Ramayana review: Can this $500m film saga live up to expensive expectations?

The ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana, attributed to poet and sage Valmiki, serves as the basis for the $500 million film saga, Ramayana: Part 1. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring an ensemble cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, and Anupam Kher, the film traces the contrasting journeys of Rama and Ravana across an expansive scale.

Despite some shortcomings in execution, the first installment maintains audience engagement throughout its 195-minute running time. Crafted as a classic revenge tragedy, the film employs every tool in its arsenal to deliver a spectacular visual and action-packed cinematic experience, independent of religious reverence for the source material.

Historian William Dalrymple noted that "trains, buses, and cars came to a sudden halt" during broadcasts of Ramanand Sagar’s television adaptation, Ramayan, underscoring the story's impact on audiences. The pressure on Tiwari, Malhotra, and co-writer Shridhar Raghavan, known for their work in Pathaan, to live up to this legacy is immense.

Tiwari's adaptation shines as a spectacle in its own right, boasting some of the best visual effects and action choreography in Indian cinema. Their achievements are bolstered by the involvement of Prime Focus Studios and Oscar-winning visual-effects company DNEG, which have worked on acclaimed films such as Blade Runner 2049 and Dune. However, some Indian films heavy on effects have struggled to convincingly bring their digital worlds to life.

The lavish battle between two superpowered factions in the film promises a fantastical spectacle, replete with majestic white elephants and colossal, thundering four-legged beasts. While the results are not always consistent – particularly in scenes set in the newly conquered Lanka – the dips in quality are infrequent.

The dialogue initially feels clunky, with excessive exposition that could be better conveyed through subtle facial expressions. However, emotional storytelling later compensates for these issues, largely due to the heartwarming chemistry between Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, which prompts viewers to root for their characters.

Supporting actors deliver commendable performances, with Sheeba Chaddha, Shobana, and Lara Dutta portraying women of influence and power, driving the narrative towards its climax. Arun Govil, who played Rama in Sagar’s Ramayan, now portrays King Dasarath of Ayodhya, bringing the emotional depth that made his television performance so memorable.

Despite the large cast, some talented character actors may feel underutilized. Indira Krishnan stands out with a few standout moments but wishes for more screen time. Nonetheless, the narrative’s patient exploration of the political and familial machinations within Ayodhya and Lanka justifies the roles assigned to each character.

Yash delivers a compelling performance as Lanka’s king, Ravana, commanding both awe and terror. The film's gorgeous cinematography and an extraordinary score by Oscar winners Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman imbue the film with a sense of wonder rarely experienced in modern cinema, akin to the Avatar series and Christopher Nolan’s films. The sincerity of its storytelling, coupled with its treatment of the world, its people, and their struggles, makes it difficult for viewers to look away for much of the film’s running time.

Ultimately, Ramayana: Part 1 offers a great movie-going experience and deserves to be seen in 3D on an IMAX screen.