Punchline
A breathtaking visual spectacle backed by powerful performances, grand action blocks, and emotionally rich storytelling.
Storyline
The much-awaited Indian epic Ramayana, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi in lead roles, has finally arrived in theatres amid massive expectations. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the mythological action drama brings one of India’s most celebrated epics to the big screen on an unprecedented scale.
The film opens by exploring Ravana’s (Yash) childhood, his journey to acquire Lanka from Kubera, and his quest to obtain a powerful boon from Lord Brahma. After defeating Lord Indra (Kunal Kapoor), Ravana’s growing dominance prompts Indra to seek help from Lord Vishnu. This eventually leads to the birth of Lord Rama (Ranbir Kapoor), setting the stage for the legendary battle between good and evil.
Positives
Adapting an epic like Ramayana, which has been deeply rooted in Indian culture for centuries, is no easy task. It is a challenging subject that demands a perfect balance of devotion, storytelling, and cinematic grandeur. Nitesh Tiwari handles this responsibility impressively, delivering an adaptation that could become a reference point for future mythological films.
Producer Namit Malhotra deserves tremendous appreciation for backing a project of this magnitude without compromising on its vision. Bringing such a massive cinematic universe to life requires extraordinary ambition and courage, and the film reflects that commitment.
Ranbir Kapoor is the biggest strength of Ramayana. Despite the initial discussions surrounding his casting, the actor silences every doubt with a remarkable performance as Lord Rama. He brings grace and a divine presence to the character, while his action sequences and emotionally charged moments leave a lasting impression. He is undoubtedly the heartbeat of the film.
Yash makes a powerful impact as Ravana. His screen presence, attitude, ferocious expressions, and commanding performance elevate every sequence he appears in. The actor perfectly captures the arrogance and intimidating personality of the antagonist, making him one of the film’s biggest highlights.
Sai Pallavi is impressive as Sita, bringing remarkable serenity and grace to the character. Ravie Dubey delivers a convincing performance as Lakshman, with some entertaining moments. Rakul Preet Singh also makes an impact as Shurpanakha.
The film is packed with spectacular action sequences. The Indra-Ravana confrontation, Jatayu’s battle with Ravana, and the tornado sequence are among the major highlights. The placement of the song ‘Darthi Hai Ambar Hai’ adds to the theatrical experience.
Beyond its visual grandeur, Ramayana also scores heavily on the emotional front. The pre-Vanavaas portions and the sequences involving Jatayu’s suffering and death are particularly moving. Ravana’s backstory also adds an interesting dimension to the narrative.
Negatives
Despite being an impressive cinematic experience, Ramayana has a few shortcomings. The narrative loses some momentum in the post-interval portions, particularly during the sequence involving Ravana and Vidyutjihva. This portion could have been trimmed to maintain a better flow.
There are also minor sound-mixing issues in a couple of scenes, making certain dialogues difficult to hear clearly. Additionally, the background placement of ‘Jai Jai Ram’ creates an impact, but including the complete version of the song would have made the experience even better.
Technicalities
Ramayana is a massive technical achievement. The combination of A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer’s music elevates the film’s emotional and dramatic moments. The background score is particularly effective, while the songs complement the narrative.
The production design deserves special appreciation for creating a magnificent mythological world. Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye deliver impressive cinematography, capturing the grandeur of the locations and the intensity of the action sequences. Huzefa Lokhandwala’s editing is satisfactory, although a few portions could have been crisper.
DNEG’s visual effects are among the biggest attractions. The detailing of creatures, large-scale battle sequences, and spectacular visual compositions demonstrate the studio’s technical expertise. The 3D presentation further enhances the experience, making the film a treat to watch on the biggest possible screen.
However, the biggest credit goes to director Nitesh Tiwari. He successfully balances larger-than-life action moments with the emotional depth required for a story like Ramayana. Known for his strength in handling human emotions, the filmmaker delivers on that front while also presenting several whistle-worthy mass moments. Despite the enormous expectations surrounding the epic, Nitesh manages to deliver a compelling cinematic experience.
Rating
4/5
Final Verdict
Ramayana is a spectacular mythological epic that successfully combines cinematic grandeur with emotional depth. Nitesh Tiwari delivers an ambitious adaptation that impresses with its breathtaking visuals, powerful action sequences, and exceptional performances. Ranbir Kapoor shines as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi brings grace to Sita, and Yash is terrific as Ravana. DNEG’s extraordinary VFX work sets a new benchmark for Indian cinema.
Although the film experiences a few pacing issues and minor sound-mixing glitches, they do little to diminish the overall experience. With its massive scale, memorable performances, and emotional storytelling, Ramayana delivers a satisfying theatrical experience. A must-watch on the biggest screen possible.
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