Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's Ramayana opens to divided audience response

After months of waiting, Nitesh Tiwari's film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend was released in theatres on November 5. The film brings one of the country's best-known epics to the big screen on a grand scale. It has set off considerable discussion among audiences who attended preview screenings and first-day shows.

Ranbir Kapoor plays Ram, Sai Pallavi is Sita, Yash plays Ravana and Ravie Dubey is Lakshman. Kunal Kapoor and Sunny Deol are also in the cast.

In early reactions, most viewers have praised the film's visual grandeur. Many described it as a big-screen spectacle. According to them, the visual effects, the large sequences and the performances stood out in particular. Yash's portrayal of Ravana has drawn attention. Ranbir's performance and the emotional moments between Ram and Sita have also been well received.

However, opinion is not uniform. Some viewers pointed to the film's uneven pace. They said the film is quite long and that parts of the storytelling could have been tighter. The music and some action sequences have also been criticised. This suggests that the film's grandeur does not always translate into an equally powerful storytelling experience.

In his review published before the release, international critic Peter Bradshaw called the film an intriguing and splendid epic. He praised its visual scale and storytelling. Amid the mixed audience response, his assessment offers a more positive view.

The music is by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. The film is the first instalment of a plan to make it in two parts. All eyes will now be on whether audiences feel this ambitious production lives up to the expectations of one of Indian cinema's most awaited projects.