MUMBAI — Few Indian releases in recent years have carried the weight of expectation that Ramayana: Part 1 does. With the first half of a two-part epic now in cinemas, critics and early audiences have begun to deliver their verdicts, and the picture that emerges is one of admiration for the spectacle with real questions about what lies beneath it.
Scale wins praise
The most consistent point across early reviews is the film’s visual ambition. WION’s review described the production as a visual extravaganza that succeeds mainly through its audacious scale, noting that the makers have used modern technology to retell a very old story. Asianet News reached a similar conclusion, calling the film an ambitious mythological spectacle that deserves to be seen in theatres.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh was even more emphatic in an advance review published by Bollywood Hungama, awarding the film a full five stars and praising its production design as comparable with the best of global cinema. Reactions after the film’s Los Angeles premiere on October 27 also centred on its visuals, though some viewers there described the story as emotionally flat and said the music did not always work.
Yash’s Ravana steals the show
If one performance has united opinion, it is Yash’s. Several reviews and a large share of audience reactions on X single out his Ravana as the strongest part of the film. Asianet’s reviewer went so far as to say Yash outshines the leads, and viewers praised his screen presence. For Yash, who is also a co-producer, the role marks his Hindi cinema debut, and early response suggests it has landed well.
A divided response on Rama and Sita
Opinion is far more mixed on the central pairing. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi plays Sita, and some viewers have praised their restrained approach. Others have said the two look right for their parts but that their chemistry does not build the emotional connection the story demands. Asianet’s review made precisely this point, calling the love story underwhelming even as it applauded the film’s technical strengths.
Critics of the casting have also been vocal on social media ahead of the release, a debate that has continued since the trailer. As is usual with a film of this profile, early posts on X reflect enthusiastic supporters and sceptics alike, so they are best read as a mood rather than a verdict.
Technology and storytelling
The film’s technical team, led by DNEG and the producers at Prime Focus Studios, has put significant effort into world-building. The production is reportedly mounted on a budget of ₹1,600 crore for this instalment, and the screen reflects that investment in both its sets and its effects. The ending introduces Raghav Juyal as Meghnad and brings Sunny Deol in as Hanuman in a post-credit scene, both clearly designed to build interest in the second part, which is due in 2028.
Some reviewers have noted that a film conceived as the first half of a larger story can feel like a prologue. That may be a fair complaint, but it is also a structural feature of the project. The second part will have to complete the story that this one begins.
Should you watch it?
For viewers who want scale, music and big-screen spectacle, the early verdict leans positive, and premium formats are being recommended by several reviewers. Those who prioritise emotional depth and character chemistry may find the film less satisfying. The consensus is that this is a film to see in a theatre rather than wait for streaming, but that its power lies more in what it shows than in what it makes you feel.
With strong opening-day collections and a long festival weekend ahead, audiences will decide for themselves. What the reviews make clear is that Ramayana: Part 1 is a serious, ambitious attempt at a story India knows by heart, and that its biggest success so far is in the villain’s chair.
