The upcoming Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is one of the most anticipated Indian films of 2026. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the ambitious mythological epic brings together Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
The film has attracted considerable attention for its large-scale production, international visual-effects work and music collaboration between A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Following its Los Angeles premiere on October 27, 2026, early audience reactions have begun emerging ahead of its theatrical release.
Important: The first part is scheduled to release in Indian cinemas on November 5, 2026. Therefore, the reactions available as of October 28 are early premiere reactions, not a complete public-release review.
1. Ramayana movie: Key details
Particulars Details Movie Name Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Genre Mythological epic, Action, Drama, Fantasy Director Nitesh Tiwari Producer Namit Malhotra Release Date November 5, 2026 Format Two-part film series Music AR Rehman and Hans Zimmer
2. Star cast and characters
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama : Kapoor portrays Prince Rama, whose commitment to duty, righteousness and honor forms the emotional Centre of the story. Early reactions have praised his performance and emotional expression.
- Yash as Ravana : The Kannada superstar plays the powerful king of Lanka and also serves as a producer through Monster Mind Creations. His commanding screen presence has been a particular highlight in early audience reactions.
- Sai Pallavi as Sita : Pallavi plays Sita, whose relationship with Rama and role in the unfolding conflict are central to the epic. Early commentary has included positive assessments of her performance.
- Sunny Deol as Hanuman : Deol plays Hanuman, the devoted ally of Rama. Early reports from the premiere also mention a post-credit scene introducing the character.
- Ravi Dubey as Lakshman : Dubey portrays Lakshman, Rama's loyal younger brother and companion throughout his exile and the events of the epic.
Other reported cast members include Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Sheeba Chadha and Harish Uthaman.
3. Story and plot: What is Ramayana about ?
The film draws inspiration from the ancient Indian epic, which follows the journey of Rama, his marriage to Sita, his exile and the events that ultimately lead to his confrontation with Ravana.
The official synopsis describes a story involving sacrifice, vengeance and destiny.
The main narrative is expected to cover the following key elements:
- Rama's journey: His life as a prince, his marriage to Sita and his commitment to righteousness.
- Exile in the forest: The challenges Rama faces after leaving his kingdom, accompanied by Sita and Lakshman.
- Ravana's role: The powerful ruler of Lanka whose actions bring him into conflict with Rama.
- Loyalty and devotion: The roles of Lakshman and Hanuman in Rama's journey.
- The larger conflict: The story builds towards the confrontation between Rama and Ravana, setting up the larger events of the two-part adaptation.
The first instalment is intended to establish the characters and central conflict, with the story continuing in the second film.
4. Budget and production scale
The two-part project has been reported to carry a combined budget of approximately US$500 million, or more than ₹4,000 crore, according to producer Namit Malhotra. This is the reported budget for both instalments together, not just Part 1.
Key production highlights include:
- Visual effects: DNEG and ReDefine are associated with the film's visual-effects work.
- International presentation: The film is being developed for a global audience and filmed for IMAX.
- Cinematography: Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye are credited with cinematography.
- Action design: International action specialists Terry Notary and Guy Norris are associated with the project.
- Music: A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer have collaborated on the score.
The production aims to combine Indian mythology with large-scale international filmmaking techniques.
5. Ramayana movie review: What are early viewers saying ?
As of October 28, 2026, the first reactions following the Los Angeles premiere are mixed but include substantial praise for the performances and scale. These are early audience and reviewer impressions rather than a settled critical consensus.
What viewers liked
- Ranbir Kapoor's performance: Several early viewers praised his portrayal of Rama, particularly his emotional scenes.
- Yash as Ravana: His screen presence and introduction have attracted strong praise.
- Grand visuals: Viewers have highlighted the scale, action, choreography and cinematic ambition.
- Cliffhanger ending: Some viewers described the ending as an effective setup for the next instalment.
- Epic atmosphere: Some premiere reactions compared the experience to The Lord of the Rings.
What viewers criticized
- Music: Some early reactions criticized the score for not consistently delivering the spiritual and emotional impact expected from the epic.
- Pacing: Some viewers felt the second half was stretched.
- Visual effects: A few reactions questioned the appearance of certain creatures and the use of studio-style backgrounds in some scenes.
- Emotional depth: Some reviewers felt that the spectacular presentation did not always translate into equally powerful dramatic moments.
Is the film better than earlier Ramayana adaptations ?
It is too early to make a definitive comparison. The new film has a much-publicised international production scale, but scale alone does not determine whether an adaptation captures the emotional, spiritual and cultural depth of the Ramayana.
Its ultimate reception will depend on how effectively the storytelling, performances, music and visual effects work together.
6. Music and background score
The collaboration between A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer is one of the production's major talking points. Both composers bring experience in large-scale cinematic music, making their partnership an important part of the film's identity.
However, early reactions to the music have been divided. While some viewers praised the overall spectacle, others felt that the score did not consistently provide the emotional and devotional atmosphere expected from a story of this significance.
The full public response to the soundtrack will become clearer after the theatrical release.
7. AI controversy: What did director Nitesh Tiwari clarify ?
Ahead of the release, questions emerged about the use of artificial intelligence for multilingual versions of the film.
At the Los Angeles premiere, director Nitesh Tiwari clarified that AI had been used to synchronize lip movements with dialogue in different languages. He said that the dubbed voices were recorded by human dubbing artists, rather than generated by AI.
According to the director, the technology is intended to make the film more accessible to international audiences while matching the characters' visible mouth movements to the dialogue they hear.
8. Release date and Part 2 update
Detail Information Film title Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Part 1 release November 5, 2026 Worldwide release November 5, 2026, according to the official announcement Format Two-part adaptation Part 2 Initially planned for Diwali 2027 Possible Part 2 delay Diwali 2028 has been reported as a possibility, but no revised date has been officially confirmed
9. Final verdict: Is Ramayana worth watching ?
Based on the premiere reactions available so far, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend looks like an ambitious cinematic interpretation of one of India's best-known epics. Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Rama, Yash's performance as Ravana and the scale of the production are among its most frequently praised elements.
The main concerns raised by some early viewers involve pacing, music and whether the visual spectacle consistently delivers the emotional depth the story demands.
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