Ramayana Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash Deliver a Spectacular Mythological Epic

Release Date: November 5, 2026

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol and others

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Producers: Namit Malhotra, Yash

Music Directors: Hans Zimmer, A.R. Rahman

Cinematographers: Pankaj Kumar, Mahesh Limaye

Editor: Huzefa Lokhandwala

Story:

The Ramayana is an epic tale of the eternal battle between good and evil. The film opens by exploring Ravana's childhood and his journey to acquire Lanka from Kubera. It also showcases how he earns a boon from Lord Brahma and later defeats Lord Indra. Alarmed by Ravana's growing power, Indra seeks the help of Lord Vishnu, who takes human form as Lord Rama. This sets the stage for the legendary conflict between Rama and Ravana.

Plus Points:

Adapting the Ramayana for the big screen is a challenging task, given how deeply the epic is rooted in Indian culture and tradition. Director Nitesh Tiwari handles the subject with remarkable confidence, presenting the familiar story in a visually rich and emotionally engaging manner. His approach could serve as a reference for future filmmakers attempting to bring mythological stories to the screen.

Producer Namit Malhotra deserves appreciation for backing a project of such enormous scale. Bringing an epic like the Ramayana to life requires considerable ambition and resources, and the film reflects the confidence and commitment behind its making.

Ranbir Kapoor is one of the film's biggest strengths as Lord Rama. He brings grace and dignity to the character, impressing in the action sequences while delivering emotional moments with sincerity. Despite initial questions surrounding his casting, Ranbir proves to be a strong choice and carries the character with conviction.

Yash makes a powerful impression as Ravana. His commanding screen presence, intense performance and portrayal of the character's ferocity make his appearances particularly impactful. Sai Pallavi brings serenity and warmth to Sita, delivering a convincing performance. Ravie Dubey is impressive as Lakshman and adds moments of humour, while Rakul Preet Singh makes her presence felt as Shurpanakha.

The film features several spectacular action sequences, including the face-off between Indra and Ravana, Jatayu's battle with Ravana and the tornado sequence. The song 'Darthi Hai Ambar Hai' is effectively placed and adds to the cinematic impact. Beyond its visual grandeur, the film also delivers emotionally powerful moments, particularly during the pre-Vanavaas portions and Jatayu's final moments. Ravana's backstory also adds a fresh dimension to this adaptation.

Minus Points:

The film has very few major drawbacks. However, the pace slows down slightly in the post-interval portions, particularly during the sequence involving Ravana and Vidyutjihva. A tighter edit could have made this portion more engaging.

There are also minor sound-mixing issues in a couple of scenes, making some dialogues difficult to hear. Although 'Jai Jai Ram' plays in the background, including its complete version could have enhanced the overall experience.

Technical Aspects:

Ramayana is impressive in almost every technical department. The musical score by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer elevates the emotional and dramatic moments. The production design deserves special appreciation for creating a grand world that complements the scale of the epic.

The cinematography by Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye is magnificent, capturing the film's grandeur and visual details effectively. The editing is satisfactory, although a few portions could have been trimmed. The sound-mixing issues in certain scenes could also have been addressed better.

The visual effects by Academy Award-winning DNEG are among the film's biggest highlights. The detailed CGI, spectacular action blocks and impressive creature designs establish a new benchmark for Indian cinema. The 3D experience further enhances the visual appeal.

Director Nitesh Tiwari deserves credit for balancing large-scale action with emotional storytelling. While the film delivers several breathtaking mass moments, it also remains connected to the human emotions at the heart of the epic. Considering the expectations surrounding the numerous interpretations of the Ramayana, Tiwari succeeds in delivering an engaging cinematic experience.

Verdict:

Overall, Namit Malhotra's Ramayana is a compelling adaptation of the mythological epic, combining spectacular visuals with emotional depth. The impressive VFX work, grand production design and powerful background score make it a memorable theatrical experience. Ranbir Kapoor is exceptional as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi impresses as Sita, and Yash commands the screen as Ravana. Although the pace dips in a few portions and minor sound-mixing issues remain, the film delivers on most fronts. It is worth experiencing on the biggest screen possible.