Ramayana Part 1 Review: Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Impress, Ravana Steals the Spotlight
Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, arrived in theatres worldwide on November 5, 2026. Bringing one of India’s most celebrated epics to the big screen, the film combines grand visuals, powerful performances and an ambitious retelling of the Ramayana.
While Ranbir Kapoor takes on the challenging role of Lord Ram, Yash portrays the mighty Ravana. Early reviews and audience reactions have particularly highlighted Yash’s commanding screen presence, with several viewers describing his portrayal of Ravana as one of the film’s biggest attractions.
Yash as Ravana Steals the Spotlight
One of the strongest talking points surrounding Ramayana: Part 1 is Yash’s portrayal of Ravana.
Known for his powerful screen presence, Yash brings intensity, confidence and charisma to the character. His performance reportedly stands out in several important sequences, particularly the dramatic moments involving Ravana and the film’s action sequences.
A review published by Rediff described Yash’s Ravana as the film’s most engaging character, suggesting that the villain sometimes commands more attention than the central protagonist.
His portrayal adds dramatic energy to the narrative and gives audiences a memorable interpretation of the legendary Lanka ruler.
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram: A Different Performance
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, one of the most revered characters in Indian mythology. The role carries enormous expectations because of the character’s cultural and religious significance.
Ranbir approaches the character with restraint, calmness and dignity. His performance has received appreciation for capturing Ram’s composed personality, although some critics felt that the character lacked emotional intensity in parts of the film.
The Indian Express noted that Ranbir initially appears subdued but becomes more convincing as the story progresses, particularly during the forest sequences.
His portrayal offers a different cinematic interpretation of Lord Ram while maintaining the character’s central qualities of discipline and righteousness.
Sai Pallavi Brings Grace as Sita
Sai Pallavi plays Sita, bringing emotional depth and grace to the character.
Her performance has received positive responses from critics and viewers, particularly for the dignity and strength she brings to the role.
The chemistry between Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi forms an important emotional foundation for the film. Their portrayal helps establish the relationship at the centre of the epic narrative.
Visual Effects, Cinematography and Music
One of the biggest attractions of Ramayana: Part 1 is its large-scale visual presentation.
The film uses extensive visual effects to recreate ancient kingdoms, forests, battle sequences and mythological settings. DNEG’s visual effects work contributes to the film’s ambitious cinematic scale.
The music is another major highlight, with A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer collaborating on the film’s soundtrack and background score.
The combination of Indian musical influences and international cinematic scoring gives the film an expansive soundscape. However, some reviews have noted occasional inconsistencies in the visual effects and emotional flow.
What Critics Are Saying About Ramayana Part 1
Early reviews have been largely positive about the film’s ambition, performances and theatrical scale, although opinions differ on its storytelling and emotional depth.
The Indian Express rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, appreciating its grand presentation while pointing out certain narrative and character-related limitations.
Hindustan Times gave it 4 stars, praising the performances and visual spectacle while noting that the first half moves slowly.
Rediff highlighted Yash’s performance as Ravana, describing him as the film’s standout character.
These reactions suggest that the film’s strongest appeal lies in its visual ambition, memorable performances and larger-than-life interpretation of the epic.
Ramayana Part 1: Final Verdict
Ramayana: Part 1 is an ambitious cinematic adaptation that attempts to bring a familiar Indian epic to a global theatrical audience.
Ranbir Kapoor delivers a restrained interpretation of Lord Ram, while Sai Pallavi adds grace to Sita. However, Yash’s commanding portrayal of Ravana emerges as one of the film’s most talked-about highlights.
The film may not satisfy every viewer equally in terms of storytelling and visual consistency, but its scale, music and performances make it a significant theatrical release.
For audiences interested in Indian mythology, grand cinematic storytelling and powerful screen performances, Ramayana: Part 1 offers an experience worth considering on the big screen.
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