'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend (Part 1)' Review
Release Date: 11/06/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Adventure. Fantasy.
MPAA: Rated PG13.
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing.
The Verdict: A Must-See
Imagine if a movie studio set out to do a live-action adaptation of the Bible. It would take more than 40 days and 40 nights alone to try to do the Old Testament stories of Adam, Eve, and Moses justice. Jesus would surely need his own trilogy, and each disciple would need their own spin-off series. It would carry far more weight for conservative and contemporary Christians familiar with its metaphorical and historical significance than for any of the executives banking on it to turn a profit at the box office. Now, while no such project exists (yet - or at least at the time of this review being written), that scope should give you a foundational idea of how big a deal the new film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend (Part 1) is to those who practice Hinduism.
The film adapts the more than 2,500-year-old Sanskrit epic poem of the same name, which chronicles the life of a man named Rama. Born into a royal family, he lives a seemingly normal life at first with his three other brothers. But as he gets older, he faces several trials which test his virtues and reveal his true destiny as the seventh avatar (or incarnation) of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Whether you are familiar with Hinduism or not, director Nitesh Tiwari does a remarkable job of immersing you in the history, culture, and values that set it apart from other religions. Sure, there is plenty of exposition. And you can imagine certain storylines had to be abbreviated to make this work as a three-hour-and-15-minute movie. But in that time, he establishes what one might consider an entire phase's worth of Marvel Cinematic Universe material with such ease that you can’t help but be impressed and eager to see where it all leads next.
Most of that investment comes from Rama’s relatability. Other than the fact that he is destined for greatness - and protected by the Gods - he is a simple man. He feels physical and emotional pain, love and anger, and never wants to let anyone down. It’s not that he’s a reluctant hero. He is aware of his extraordinary abilities and the impact he has on others. But when he’s finally forced to fight to protect someone he really loves, he isn't entirely ready for how it will change his life forever. Ranbir Kapoor captures that humanity perfectly in his portrayal of Rama. While he doesn’t exactly look like the typical action hero Hollywood - or even Bollywood - has traditionally advertised, it won’t take long for him to change your mind. Picture the charisma (and hair) of Keanu Reeves combined with the jaunty intensity of Jake Gyllenhaal and the archery skills of Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye. If you’re like this reviewer who has never seen him in anything before, by the time the credits roll you'll want to peruse his filmography to see how much further his range goes.
The actor, known as Yash, also does a fine job as the story’s antagonist, Ravana. Because his story is a bit more complicated and revenge-driven, it’s hard to initially get on board with disliking him. However, in the film’s final hour, it becomes clear how formidable a foe he is and why Rama is destined to be his foil. His arrogance, coupled with his disdain for everyone else in his life, shows how much he’s willing to risk to be the most powerful being in the universe.
One of the film’s biggest highlights by far is its score. And without even listening to it, you can already tell it has the potential to be an all-timer because it is jointly composed by Academy Award-winning musicians A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. To call it one of the best scores of the year would be an understatement. Last year, the two released a brief teaser of what to expect from the film. Yet, that still didn’t do the final product justice. There’s an argument to be made that Tiwari’s ability to immerse audiences in this world might not be possible without the music, because it moves in every sense. As Rama grows up, falls in love, and even faces exile, Rahman and Zimmer manage to make all of his feelings tangible. By the time that same piece of music they teased finally shows up to help Rama sweep an entire army off its feet, you won’t even realize you’ve been swept off yours either.
The film has only a handful of cons, the biggest being inconsistent costume and set design. Billed as one of the most expensive movies ever made, some of the characters’ costumes look surprisingly unfinished at times. For example, in one of the film’s larger sequences in Ravana’s home city of Lanka, everyone can be seen wearing extravagant gold outfits. But the closer we get to some characters, the more these pieces begin to look like cheap theater costumes. Whether or not enough money was spent on the wardrobe is not the issue. However, the quality is particularly noticeable because of how much it contrasts with the film’s visual effects. Effects that, on the one hand, create the illusion of unfathomable Gods, while occasionally sticking out like a sore thumb as they try to mesh with equally unfinished practical sets.
As previously mentioned, the film boasts a runtime of just over three hours. And while the pacing is good enough that you hardly feel it, there are plenty of moments the film would be better off without. The prologue, for instance, features a lot of lore the film never returns to. Subplots about Rama’s and Ravana’s other siblings also feel a bit out of place. Even the events of the film’s third act only recontextualize it as a prologue for the next entry.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend (Part 1) may not go down as the best epic of the year, or even the best film of the year, but it is still a cinematic achievement that the Gods would approve of. Even with its shortcomings, it’s a great reminder that there is no limit to what stories can or should be told on the big screen. Like Rama’s own adventure, it’s also a reminder that the best is still to come.
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