Ramayana: Part One, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, held its world premiere at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles on October 27, 2026, ahead of its theatrical release on November 5. Early reactions from the screening describe a visually ambitious epic that delivers on scale and features a standout performance from Yash as Ravana, while raising questions about its narrative depth and pacing.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey appears as Lakshman. The supporting cast includes Lara Dutta, Sheeba Chadha, Kunal Kapoor, Shobhana, Rakul Preet Singh, and Anupam Kher. Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman scored the music.
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A Visual Spectacle on an Unprecedented Scale
The most consistent point of praise across early reactions is the film’s visual ambition. Reviewing channel Its Cinema rated the film 4.5 out of 5 and called it an ‘EPIC BLOCKBUSTER.’ It wrote, ‘A grand spectacle with breathtaking visuals. Sure-shot BLOCKBUSTER’.
Several viewers compared the experience to The Lord of the Rings. One attendee wrote on X, ‘There is nothing like Ramayana in the cinematic universe.’ The same viewer added, ‘I haven’t felt like this since the very first Lord Of the Rings movie came out’. Reviewer Rama’s Screen called it ‘one of this year’s most immersive cinematic experiences’.
Yash’s Ravana Emerges as the Film’s Biggest Highlight
While Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Rama drew praise as ‘sublime’ and ‘graceful & divine,’ Yash’s Ravana was repeatedly singled out as the film’s most commanding presence. News18 reported that Yash’s portrayal of Ravana emerged as a major talking point, with one reviewer stating that Ranbir ‘did a good work’ while ‘Yash dominated’ the film.
Film critic Venky Reviews offered a more measured view of the leads. The reviewer wrote that Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi are ‘solid as Ram and Sita, though the divine aura and emotional weight don’t always fully translate on screen’. Another viewer noted that scenes featuring Ranbir as Rama prompted whistles and cheers from the audience.
Storytelling and Pacing Draw Criticism
Not all reactions were positive. Several viewers noted that the film prioritises spectacle over emotional storytelling. Venky Reviews wrote that the second half ‘drags in places’ due to lengthy action sequences. One critique suggested the narrative sometimes feels ‘flat’ or ‘serial-like’.
Next Best Picture said the film feels ‘so stuffed at times that it might’ve needed a Game of Thrones-level television adaptation to flesh out its narrative fully’. Screen Rant offered a mixed assessment, calling it ‘an impressive cinematic achievement’ on a technical level while acknowledging the film’s shortcomings.
IGN was among the harshest voices, describing the film as a ‘robotic adaptation’ that ‘briefly threatens to interrogate the several millennia-old text of the title before locking itself into a didactic approach’. NYC Movie Guru called it ‘bloated, clunky, exhausting, emotionally hollow and poorly acted’.
Music and Technical Execution Divide Viewers
The score by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer drew particular scrutiny. Venky Reviews wrote, ‘The Indian-Hollywood blend largely backfires and ends up feeling like neither’. Other viewers described the music as the ‘biggest letdown,’ noting that it often felt disconnected from the scenes it was intended to underscore.
Visual effects received mixed observations. While the overall scale was praised, some viewers pointed out that certain sequences retained a ‘studio’ or ‘green screen’ aesthetic, with some character designs for the asuras appearing cartoonish.
Sai Pallavi’s Premiere Remarks Spark Debate
At the premiere, Sai Pallavi shared her perspective on the film’s themes. She said, ‘Ravana is not all bad. And it’s important that we spot the Ravana in us, and we make changes over time’. The comment divided users on social media. One user wrote on X, ‘A woman praising her abductor.’ Another wrote, ‘There are certain places who does worship Ravana and does not burn Ravana’s effigy’.
Strong Advance Bookings Point to a Massive Opening
Trade tracking data indicates significant commercial momentum ahead of release. As of October 31, the film had recorded ₹44.11 crore in worldwide advance bookings. Domestic bookings reached ₹19.61 crore gross, while overseas markets contributed ₹24.50 crore. North America led international sales with $1.91 million.
The Hindi version accounted for 83 percent of domestic advance sales, with Karnataka leading state-level collections at ₹3.89 crore, followed by Maharashtra at ₹3.85 crore. The Indian Express reported that the worldwide gross collection on opening day is expected to be around ₹200 crore.
The film has a runtime of 195 minutes and received a U certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification without any cuts. It is releasing across more than 100 countries, with Sony Pictures handling international distribution and Dharma Productions distributing domestically.
As of October 31, 2026, Ramayana: Part One remains on track for its November 5 theatrical debut. The second instalment is planned for 2028.