India’s film industry hopes a $420 million mythological epic can be a global hit

The Indian film industry is aiming for a global blockbuster with their costly two-part Ramayana epic. With a price tag of 40 billion Indian rupees ($420 million), the film depicts the mythological tale of Prince Rama's mission to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, based on the ancient Sanskrit epic revered in Hinduism.

The film premiered worldwide on Nov. 5, including a U.S. release the following day. Despite some negative reviews, it has amassed over $100 million globally and generated $67 million domestically, with the first part grossing $55.7 million during its opening weekend. Indian cinema has historically enjoyed global success, with films like Raj Kapoor's Awara (1951) and Mehboob Khan's Aan (1952) captivating audiences outside of the West.

However, recent romantic-dramas have primarily found popularity among the Indian diaspora. Meanwhile, Ramayana's creators hope the film will resonate with global audiences by preserving its timeless values and offering an immersive cinematic experience. The film has been dubbed into around 40 languages, including an English-dubbed version that's 30 minutes shorter than the original.

Though controversy surrounds the film's use of AI, director Nitesh Tiwari maintains that its sole purpose is to synchronize lip-sync for localized versions. Nevertheless, the film's extensive use of CGI may help it connect with a worldwide audience.