What stands out in this Ramayana review?
- Story and pacing: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend builds toward a major confrontation but saves much of the anticipated action for the next entry.
- Ravana and Ram: Yash gives Ravana a forceful screen presence, while the review finds Ranbir Kapoor’s Ram less compelling.
- Visual effects: The film’s effects vary between photorealistic imagery and awkward green-screen work.
- Viewing format: The Hindi 3D version includes 30 minutes of additional footage, but its dimmer image makes some night scenes difficult to see.
PLOT: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend follows a young prince and princess whose marriage and subsequent exile begin a legendary journey. Their story of love, duty and destiny sets the stage for greater challenges ahead.
What is the story and pacing of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend?
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend follows Ravana as he takes control of the three worlds after becoming nearly invincible, while Prince Ram begins to attract attention after going into exile with his wife and brother. The story builds toward a battle between the two, but this review finds its traditional structure predictable and its pacing uneven.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend builds toward a confrontation between Ravana and Ram but reserves much of the expected payoff for its next entry.
REVIEW: Since RRR reached cinemas in 2022, it has seemed as though Bollywood films have begun making a greater impact in the US market. New Indian films with elaborate computer-generated imagery (CGI) and expansive plots have since appeared in cinemas. My knowledge of Indian cinema is limited, so I’m judging Ramayana: Rise of a Legend as entertainment without background knowledge of the mythology. That perspective shapes this review.
Ravana has one weakness despite his near-invincibility: he can be killed by a human. When Prince Ram begins making a name for himself after being exiled with his wife and brother, the story signals that their paths will cross in battle. The plot follows a familiar epic structure, and its large scale does not prevent it from feeling predictable.
The pacing shifts between rapid stretches and prolonged pauses, making the journey to the central confrontation feel drawn out. The film leads toward a major battle, then leaves much of the anticipated action for the next entry.
How do Yash and Ranbir Kapoor compare as Ravana and Ram?
Yash’s Ravana is presented as an exceptionally powerful antagonist, while Ranbir Kapoor’s Ram is portrayed as a similarly capable hero. This review finds Yash more commanding and Kapoor less distinctive in the role.
Yash’s screen presence gives Ravana a forceful impact, while the review sees less contrast in Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Ram.
The opening shows Ravana defeating an entire army alone, establishing his power early. As the story continues, he overcomes obstacles with ease, and his intensity and presence make the film feel less compelling when it shifts focus away from him.
Ram is also able to meet challenges with little difficulty, which makes his journey predictable. In this review, Kapoor’s performance lacks the spark Yash brings to Ravana.
How consistent are the film’s visual effects?
The film’s visual effects range from photorealistic images to awkward green-screen shots. This review also notes that visual effects appear in many scenes, alongside moments that seem to defy physics without being explained by magic.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend uses extensive visual effects, but their consistency varies across the film.
As the most expensive Bollywood film ever made, with both entries reported to cost nearly half a billion dollars, the production sets a high expectation for visual consistency. Some shots look photorealistic, while others reveal conspicuous green-screen work.
The frequent use of computer-generated imagery helps explain the film’s large production scale, but this review feels that the effects sometimes exceed what the production can execute convincingly. The resulting contrast between polished imagery and awkward visuals stands out.
What does the music add to Ramayana?
The score combines musical elements that this review associates with The Mandalorian, Lord of the Rings and Superman. Composers James Newton Howard, Hans Zimmer, A.R. Rahman and Rishab Rikhiram Sharma all contributed to the music.
The Ramayana score uses recurring dramatic cues to emphasize scenes and character introductions.
The music can feel melodramatic when it underlines climaxes and entrances. At times, the score swells so strongly that it shakes the seat, including during quieter moments or in quick succession with similar cues.
How did the audience respond to Lakshman?
The audience at this screening reacted strongly to Ravi Dubey’s Lakshman, often responding enthusiastically to his lines. The difference between that reaction and this reviewer’s response highlights how viewing experience can vary with audience familiarity.
Audience response to Lakshman’s dialogue was one of the most noticeable parts of this screening.
Many of Lakshman’s lines received a large reaction from the predominantly Indian audience, even when they seemed simple to this reviewer. The contrast made the screening feel distinctive and suggested that viewers familiar with Bollywood may respond differently to elements that did not work for this reviewer.
Opinion: The audience’s enthusiasm added an interesting layer to the screening, even though the reviewer did not share the same response to Lakshman’s lines.
Should you watch Ramayana in 3D or in Hindi?
This review watched the Hindi version in 3D, which includes 30 minutes of additional footage. The 3D presentation adds depth but dims the image, making details in some night scenes difficult to see.
Hindi 3D offers additional footage, while the darker image can make nighttime scenes harder to see.
The dubbed version uses AI lip-syncing, which this reviewer found could create an uncanny-valley effect. The 3D presentation also reduced image brightness enough to obscure details in several night scenes.
- Hindi version: Includes 30 minutes of additional footage.
- Dubbed version: Uses AI lip-syncing that may look unnatural.
- 3D presentation: Adds depth but dims the image, particularly affecting visibility in night scenes.
These format differences involve a trade-off: the Hindi 3D version offers additional footage and depth, while the darker picture can make visual details harder to see.
Is Ramayana: Rise of a Legend worth watching?
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend offers an expansive mythological story and an intense Ravana, but this review finds the film overlong, unevenly paced and inconsistent in its visual effects. The reviewer is nevertheless interested in the next entry because it is expected to contain the moments this film builds toward.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is a lengthy, effects-heavy epic that leaves its central confrontation for the next entry.
The film runs for more than three hours, and the reviewer felt that several scenes could be removed without changing the story. That length contributes to the slow pacing, particularly in the second half. The review also finds the plot convoluted and the CGI uneven, while recognizing that the film’s mythological basis may shape its storytelling.
Opinion: The film’s setup leaves the reviewer curious about the follow-up, though more consistent visual effects would improve the experience.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is in theaters on November 6th, 2026.
What should viewers know before watching Ramayana?
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is an epic film about the conflict between Ravana and Prince Ram, and this review focuses on its story, performances, visual effects, music and viewing formats. The Hindi 3D version includes 30 minutes of additional footage, though the 3D image is dimmer.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend combines a mythological story with extensive visual effects and multiple viewing-format trade-offs.
- What is the film about? The story follows Ravana’s rise and the coming conflict with Prince Ram, who is exiled with his wife and brother.
- Who plays Ravana and Ram? Yash plays Ravana, and Ranbir Kapoor plays Ram.
- What is different about the Hindi 3D version? It includes 30 minutes of additional footage, while the 3D presentation dims the image.
- When does the film reach theaters? Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is in theaters on November 6th, 2026.
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