Although we have heard and watched the epic saga of the Ramayana many times from various perspectives, this version comes in two parts—a choice that builds anticipation and leaves you wondering what exactly the first three-hour installment will cover. Namit Malhotra made bold promises with the film; the question now is whether he delivered and truly presented a cinematic marvel. And the answer is definitely yes.
A Detailed and Refreshed Storyline
Ramayana Part 1 begins with a backstory—the events that transformed Dashanana into Ravana (Yash). As Ravana expands his kingdom, Lord Indra (Kunal Kapoor) discusses his malicious intentions with the other gods, setting the stage for the birth of Rama (Ranbir Kapoor).
The narrative covers the births of Rama and Sita (Sai Pallavi), the swayamvara (the ceremony where Ram proves his capabilities by lifting the dhanush band that no one else could lift), their marriage, their exile into the forest, and the incident involving the severing of Surpanakha’s (Rakul Preet Singh) nose.
As for where Part 1 concludes—I won’t give away any spoilers—but I will say that the film ends exactly where one would expect it to.
Direction And Story
Nitesh Tiwari’s vision shines through in many scenes. While we have seen the Ramayana many times before, this level of spectacle and magic was something we had only ever imagined—and the director has brought it to life.
Narrated by Amitabh Bachchan, the screenplay remains compelling throughout, keeping viewers invested even when they know exactly what happens next. The first half is good, but the film truly finds its stride in the much stronger second half. While a few middle scenes feel slightly stretched, the overall pacing is balanced.
Dialogues, Cinematography, Music And More
The dialogues are fine, though they lack the grandeur one might expect from an epic saga. Visually, the film is an absolute triumph. The VFX is mind-blowing, capturing ancient magic on screen with flawless execution. Yash’s sequences, in particular, offer pure cinematic scale. Furthermore, A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer masterfully elevate the mythical world with their musical score.
Key Elements
There are plenty of elements, but I will mention a few. In terms of entries, all three—Yash as Ravana, Ranbir as Rama, and Sai as Sita—were impactful. Yash truly steals the show whenever he appears on screen, giving his fans plenty of treats. Many times, people whistled for his character. His powerful Shiva Tandava sequence, choreographed by Shiamak Davar, also shows the hard work the actor put into his character.
Ranbir Kapoor easily meets expectations as Rama, embodying a stunning posture, pure personality, and flawless execution in the bow-and-arrow action sequences.
What I truly appreciate about this film is that it does not portray Sita as a passive figure who constantly needs protection. Instead, she is shown possessing the grace of a queen alongside the fierce skills of a warrior, effectively showcasing her swordplay alongside her traditional charm.
Cinematographers Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye deserve all the praise. One standout visual sequence features a conflicted Ravana debating whether to maintain peace or seek bloody revenge; the camera masterfully captures all ten of his heads from distinct, shifting perspectives. It is a brilliant, goosebump-inducing moment in a film filled with emotional highs.
Performances
Despite early skepticism about Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Rama, the actor effectively silenced critics in the film. He has portrayed Lord Ram exceptionally well—capturing the deity’s trademark qualities such as gentleness, compassion, immense valor, a forgiving nature, and deep love for his subjects with great ease and skill. While purists might argue whether he is the absolute greatest onscreen Rama of all time, he has certainly delivered one of the finest portrayals of the character.
Yash is undoubtedly the highlight of this film. The way his character’s growth and arc are crafted is compelling. In his portrayal of Ravana, the actor frequently elicited cheers from the audience. In every single frame, Yash appears genuinely menacing and entirely immersed in the role. Furthermore, Sharad Kelkar’s masterful voice dubbing blends so seamlessly with Yash’s colossal screen presence that you completely forget you are listening to a voice actor.
Sai Pallavi has once again won hearts. Her expressions and her manner of speaking were all impressive. Though the emotional connection in a few dramatic scenes feels slightly restrained, she commands the screen beautifully, particularly during her action sequences.
Ravi Dubey shines brightly. Even among such seasoned actors, he managed to leave his mark as Lakshman. Rakul Preet Singh was a perfect casting choice for Surpanakha, and she did justice to the character. Meanwhile, Kajal Aggarwal looked gorgeous as Mandodari, Ravana’s wife.
Lara Dutta portrayed Kaikeyi exceptionally well, and Indira Krishnan also did well as Kaushalya. Vivek Oberoi, too, played his part effectively.
Kunal Kapoor, Sheeba Chaddha, Satyen Chaturvedi, Adinath Kothare, Raghav Juyal, and the rest of the supporting cast made their mark with their characters.
Verdict
Jointly produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, with cutting-edge visual effects by DNEG, Ramayana Part 1 completely lives up to its monumental hype. Experiencing the film in 3D offers an immersive vibe that shouldn’t be missed. It’s a perfect cinematic treat and an absolute must-watch for families.
Our Editorial Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
