The moment Indian cinema has been building towards for years has finally arrived. The official trailer for Ramayana: Part 1 was released on 30 July 2026 during the auspicious Brahma Muhurat, the pre-dawn period considered sacred in Hindu tradition. Producer Namit Malhotra said the timing reflected the film’s deep spiritual and cultural roots. Running four minutes and nine seconds, the trailer debuted simultaneously in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about cinematic events of the year.
Rather than introducing its hero first, the trailer opens with its greatest antagonist. Yash’s Ravana emerges from the shadows, commanding and menacing as he proclaims his dominion over the three realms. It is a bold creative decision that establishes the scale of the threat before Rama even appears, signalling that this adaptation intends to give equal dramatic weight to both its hero and its villain.
The trailer then traces the familiar journey of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Prince Rama. Arun Govil, remembered by generations of viewers for portraying Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s landmark 1987 television series, appears as King Dasharatha, introducing his son to the people of Ayodhya. From there, the footage moves through several defining moments of the epic, including Rama’s acceptance of exile in honour of Kaikeyi’s wishes, the encounter with Surpanakha and glimpses of the events leading to Sita’s abduction. A brief look at Ravana’s Pushpak Vimana teases the conflict that will unfold across the two-part saga.
Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Rama has been one of the film’s most closely watched creative decisions since the project was announced. The trailer presents him as a composed and restrained protagonist, balancing quiet strength with emotional conviction. Whether training as a prince, sharing tender moments with Sita or embracing exile without hesitation, Kapoor appears fully invested in portraying one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures. Director Nitesh Tiwari recently told NDTV that he believed no one was better suited to shoulder the expectations surrounding the role, and the trailer offers audiences their first substantial look at that interpretation.
Sai Pallavi brings grace and warmth to Sita, with her chemistry alongside Kapoor emerging as one of the trailer’s emotional highlights. Their relationship feels understated rather than overtly romantic, while Ravi Dubey’s Lakshman completes the trio with a quiet sense of loyalty and devotion.
However, it is Yash who commands much of the conversation. His portrayal of Ravana is neither theatrical nor one-dimensional. Instead, the trailer presents him as a formidable and charismatic ruler whose presence dominates every frame he occupies. The anticipation surrounding his eventual confrontation with Rama has already become one of the film’s biggest talking points across social media.
Shot for IMAX, Ramayana: Part 1 clearly aims for a scale rarely attempted in Indian cinema. The visual effects, created by eight-time Academy Award-winning studio DNEG, showcase expansive palace interiors, sweeping battlefields and intricately realised mythological landscapes. Early reactions from Indian media have largely praised the trailer’s visual ambition, with The Hans India describing it as “a larger-than-life spectacle” while also highlighting Yash’s commanding screen presence and Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Rama.
Another major attraction is the film’s music. Ramayana marks the first collaboration between Academy Award winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, bringing together two of the world’s most celebrated film composers. Although the trailer offers only a brief preview of their work, the orchestral score has already generated considerable excitement among fans. The screenplay has been written by Shridhar Raghavan, whose previous credits include Khakee, War, Pathaan and Tiger 3, marking his first collaboration with Tiwari.
One question dominated online discussion almost immediately after the trailer’s release: the absence of Sunny Deol’s Hanuman. Despite Deol being officially confirmed in the role, the beloved character does not appear in the footage. Addressing the decision during the trailer launch in New Delhi, Tiwari explained that Hanuman’s introduction has been intentionally reserved for the film itself, preserving one of the epic’s most anticipated moments for audiences to experience in theatres.
The trailer has also sparked widespread discussion across social media, with viewers praising its visual scale, production design and faithful recreation of iconic moments from the epic. Much of the conversation has centred on Yash’s imposing Ravana, the chemistry between Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, and the film’s ambitious visual effects, further cementing Ramayana as one of the most eagerly awaited Indian releases in recent years.
Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release worldwide during Diwali 2026, with Part 2 set to follow on Diwali 2027. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the two-part epic is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and DNEG in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The ensemble cast also includes Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi.
Speaking at the trailer launch, Tiwari described Ramayana as “not just one of our greatest epics” but “part of how we live, celebrate and pass on our values from one generation to the next.” Judging by its first full trailer, the filmmaker has embraced that responsibility with remarkable ambition. Whether the finished film fulfils those expectations will become clear when Ramayana: Part 1 arrives in cinemas this Diwali.
Watch Ramayana Trailer:
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