Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, also known as Ramayana: Part 1, has arrived in theatres, bringing one of India’s most celebrated epics to the big screen. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the film has received a mixed response from critics. While its grand visuals, production design, visual effects and performances have earned appreciation, several reviewers believe its storytelling and emotional depth do not quite match the scale of its cinematic ambition.
The critical response reflects a clear divide between the film’s technical achievements and its narrative execution. Among the publications that have assigned ratings, Hindustan Times gives the film four stars, while Outlook India rates it 2.5 out of 5. NDTV, News18 and The Indian Express award it three stars or 3 out of 5, while IndieWire gives it a B grade. India Today, The Hollywood Reporter India and Rediff have published reviews without clearly displayed numerical ratings.
The film’s visual presentation is among its most appreciated aspects. Vineeta Kumar of India Today describes its cinematic world as breathtaking, praising the elaborate landscapes, architecture, action sequences and visual effects. She also highlights Hans Zimmer’s background score, which contributes to the film’s grandeur, although she feels that some of the AI-generated imagery looks artificial.
Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times, who awards the film four stars, is similarly impressed by its technical achievements. He believes the visual effects by DNEG give the film a scale comparable to major Hollywood productions. Christian Zilko of IndieWire, who gives it a B grade, calls it a fittingly massive treatment of India’s national epic, appreciating its lavish production, battles and imaginative sequences. Aishani Biswas of Outlook India also acknowledges the impressive production design and visual effects, although she believes these elements cannot compensate for the film’s narrative shortcomings.
Yash’s portrayal of Ravana is among the most consistently appreciated elements of the film. Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India considers the character’s portions some of the strongest, noting that the narrative becomes more interesting when it explores Ravana’s backstory and personality. He appreciates the attempt to present Ravana as more than a conventional antagonist, giving the character a distinct identity.
Chirag Sehgal of News18, who rates the film 3 out of 5, also identifies Yash as one of its biggest highlights, praising his commanding screen presence and intensity. Biswas of Outlook India similarly finds Ravana compelling, while Sukanya Verma of Rediff acknowledges the energy Yash brings to the role. Ravie Dubey’s portrayal of Lakshman also receives appreciation, with both Sehgal and Suri praising his performance and screen presence.
The response to Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Rama is more divided. Kumar of India Today appreciates his restrained performance and emotional sincerity, while Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, who rates the film 3 out of 5, feels that Kapoor gradually settles into the character. However, Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India believes his portrayal lacks spontaneity, while Verma of Rediff finds the performance overly restrained. Sehgal of News18 also feels the screenplay does not give Kapoor enough dialogue or a sufficiently commanding presence.
Sai Pallavi’s performance as Sita has received similarly varied reactions. Kumar praises the strength and agency given to the character, while Biswas believes the relationship between Rama and Sita deserved greater emotional development. Sehgal is more critical, arguing that Pallavi is underserved by the screenplay and does not leave the expected impression. The supporting cast, including Arun Govil as Dashrath and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, also receives appreciation from Suri of Hindustan Times.
Despite appreciating the film’s visual ambition, several critics believe it struggles to give its characters and important moments sufficient emotional weight. Verma of Rediff, in her review titled “All Scale No Soul”, compares the storytelling to a strategic video game, with episodes unfolding like successive levels rather than forming a connected emotional journey. She feels the film prioritises action and spectacle over the human and philosophical complexity of the epic.
Biswas of Outlook India raises similar concerns, arguing that the screenplay does not sufficiently develop important relationships, particularly the bond between Rama and Bharat. Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV, who gives the film three stars, also feels that the elaborate visuals and battle sequences frequently overshadow the narrative, leaving several familiar characters feeling flat.
Zilko of IndieWire points out that almost every scene is treated like a major climax, leaving little room for quieter character moments. Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India believes the filmmakers’ cautious approach to such a culturally significant story limits creative experimentation. Meanwhile, Sehgal of News18 criticises the rushed treatment of important episodes, including Kaikeyi’s demands, Shurpanakha’s encounter and Sita’s abduction. However, he praises the Jatayu-Ravana confrontation as one of the film’s most powerful sequences.
The collaboration between Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman has also attracted mixed reactions. Kumar of India Today considers Zimmer’s background score one of the film’s strongest elements, while Zilko appreciates how the orchestral music complements its grand presentation. Gupta of The Indian Express also acknowledges the scale of the musical collaboration.
However, Suri of Hindustan Times feels the music does not entirely meet expectations, with some songs appearing unnecessary. Verma of Rediff is more critical, finding the score and melodies less memorable than expected. The musical choices therefore represent another area in which critics have differing opinions, with the scale of the composition receiving appreciation but its overall impact remaining a point of debate.
Overall, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend has received appreciation for its enormous production scale, visual effects and Yash’s portrayal of Ravana. However, its storytelling, pacing and emotional depth have divided critics. While some reviewers believe Nitesh Tiwari has delivered an impressive theatrical spectacle, others feel the film’s visual grandeur comes at the expense of the characters and relationships that make the epic meaningful.
The critical response suggests that the film’s technical ambition has made a strong impression, but its ability to capture the emotional and philosophical depth of the Ramayana remains contested. Its performances and visual presentation have emerged as major strengths, while the screenplay’s treatment of relationships, character development and key episodes continues to draw criticism.
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Film Details: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend
- Release Date: November 5, 2026
- Director: Nitesh Tiwari
- Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Arun Govil and Lara Dutta
- Music: Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman
- Runtime: 195 minutes
- Genre: Mythological Epic, Action and Drama