Produced by Namit Malhotra and featuring a star-studded cast, the first part of ‘Ramayana’ has become a major talking point on social media and among audiences. Director Nitesh Tiwari’s attempt to present an epic that blends history and spirituality to the current generation with the help of modern technology has received appreciation from many viewers.
Although the story is familiar to audiences, the way it is narrated makes all the difference. Tiwari appears to have handled this aspect effectively. The film brings several key episodes to life, from Lord Rama’s childhood in Ayodhya and the developments following Kaikeyi’s boons to the forest exile of Rama and Sita. In particular, the major developments before the interval build considerable anticipation for the second part.
Ranbir Kapoor and Yash are the film’s main pillars. Ranbir delivers a performance that captures Rama’s commitment to righteousness, while Yash portrays Ravana’s arrogance and valour in his distinctive style. Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana and Arun Govil as Dasharatha do justice to their respective roles. However, Sita’s character could have been given greater emotional depth. The action sequences set in the forest, along with the visual effects, are likely to appeal to action lovers.
However, the film could have reached another level had it explored more deeply the emotional core of the Ramayana and the psychological conflict between dharma and adharma. At times, the director seems to have given greater importance to visual spectacle than emotional depth. The background score also fails to create the desired impact in a few scenes.