Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana Part 1 arrived in cinemas worldwide on November 5, 2026, just ahead of Diwali. The wait has been long and widely discussed. First announced in May 2017, the film was shot between April 2024 and July 2025 and billed as the most expensive Indian film ever made. That is a lot of expectation to carry. Does the finished film justify the noise?
What Part 1 Covers, and Where It Stops
Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana, the screenplay comes from Shridhar Raghavan and Nitesh Tiwari. The story follows Rama from his early years, including training under sage Vishvamitra and killing the demoness Tataka. In Mithila, he strings Shiva’s bow at Sita’s swayamvara.
The story then turns towards exile. Kaikeyi makes her demand, and Rama leaves for the Dandaka forest for 14 years, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana. Later, Ravana uses the golden deer and Maricha’s deception to abduct Sita. Rama and Lakshmana set out to find her.
One review says the film opens with Ravana’s mother Kaikasi and gives unusual attention to Vidyutjihva, Shurpanakha’s husband. Part 2 is due on Diwali 2027.
Ramayana Part 1 Cast: Who Plays Whom
Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama and also takes the role of Parashurama. Sai Pallavi makes her Hindi film debut as Sita, while Yash makes his as Ravana. Yash is also a co-producer through Monster Mind Creations.
Ravi Dubey, known from television, makes his film debut as Lakshmana. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, though he is absent from the trailer. One review says the story ends before Hanuman appears. Arun Govil, who played Rama in the 1987 TV Ramayan, now plays Dasharatha.
The supporting cast includes Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha and Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva. Anupam Kher voices Jatayu. Shobana plays Kaikasi, while Kunal Kapoor appears as Indra.
The Money and the Machinery
Producer Namit Malhotra has put the budget for both parts at around Rs 4,000 crore, or about $500 million combined. The scale has demanded a large technical team. VFX work comes from DNEG, the Oscar-winning studio behind Dune, Inception and Interstellar. DNEG is also a co-producer.
The film is produced by Prime Focus Studios, DNEG and Monster Mind Creations. Action director Terry Notary, whose credits include Avatar and Avengers: Endgame, worked alongside stunt director Guy Norris, known for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Dharma handles distribution in India for the Hindi version. Sony Pictures is handling international distribution. That gives the release a reach to match its budget.
The Zimmer and Rahman Score
Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman composed the score together, marking Zimmer’s full debut in Indian cinema. Rahman brought Sanskrit verses into Zimmer’s thematic soundscapes, giving the music a link to the story’s roots. Poet Kumar Vishwas wrote the lyrics.
The song “Jai Jai Ram” features the voices of Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh. It is a striking pairing on paper, though the film’s score will have to carry its weight across a runtime of more than three hours.
What Critics Are Saying
The initial opinion is mixed to positive. The visuals and the sheer scale have been well received, but the length and emotional shortcomings of the film have been questioned.
It has a 195 minutes long run-time, but The National in the UAE claims the movie keeps the audience engaged throughout. The review commends the cinematography and music. But there are some crowd effects in Lanka which don’t fit in with the rest of the scenes.
Gulte gives the movie 3/5. There is mention of Yash’s screen presence, and the international standard visuals. The problem? Abrupt cuts in the first half.
AP7AM goes lower with 2.75/5. It has two scenes that stand out in its review: Ravana’s arrival in the Pushpaka Vimana and Jatayu’s attempt to stop Ravana. Both are visually spectacular, but the emotional impact is less as per the publication.
Before You Book
Three hours and a quarter is a long movie. The Indian release will be around 195 minutes long, so be prepared for a long day. It is available in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. IMAX screenings will be held and the movie will also be the first Indian release in the ScreenX format. Pick your preferred experience, but don’t schedule anything immediately afterwards.
Conclusion
The movie ends at Sita’s abduction. That’s the one thing to keep in mind before purchasing a ticket. Ramayana Part 1 leaves Hanuman in the wings and the war yet to begin. The big story has just started.
If you were going for the big visuals, the wait might be worth it. If you’re looking for the full epic experience, you’ll have to make a different deal. The part 2 is expected to release in Diwali 2027, so the resolution of the story is still a year off.
Saurabh Jha is an Entertainment Journalist and Pop Culture Analyst with over 5 years of experience tracking Bollywood, OTT, and Hollywood trends. He specializes in film reviews, box office tracking, and exclusive entertainment break-downs. His deep industry insights have featured in leading digital publications.
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