The Ramayan on Screen: A New Hope or Another Heartbreak?

Well, here we are again, aren’t we? The mere mention of ‘Ramayan’ and ‘film adaptation’ in the same sentence can send shivers down the spine of any Indian audience member these days. It’s almost like a collective trauma, a PTSD from past cinematic attempts that linger in our memories. But, you know, there’s a new buzz in the air, a whisper of a grand new project that promises to do justice to this timeless epic. Could this be it? Could this be the one that finally gets it right, or are we just setting ourselves up for another disappointment?

The Shadow of Adi Purush

Let’s be honest, the ghost of Adi Purush still haunts us. Many of us, optimists that we are, flocked to theaters on June 16, 2023, hoping for an immersive experience, a proud cinematic moment for our nation. The makers, they were quite vocal, weren’t they? Touted as a pan-Indian project, promising to honor the sacred text, with claims of heart and soul poured into every detail. What we received, though, felt like a poor excuse for a film. It seemed like a filmmaker riding on the coattails of a previous success, a writer perhaps a bit too full of himself, and a final product that was, frankly, abysmal from both a narrative and technical standpoint. For many, it wasn’t just a bad movie; it felt like a scam. It genuinely made audiences question whether Hindi cinema could ever deliver an epic that would both evoke the nostalgia of beloved TV series and stand as a technical spectacle for a global audience.

• The Promise: A pan-Indian project, honoring sacred texts, with immense effort and detailing.
• The Reality: A film perceived as a poor excuse, lacking in writing and technical execution.
• The Impact: Led to a loss of faith in Hindi cinema’s ability to produce epic, technically sound adaptations.

Remembering the Classics: What Worked Before?

It’s worth reflecting on why previous renditions, particularly the old Ramayan TV show, held such a special place in our hearts. Even a new generation, introduced to it during the pandemic, seemed to overlook its dated special effects and set work. Why? Because the writing and acting performances were so incredibly sincere and effective. They resonated. And then, there was that Indo-Japanese anime. Who would have thought that a slick, intricately detailed world of Ramayan would be cemented by an anime? The reruns on Doordarshan and Cartoon Network were a staple for over a decade. It’s almost ironic, isn’t it? The makers of Adi Purush, Om Raut and Manoj Muntashir, spoke in interviews about how a generation is obsessed with superhero films, and how their version aimed to make these revered figures accessible to younger audiences. But, and this is a big ‘but,’ that had already been done, quite successfully, nearly 30 years ago. Sometimes, the past holds the answers we’re desperately searching for in the future.

• TV Show Success: Sincere writing and effective acting overshadowed dated special effects.
• Anime’s Impact: An Indo-Japanese anime provided a cool, slick, and intricate portrayal of the Ramayan world.
• Missed Lesson: The idea of making revered figures accessible to younger generations was already achieved decades ago.

A Glimmer of Hope: The New Ramayan Project

So, when the news broke about a new iteration of the Ramayan, with DNEG and Namit Malhotra at the helm—the very same Namit Malhotra responsible for the visual effects in blockbusters like Dune, Brahmastra, and Godzilla vs. Kong—people were understandably curious. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, yet, quite justifiably, a healthy dose of skepticism lingered. The recent title announcement and brief introduction, released on July 3rd, has certainly generated a lot of buzz. My own excitement, I must confess, isn’t just about the sheer scale being attempted, but also what feels like a more focused approach.

This film isn’t just throwing money at the screen; it’s investing heavily, yes, but also planning to be dubbed in several major global languages. And here’s where it gets interesting: they’re reportedly using AI tools for dubbing, aiming for a seamless experience whether you’re watching in Hindi, Mandarin, or Japanese. This is a far cry from the often awkward, misplaced dubbing we see in many pan-Indian films today. What’s truly impressive is the production timeline. With a Diwali 2026 release scheduled, part one’s shooting is complete, and part two is set to begin this year. In an industry often plagued by severe delays, which can frankly cause more problems for the final product, it seems these makers have a laser-focused approach to streamlining production and maintaining a clear release timeline. They seem to understand that pre and post-production for such a monumental project will be extensive, and they are planning accordingly.

• New Team: DNEG and Namit Malhotra (known for visual effects in major Hollywood and Indian films) are involved.
• Global Ambition: Heavy financial investment and plans for global dubbing using AI tools for seamless integration.
• Streamlined Production: A clear release timeline for Diwali 2026, with shooting for Part 1 complete and Part 2 beginning soon.

The First Glimpse: Sound, Vision, and Skepticism

Let’s talk about that first glimpse, shall we? And let’s be absolutely unfiltered. It felt like assembling the Avengers, especially when you consider bringing the expertise of AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer together for this epic. The score was immediately captivating; it just pulls you in, making you anticipate the grand scale the makers are attempting. The introduction itself reminded me a bit of Dharma Productions’ early marketing for Brahmastra, where Ayan Mukerji would explain the world we were about to enter. Thankfully, with Ramayan, we don’t need a director to explain the stakes. It’s the greatest story ever told, after all. The narrative isn’t spoon-fed to us; instead, it beautifully showcases visuals of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiv—the trinity that rules the three worlds.

When you hear phrases like “the war that ends all wars began,” it absolutely needs a score that makes you feel the immense stakes. And that’s precisely what the glimpse achieved. You see figures squaring off, the battle between good and evil represented through their primary colors, fitting their personalities perfectly. Lord Ram, calm; Raavan, filled with anger. When the score transitions to the lyrics of “Dherti Umber,” I kid you not, goosebumps. An epic score and song, created by maestros. This album, I think, could be truly special. I’ll be honest, I was a little skeptical about AR Rahman lately, especially with some of his recent work that felt, well, a bit too zany or abrupt for the themes of the films. But I really hope he’s putting his best foot forward here, and that he and Hans Zimmer are cooking up something truly spectacular.

• Musical Maestros: Collaboration of AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer for the score and songs.
• Visual Storytelling: The glimpse uses visuals of the Hindu trinity and contrasting figures to convey stakes without spoon-feeding.
• Impactful Score: The music, especially the “Dherti Umber” lyrics, evokes a sense of grandeur and high stakes.

The Star-Studded Cast and Visuals

The makers certainly haven’t held back in assembling a cast that has the entire country buzzing. You have Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, the incredibly popular Sai Pallavi as Ma Sita, and one of the country’s biggest stars, Yash, playing Raavan. The supporting cast is also packed with talent that will undoubtedly leave an impression. Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, and even Arun Govil, the beloved Lord Ram from the classic TV serial, returning to play King Dashrat. Indra Krishna as Matak Kaushalya, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh presumably as Surpanakha, and interestingly, Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra. It’s a star-studded, yet varied, cast, which seems to suggest that the makers aren’t just chasing popularity but also striving for appropriate casting.

I was particularly curious if this 3-minute glimpse would actually show us visuals from the film, and it genuinely looks spectacular. Perhaps we suffer from such severe PTSD from Adi Purush and the absolute mess of its first teaser that we approach any new Ramayan project with extreme caution, even with DNEG and Nitesh Tiwari at the helm. But seeing Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram attacking with his bow and arrow, and Yash as Raavan, looking almost in disguise—presumably at the point of abducting Ma Sita—it truly convinced me that this project might just be in safe hands. While Sridhar Raghavan, the writer, has had his ups and downs with dialogue, I sincerely hope he brings his A-game to this film, especially given Manoj Muntashir’s abysmal writing in Adi Purush, which is still vivid in everyone’s memory.

• Main Cast: Ranbir Kapoor (Lord Ram), Sai Pallavi (Ma Sita), Yash (Raavan).
• Supporting Cast: Sunny Deol (Lord Hanuman), Ravi Dubey (Lakshman), Arun Govil (King Dashrat), and more.
• Visual Promise: The glimpse showcases spectacular visuals, instilling confidence after past disappointments.

The Trilogy Plan: A Lord of the Rings Ambition?

A trilogy is being planned, which immediately makes one assume that the first part will focus on establishing Ayodhya, the family dynamics, the order of the chausal vanvas (exile), and will likely conclude with Sita’s abduction. The second part, one might imagine, would then delve into Ram and Lakshman’s pursuit, the formation of the army to Lanka. And the grand conclusion of the trilogy? That would surely be the long, drawn-out battle, perhaps aiming for something akin to the scale and intensity of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. At least, that seems to be the ambition.

What’s really important to acknowledge here are the several stories within the Ramayan that are often left untold in different renditions. So, for those who might assume that a trilogy is too stretched, or that the material is too dense to be effective over three movies, consider this: people had similar concerns with the narrative of Adi Purush, feeling it was far too big to be reduced to a mere feature film. This venture, this new Ramayan trilogy, has so much riding on it. I, for one, am genuinely excited. I truly hope they pull it off, and that this becomes a global blockbuster, allowing an international audience to truly experience this epic tale.

• Trilogy Structure: Part 1 (Ayodhya, exile, Sita’s abduction), Part 2 (Ram and Lakshman’s pursuit, army formation), Part 3 (The grand battle).
• Untold Stories: The trilogy format may allow for a more comprehensive telling of often-skipped narratives.
• High Stakes: The project carries significant expectations, with hopes of becoming a global blockbuster.