Ramayana Review: Yash Steals The Show, But Screenplay Does Disservice To Ranbir Kapoor And Sai Pallavi

Ramayana Movie Review: The film scores high on visuals, VFX and scale, with Yash and Ravi Dubey emerging as its biggest highlights.

Ramayana Part 1 Movie Review: Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious retelling of the Hindu mythological epic Ramayana has finally arrived on the big screen, bringing together an ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash. Mounted on a grand scale, the film promises a larger-than-life cinematic experience, backed by impressive visual effects and elaborate production design. While it succeeds in creating a visually spectacular world, the storytelling and character portrayals leave room for improvement. At 3 hours and 15 minutes, the film also tests your patience, particularly in its first half. Let's find out if the film is worth the hype:

Ramayana Movie Review: Visually Stunning, BGM Stands Out

Let's start with the biggest strength of Ramayana - its visuals. The film is visually beautiful and the VFX deserve immense appreciation. The makers have clearly invested heavily in bringing this mythological world to life and several frames are genuinely breathtaking. The scale and visual treatment make it a cinematic experience worth watching on the big screen.

The music and the background score are also among the biggest strengths of Ramayana. The collaboration between AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer works beautifully, adding grandeur, emotion and scale to the film. The background score deserves special appreciation for the way it elevates several important sequences without feeling out of place. Whether it is the intense moments involving Ravana or the emotionally charged portions, the music adds another layer to the storytelling. What makes it even better is that the makers have given the score its due importance instead of treating it as mere background noise. Rahman and Zimmer's collaboration is undoubtedly one of the film's most memorable aspects.

Ramayana Movie Review: Yash, Ravie Dubey Steal Show

The biggest surprise package is Yash as Ravana. He takes away the limelight with his powerful screen presence and commanding performance. Strong, fierce and convincing, Yash brings the right intensity to Dashanan. His scenes are among the most entertaining parts of the film and he delivers exactly the kind of power and impact that audiences would expect from him. Whenever he appears on screen, the film gets a much-needed boost.

Another actor who deserves special mention is Ravi Dubey, who makes his big-screen debut with Ramayana as Lakshman. He is exceptionally good in the role and surprisingly manages to outshine Ranbir Kapoor in several portions. Ravi performs effortlessly, brings a refreshing sense of humour to the character and makes Lakshman instantly likeable. His dialogues and delivery also add to the character's impact. In fact, audiences cheer for him in theatres. Interestingly, he also seems to have more dialogues than Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Ram in the movie.

Rakul Preet Singh is another pleasant addition as Supranakha. Her scenes are engaging, and she brings the required energy to the character.

Ramayana Movie Review: Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi Look Weak

Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Ram is a bit disappointment. His performance lacks the impact one would expect from someone playing such an important character. The makers seem to have confused portraying Lord Ram as calm and composed with reducing the volume of his dialogues. In the first half, there are moments when you genuinely have to struggle to hear what Ranbir is saying. A character as significant as Lord Ram deserved a stronger and more commanding presence.

Unfortunately, Sai Pallavi also doesn't leave much of an impression as Sita either. Her performance feels weak and expressionless, and she has very few dialogues to work with. It only ends up disappointing you deeply, questioning the hype around the grand project.

Ramayana Movie Review: Directorial Shortcomings

The film also suffers from several directorial shortcomings, particularly when it comes to handling some of the most important sequences from the Ramayana. For instance, the entire sequence in which Kaikeyi reminds King Dashrath of the two boons he had promised her feels rushed and incomplete. We barely get to see the moment when she asks him for those two boons. It is a crucial turning point in the epic, but the film fails to give it the emotional weight it deserves.

If you have watched the television show Siya Ke Ram, you would particularly remember how beautifully the show presented this sequence. Unfortunately, the film doesn't manage to recreate that impact.

The sequence involving Supranakha's nose being cut is equally disappointing. It is rushed through in a matter of seconds, with hardly any background score or dramatic build-up. What's more? The film barely shows her nose being cut, making the entire moment feel underwhelming. Such an important incident in the epic deserved much better treatment.

Even Sita's abduction sequence, one of the most significant turning points in the Ramayana, feels rushed and lacks the emotional depth it deserves. A moment that should have been filled with tension, drama and heartbreak barely gets the build-up required to make an impact. The sequence passes by rather quickly, leaving audiences wanting more from what should have been one of the film's most powerful moments.

Ramayana Movie Review: Jatayu-Ravana Fight Gives Goosebumps

If there's one sequence that truly makes you sit up and take notice, it is the Jatayu's confrontation with Ravana following the abduction of Sita. Undoubtedly the strongest and most impactful portion of Ramayana, this sequence delivers goosebumps. The scale of the confrontation, the visual effects and the emotional weight attached to Jatayu's courage make it a memorable cinematic moment. The makers get almost everything right here, from the build-up to the execution. The background score further elevates the sequence, making it even more powerful.

It is one of those rare portions where the film manages to strike the perfect balance between spectacle and storytelling. This is precisely the kind of cinematic treatment one expects from an epic like Ramayana.

Ramayana Movie Review: Final Verdict

Ramayana is a mixed bag. It scores high on visuals, VFX and scale, with Yash and Ravi Dubey emerging as its biggest highlights. However, a stretched first half, weak character portrayals and rushed handling of important mythological sequences prevent it from becoming the epic cinematic experience it aspires to be.

The post-interval portions are more engaging. Also, don't rush out of the theatre once the film ends. There's a small surprise waiting in the post-credit scene, which offers a glimpse of Sunny Deol as Hanuman.