Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is a sincere and visually ambitious attempt to bring one of India’s greatest epics to the big screen. While Ranbir Kapoor takes some time to settle into his portrayal of Lord Rama, Yash makes a powerful impression as Ravana, delivering a performance that commands attention. Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey and the supporting cast also contribute to the film’s appeal.
Film: Ramayana: Part 1
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh and others
Where to Watch: In theatres
We have watched Ramayana countless times, whether on television, in films or through stories passed down across generations. The journey of Lord Rama, Sita and Ravana is deeply familiar to Indian audiences. So, when Nitesh Tiwari announced his cinematic adaptation of the epic, expectations were naturally enormous. The question was whether the film could offer something memorable while doing justice to a story that audiences already know so well.
For the most part, Ramayana: Part 1 delivers an engaging cinematic experience. The makers have made a sincere effort to bring the epic to life, and the film’s scale, performances and visual presentation give audiences plenty to appreciate. It is not without shortcomings, but its ambition and several emotionally effective sequences make it worth watching on the big screen.
The first instalment of the planned two-part saga focuses on Lord Rama’s journey, his relationship with Sita and the rise of Ravana. The narrative offers glimpses of Rama and Sita’s marriage, their life in Ayodhya and their eventual exile. It moves towards the heartbreaking episode of Sita Haran, setting the stage for the conflict that will continue in the second instalment, scheduled for 2028.
Ramayana Review: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana
When it comes to performances, the film has several impressive moments, particularly from its supporting cast. Ranbir Kapoor takes on the challenging role of Lord Rama with sincerity. He gives his best to the character, but his performance takes some time to fully settle. There are moments when his portrayal feels convincing, while at other points his look and screen presence do not completely come together.
However, Ranbir becomes considerably more comfortable as the film progresses. His performance is stronger towards the latter portion, when he appears to find the emotional rhythm of the character. It is a demanding role, and there are glimpses of the restraint and dignity that the portrayal requires.
Yash, on the other hand, is an absolute standout as Ravana. His screen presence is commanding, and he brings an intensity to the character that makes his appearances among the film’s biggest highlights. Whether through his expressions or the way he carries himself on screen, Yash gives Ravana a menacing quality that holds your attention. He is one of the strongest reasons to look forward to the film’s major confrontations.
Sai Pallavi is equally effective as Sita. Her simplicity, grace and natural screen presence work in the character’s favour. She brings an innocence and emotional warmth to the role, making Sita’s journey particularly engaging.
Ravie Dubey does justice to Lakshman, capturing the character’s loyalty and affection towards his elder brother. His portrayal adds warmth to the relationship between Rama and Lakshman, which remains an important emotional thread in the story.
Arun Govil, Lara Dutta and Supporting Cast Add Strength
The supporting cast is one of the film’s strongest departments. Arun Govil is excellent as Raja Dasharatha, bringing authority and emotional depth to his portrayal. Lara Dutta makes an impression as Kaikeyi, while Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva, Shobana as Kaikesi, Adinath Kothare as Bharata and Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara contribute effectively in their respective roles.
The casting of several supporting characters works particularly well, helping the film build the larger world of the epic. However, some characters, including Kajal Aggarwal’s Mandodari and Indira Krishnan’s Kaushalya, receive limited screen time in this instalment.
Anupam Kher deserves a special mention for lending his voice to Jatayu. Although he does not appear on screen, his voice brings considerable emotional weight to the character. The scenes featuring Jatayu are moving, and the sequence involving Jatayu and Ravana stands out as one of the film’s most powerful moments.
The dubbing choices for Sai Pallavi and Yash also work well in the film’s Hindi version. Their dubbed dialogues help the characters fit more naturally into the world being presented on screen.
Ramayana Direction and VFX: Nitesh Tiwari Delivers a Grand Cinematic Experience
Bringing an epic as familiar and culturally significant as the Ramayana to the big screen is no easy task. Nitesh Tiwari deserves credit for approaching the material with sincerity and handling a production of this scale. Despite the familiarity of the story, the film manages to maintain interest through its visual presentation, character moments and important narrative sequences.
With a runtime of approximately three hours and 15 minutes, the film is undoubtedly a substantial theatrical experience. Yet, it does not feel excessively stretched for most of its duration. The narrative moves forward at a reasonable pace, and the major episodes keep the viewing experience engaging.
The visual effects are among the film’s biggest strengths. The scale of the production is evident in the environments, large sequences and overall visual design. DNEG’s work gives the epic the grandeur its cinematic adaptation demands, helping create a world that feels considerably larger than an ordinary period drama.
The Jatayu–Ravana sequence is particularly impressive, combining emotional storytelling with the film’s visual ambition. Several other large-scale moments also benefit from the technical team’s efforts. The film’s visual presentation is one of the strongest reasons to experience it in theatres.
Ramayana Music and Background Score: Jai Jai Ram Stands Out
While the visuals make a strong impression, the music is one area where the film could have done better. Some of the songs feel underwhelming and do not consistently create the devotional atmosphere one might expect from a story of this nature.
The background score, however, works reasonably well in several sequences. It supports the emotional moments and adds weight to important scenes. Among the songs, ‘Jai Jai Ram’ stands out for its soothing quality and its fit with the film’s mood.
Unfortunately, the remaining songs do not leave an equally memorable impression. A stronger and more consistently engaging soundtrack could have elevated the overall experience further.
Ramayana Review: Final Verdict
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is an ambitious and largely engaging adaptation of a story that has been part of India’s cultural imagination for generations. Ranbir Kapoor grows into the role of Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi brings grace to Sita, and Ravie Dubey makes an effective Lakshman. But it is Yash who emerges as the film’s biggest performance highlight with his commanding portrayal of Ravana.
The supporting cast, Anupam Kher’s voice work as Jatayu and the impressive visual effects add considerably to the experience. The music could have been stronger, and a few characters deserved more screen time, but these shortcomings do not take away from the film’s overall ambition.
If you enjoy large-scale mythological dramas and want to experience the Ramayana through a grand theatrical adaptation, Ramayana: Part 1 is worth considering. Its strongest performances and visual set pieces make it an engaging first chapter, while the story leaves audiences waiting for the next instalment in 2028.
FAQs – Ramayana Part 1 Review
1. Is Ramayana Part 1 worth watching in theatres?
Yes. Ramayana: Part 1 is worth considering for its grand visuals, impressive performances and large-scale mythological storytelling. Yash’s portrayal of Ravana is a major highlight, although the music could have been stronger.
2. Who gives the best performance in Ramayana Part 1?
Yash stands out as Ravana. His commanding screen presence and intense portrayal make him one of the film’s biggest highlights.
3. How is Ranbir Kapoor’s performance as Lord Rama?
Ranbir Kapoor delivers a sincere performance as Lord Rama. He takes some time to settle into the character but becomes more convincing towards the latter part of the film.
4. How is Sai Pallavi as Sita in Ramayana?
Sai Pallavi brings grace, simplicity and emotional warmth to her portrayal of Sita. Her natural screen presence works well for the character.
