Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana: India’s Costliest Film Divides Critics
The first part of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, has opened across 5,510 shows, bringing one of Hinduism’s most beloved epics to the screen on a scale billed as India’s costliest film production. The big-budget adaptation has drawn intense attention for its star cast, large-scale spectacle and the challenge of retelling a revered text for contemporary audiences-but early reviews suggest it has divided critics.
Reviewers broadly agree that the film delivers on visual scale. NDTV said the spectacle overshadows the substance of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s film, suggesting that the production’s grand imagery and effects dominate its storytelling. The Hindu, meanwhile, praised both leads but argued that Yash’s Ravana outshines Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama on screen, a view echoed by iDiva, which called Yash’s portrayal the most distinctive element of Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation.
The BBC reported that the film retells a beloved Hindu epic but has split critical opinion, reflecting the sensitivities and expectations surrounding any modern interpretation of the Ramayana. The debate is not only about performances and pacing but also about how a sacred narrative is translated into a mass-market cinematic event.
The release also had an immediate market impact. The Economic Times reported that Prime Focus shares fell 7% as Ramayana Part 1 made its debut across 5,510 shows. The wide opening positions the film as a major test of whether costly, effects-driven retellings of mythological epics can satisfy both devotees and general audiences.
With Part 1 now in cinemas, attention will turn to how viewers respond to its portrayal of Rama and Ravana, and whether the film’s spectacle can carry the weight of a story that remains central to Hindu culture.
Original Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm93zv62v1n7o
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Publish Date: 2026-11-05 14:34:00