Ramayana Movie Review: Nitesh Tiwari Delivers a Spectacular Cinematic Experience; Ranbir Kapoor, Yash Shine in This Grand Epic – 4.25/5 Stars
Ramayana Movie Review: Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part One is a monumental cinematic spectacle that brings one of India's greatest epics to the big screen with breathtaking scale, impressive visuals and powerful performances. While the film occasionally prioritises visual grandeur over emotional depth, it remains an extraordinary cinematic achievement that deserves to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.
Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐¼
There are films you watch, and then there are films you experience. Ramayana firmly belongs to the latter category. Mounted on an extraordinary scale, Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious retelling of the timeless Indian epic offers a visual experience rarely witnessed in Indian cinema.
But does the film do justice to an epic that holds a special place in the hearts of millions? The answer is largely YES.
The Story and Direction: Nitesh Tiwari's Vision Takes Centre Stage
One of the biggest strengths of Ramayana is its director, Nitesh Tiwari. After delivering films like Dangal and Chhichhore, the filmmaker takes on an enormously ambitious subject and demonstrates why he is among the most dependable storytellers in Indian cinema.
Interestingly, amid all the pre-release conversations surrounding the film, its producer, star cast, budget, visual effects and scale, the contribution of the director often seemed to take a back seat.
Having watched the film, one thing becomes clear: Nitesh Tiwari deserves far more recognition for what he has accomplished.
A project of this magnitude requires extraordinary production capabilities, technology, investment and star power. However, none of these can replace a director's creative vision. The producer may provide the canvas, and the stars may attract audiences, but it is the director who brings the story to life.
Nitesh Tiwari successfully balances the grandeur of the Ramayana with an engaging narrative. The screenplay keeps the proceedings moving, and several sequences leave a lasting impression.
Nitesh Tiwari is a filmmaker who believes in letting his work speak for itself. From Dangal to Chhichhore and now Ramayana, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to tell compelling stories that connect with audiences. With Ramayana, he takes that vision to an entirely different level, handling an ambitious subject with remarkable confidence.
His contribution deserves to be celebrated just as much as the performances, production scale and visual spectacle. A director who has brought such an iconic epic to life deserves to be at the centre of the conversation.
Nitesh Tiwari, take a bow!
Standout Sequences: Visual Grandeur Meets Devotion and Drama
The film features several memorable sequences that blend visual spectacle, mythology, action and emotion. Some of the standout moments include:
- The opening sequence between Brahma and Ravana, followed by Ravana staking his claim on Lanka.
- The forest encounter between Lord Rama and the rakshasas.
- The grand Sita Swayamvar sequence.
- The emotional pre-interval portions featuring King Dashrath, Kaikeyi and Lord Rama.
- The action-packed confrontation between Ravana and his brother-in-law Vidyutjeev.
- The Shurpanakha episode.
- The spectacular confrontation between Ravana and Jatayu aboard the Pushpaka Vimana.
These sequences showcase the filmmaker's ambition and the tremendous effort that has gone into bringing this mythological world to life.
Performances: Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Lead from the Front
Ranbir Kapoor delivers a remarkable performance as Lord Rama. He brings grace, dignity and quiet strength to the character. His composed demeanour, expressive eyes and screen presence lend the portrayal an aura of divinity. Rather than relying on exaggerated expressions, Ranbir keeps his performance restrained and sincere.
Yash is in superb form as Ravana. His imposing screen presence, intensity and commanding personality make him a formidable antagonist. Ravana is arguably given the most show-stopping moments in the film, and Yash makes the most of them. His character carries tremendous impact whenever he appears on screen.
Sai Pallavi brings warmth, dignity and strength to Sita. Her naturalistic acting is particularly effective in the emotional portions. However, her character could have benefited from more dialogue and screen presence. Given the importance of Sita in the epic, one wishes the film had explored her character further.
Ravie Dubey is excellent as Lakshmana. He brings sincerity, conviction and an endearing quality to the role, making his character engaging.
Rakul Preet Singh makes a strong impression with her performance, while Sunny Deol's presence is something audiences should experience themselves. Without revealing anything, his appearance adds to the film's appeal.
Arun Govil is perfectly cast, and it is wonderful to see him back on the big screen. Shobhana is excellent, Lara Dutta is impressive, Vivek Oberoi makes his presence felt, while Sheeba Chadha and Ajinkya Deo deliver effective performances.
Technical Departments: A Visual Spectacle
The biggest talking point of Ramayana is undoubtedly its visual scale.
DNEG deserves special appreciation for its extensive visual effects work. The film creates a magnificent mythological world, with impressive landscapes, elaborate environments, grand sets and spectacular action sequences.
The production design is equally commendable. The world feels enormous and thoughtfully constructed, giving the epic the visual scale it demands.
However, the visual effects are not entirely consistent. While several portions are breathtaking, a few shots appear patchy and could have benefited from further refinement. The inconsistency is noticeable precisely because the film sets such high visual standards for itself.
The action sequences deserve brownie points as well. They combine scale, intensity and spectacle, giving audiences several genuinely exciting big-screen moments.
Music and Background Score: Room for Improvement
The music and background score are among the areas where Ramayana could have delivered more.
With A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer associated with the film, expectations are naturally sky-high. While the songs are reasonably well integrated into the narrative, they do not always leave the kind of lasting emotional impact one would expect from a film of this magnitude.
Similarly, the background score has its moments, but it could have been more consistently powerful. Certain dramatic and emotional sequences deserved a stronger musical lift to elevate their impact.
Given the extraordinary canvas of the film, the music and background score had the potential to become an equally memorable part of the experience.
What Doesn't Work: A Few Missed Emotional Opportunities
Despite its many strengths, Ramayana is not without shortcomings.
The biggest drawback is that the film occasionally gives greater importance to visual spectacle than emotional depth. The grandeur is impressive, the scale is enormous, and the visuals are often breathtaking, but a story as emotionally rich as the Ramayana demands more than just visual magnificence.
There are moments when audiences could have been emotionally invested much more deeply. Certain relationships, personal conflicts and dramatic situations needed additional breathing space. A few more powerful emotional scenes would have helped create a stronger connection with the characters.
The film looks magnificent, but at times, one wishes it made the heart feel as much as it makes the eyes marvel.
The background score and music also leave some room for improvement, while the patchy visual effects in a few portions slightly affect the otherwise immersive experience.
Additionally, Ravana gets several of the film's most striking and show-stopping moments, making his presence particularly commanding. While Yash is terrific, the narrative could have maintained a more balanced emotional focus across its central characters.
Sai Pallavi's Sita is another missed opportunity in terms of character development. Her performance is lovely, but the limited dialogues and screen presence leave the audience wanting more.
These shortcomings prevent Ramayana from becoming an absolutely flawless cinematic experience. Nevertheless, they do not take away from the scale of the achievement.
Final Verdict: An Experience That Makes Indian Cinema Proud
Ramayana: Part One is a spectacular cinematic achievement and a film that deserves to be celebrated.
Nitesh Tiwari delivers a visually magnificent retelling of a timeless epic, supported by committed performances, impressive production design, ambitious action sequences and some truly breathtaking visual moments.
Yes, the film could have benefited from a stronger emotional connect, more consistent background music, better refinement in a few VFX shots and greater character development for Sita. But when the larger cinematic experience is considered, its strengths comfortably outweigh its shortcomings.
Most importantly, the film reinforces the importance of celebrating Nitesh Tiwari's contribution. This is not merely a triumph of scale, technology or star power; it is also a testament to the director's vision and storytelling ambition.
Final Word: Ramayana is not just a film; it is an experience. It may not be perfect, but it is magnificent, ambitious and undeniably worth watching on the biggest screen possible.
Namit Malhotra deserves special appreciation for backing a project of this scale and ambition. And Nitesh Tiwari deserves every bit of recognition coming his way.
The wait for the second part, scheduled for Diwali 2028, has already begun!
Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐¼
