm (net) in India, as per Sacnilk.
