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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD JULY 11, 2025 | The Indian Eye 38

‘Ramayana’: A Visual Odyssey

Forged in Fire and Faith

With a star-studded cast, groundbreaking VFX, and Namit Malhotra’s global vision,

Ramayana is shaping up to be India’s most ambitious cinematic retelling of its sacred epic

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Mumbai
hen the first teaser of Ramayana dropped
this week, it wasn’t just another film pro-
Wmo — it was the unveiling of a dream a
decade in the making. Directed by Dangal and Ch-
hichhore helmer Nitesh Tiwari, produced by Namit
Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios, and co-powered
by the VFX behemoth DNEG, this reimagining of
India’s grandest epic promises to be a visual and
emotional spectacle like no other.
In just a minute of screen time, the teaser in-
troduces a mythic world teetering between dark-
ness and dharma. But it’s not just the content —
it’s the scale. From the stirring opening visuals of a
shattered cosmos to the haunting presence of Rav-
ana, the epicness is undeniable. Already touted as
India’s costliest film ever, Ramayana is a project
where every frame feels like it’s been forged in fire,
faith, and an unwavering belief in the power of sto-
rytelling.
The teaser showcases a dazzling cinematic
canvas. It opens to a stylized, darkly poetic portray-
al of Lanka’s rise — a world of smoke, steel, and to tap into a darker, layered interpretation of the for a global audience. Director Nitesh Tiwari puts
shadows where Yash’s Ravana takes shape. This demon king, one that blends grandeur with a tragic it simply: “This is more than a film. It is a vision.”
is no ordinary villain; he’s wrath born of rejection, edge. His focus, he says, is not just on action or visuals,
towering and tragic, rendered with digital preci- Sai Pallavi’s ethereal presence as Sita adds but on “evoking pride and emotion in India’s cul-
sion and emotional depth. Opposite him stands grace to the frame, while Ravie Dubey’s Lakshman tural heritage.”
Ranbir Kapoor as Ram — calm, luminous, and full and Sunny Deol’s Hanuman — a surprise casting That sentiment is already echoing across the
of grace, framed against sweeping celestial vistas choice — bring gravitas and physicality to the en- digital space. Fans and celebrities alike have re-
and ancient forest battlegrounds. semble. It’s a cast that merges Bollywood royalty sponded with excitement. Alia Bhatt, posting the
From cosmic battles to intimate moments, the with pan-Indian powerhouses, designed not just teaser, said, “This feels like the start of something
VFX is nothing short of stunning. With the collab- for star appeal but for resonance across audiences. unforgettable.” Filmmaker Karan Johar called it
oration of DNEG, the studio behind Dune, Tenet, The real architect of this visual pilgrimage, “UNREAL” and hailed it as a “mega blockbuster
and Blade Runner 2049, the film doesn’t just de- however, is Namit Malhotra. CEO of Prime Focus in the making.”
pict a myth — it brings it alive with immersive real- and founder of the Oscar-winning DNEG, Malho- Indeed, from the earliest glimpses, it’s clear
ism. Choreographed by Hollywood’s finest action tra has long dreamt of bringing India’s most sacred that Ramayana isn’t aiming to merely entertain
directors, including Terry Notary (Avengers, Plan- narrative to the global stage. With Ramayana, he — it aims to transcend. The film’s themes of love,
et of the Apes) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury calls it not just a film, but a “cultural movement.” duty, sacrifice, and cosmic justice are timeless, and
Road), the film is being designed for an IMAX “This has been a very long dream that we have the creative team is treating them with reverence
experience that promises to envelop viewers in an put our heart, soul, life into,” Malhotra said at the and scale worthy of the original scripture.
ancient world brought to life through cutting-edge teaser launch. “We will leave no stone unturned Part 1 of Ramayana is slated for a Diwali 2026
technology. to deliver the very best. The only aspiration is — release, with Part 2 to follow in 2027. By then, the
If the visual grammar of Ramayana is ground- how do we take the greatest part of our history and Indian film industry may have a new benchmark —
breaking, the casting is equally arresting. Ranbir share it with the world?” not just in box office numbers, but in cultural im-
Kapoor’s transformation into Lord Ram has al- He’s done just that by assembling an interna- pact.
ready drawn applause for its quiet intensity. The tional team of creatives. From production design- In an era dominated by superhero sagas and
teaser gives just a glimpse — but that glimpse is ers behind Tomorrowland and Captain America fantasy franchises, Ramayana arrives as India’s
enough to signal a portrayal steeped in restraint to the hauntingly beautiful score composed by AR cinematic answer — a story as old as time, retold
and inner strength. Rahman and Hans Zimmer — the union of East with the power of modern imagination. It is, in the
Playing Ravana is Kannada superstar Yash, and West is deliberate, elegant, and visionary. words of Namit Malhotra, “our truth, our history,”
whose menacing presence dominates the screen. Set 5,000 years ago, Ramayana isn’t merely a now cast in light, pixels, and passion for the world
Charismatic yet chilling, his performance appears myth retold — it’s a civilizational epic reimagined to witness.

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