“Ramayana: Part 1”, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, opened in theatres worldwide on November 5, drawing positive early reviews and raising expectations for a strong box office performance.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the mythological epic adapts Valmiki’s “Ramayana”, while also drawing from other retellings, including Tulsidas’ “Ramcharitmanas”. It is the first instalment of a planned two-part cinematic adaptation.
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi portrays Sita, and Yash takes on the role of Ravana. The ensemble cast also includes Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Kajal Aggarwal and Anupam Kher.
Early reviews have praised the film’s visual presentation and performances, particularly those of Ranbir and Yash. However, some critics and viewers have raised concerns about its pacing, music and visual effects.
The film has attracted considerable commercial interest ahead of its release. According to early trade reports, worldwide advance bookings crossed Rs150 crore, including more than Rs80 crore reportedly generated from opening-day bookings. These figures have fuelled expectations of a record-breaking theatrical run, although its overall box office performance remains uncertain.
Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the film has been mounted on a reported budget that places it among the most expensive productions in Indian cinema.
The project also marks the first collaboration between Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, who have composed its musical score. Visual effects have been handled by DNEG, the studio known for its work on major Hollywood productions.
Nitesh Tiwari and Shridhar Raghavan wrote the screenplay, while Sony Pictures is overseeing international distribution outside India.
The film’s mid-credits sequence reportedly hints at the arrival of Lord Hanuman, played by Sunny Deol, setting up the second instalment, which is scheduled for release in 2028.