A New Promotional Strategy for Ramayana..Has It Now Sparked Controversy?

Audiences are eagerly waiting to see how director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra bring the epic Ramayana to the big screen, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. However, the film’s promotional strategy has sparked criticism from a section of viewers. The makers recently shared seven memes featuring characters from the epic, but the approach has not gone down well with everyone. One meme shows Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama crying, accompanied by the caption, “When I open the fridge and my leftovers have been eaten”. As the scene is reportedly intended to be an emotional moment in the film, using it for comedy has upset some viewers.

Many people in India regard the Ramayana as a sacred epic and believe its events are rooted in history. They feel that using its revered characters in humorous memes to promote a film is inappropriate, particularly when the project is being made on such a grand scale. Although several films and television adaptations of the Ramayana have been produced over the years, the latest promotional campaign has become a talking point. Some viewers believe the makers should have chosen a more sensitive approach and are asking whether the team will take the criticism into account in its upcoming promotions. Yash is also one of the producers of the film, which is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026. Sunny Deol, Vivek Oberoi, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh and others are also part of the cast, while Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman are composing the music.