Some films arrive with a lot of weight on their shoulders. Ramayana: Part 1 is one of them. It retells a story that millions of people grew up with, and it’s finally in theaters. Here’s a simple breakdown: what the film is, who’s in it, what the story means, and whether it’s worth your ticket money.
Movie details
- Film: Ramayana: Part 1, also titled “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” hollywoodreporterindia
- Director: Nitesh Tiwari, with Namit Malhotra producing riteme
- Release date: November 5, 2026, just ahead of Diwali esquireindia
- Runtime: 195 minutes, so settle in esquireindia
- Languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada freepressjournal
- Source: based on the Ramayana by sage Valmiki riteme
Cast
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman deccanchronicle
It’s also a two-part story. The first part was set for 2026 and the second for 2027, so this is only the beginning. freepressjournal
The story, explained (no spoilers)
If you didn’t grow up with the Ramayana, here’s the short version. Prince Rama is the heir to the kingdom of Ayodhya, but he’s sent into exile for fourteen years. His wife Sita and his brother Lakshman go with him. Later, the demon king Ravana kidnaps Sita, and Rama sets out to bring her back with the help of Hanuman and an army of allies.
Underneath the battles, it’s a story about duty, sacrifice, loyalty and what it costs to do the right thing. That’s why it has been retold in so many forms for so long.
I couldn’t verify exactly how far Part 1 goes into the story, and I’d rather not guess. You’ll be able to say more about where it ends once you’ve seen it.
What people are saying (the review part)
The good
- Most critics have been positive. The reviews are described as mostly positive, mainly because of the spectacular visuals and scale. boxofficecollection
- Bollywood Hungama called it magnificent and said it’s not just a film but an experience. bollywoodhungama
- Early audience reactions were warm too. The first early review praised its emotional storytelling. sacnilk
The not-so-good
- Fans noticed something in the trailer. Viewers praised its scale but kept asking where Hanuman was. khaleejtimes
- Some people wanted a bigger opening. It reportedly didn’t beat the Day 1 numbers of Adipurush (₹86.75 crore), Jawan or Dhurandhar 2. Opening-day numbers don’t decide whether a film is good, though. outlookindia
Box office so far
- Trade tracker Sacnilk reports ₹64.85 crore net in India on Day 1, and a worldwide gross of ₹127.50 crore. indiatvnews
- Numbers are still being updated, so check again before you publish.
My verdict
(Write this part yourself after watching. A few ideas: What was your favorite scene? Did Ranbir feel like Rama to you? Was Yash a scary Ravana? Was 195 minutes too long? Then give it a score, like 3.5/5.)
Should you watch it? If you love big-screen spectacle and this story means something to you, the early response says it’s worth seeing in a theater, ideally in IMAX or 3D. If you prefer fast, light films, the long runtime might test your patience.