Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ramayan' draws criticism over portrayal of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Shurpanakha

Ranbir Kapoor's film 'Ramayan' has been released and theatres are seeing heavy crowds. The film has also earned well. However, it is not easy to fit a subject as grand as the Ramayana into a three-hour film. Conveying emotion, the dignity of characters and the mythological era on the big screen is a difficult task.

In some places the producers and director have succeeded, but in others they have made serious mistakes. Views are being expressed that elements tied to the soul of the original story have disappeared from the film. Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi play the lead roles.

In many places it appears that important parts of the story have been given up in the pursuit of CGI and visuals. The faces and looks of many characters suggest that technology has been used more than necessary. Some characters look like cartoons, while in others the expressions and dialogue do not match.

The first flaw is Ravana. In the Ramayana, Ravana is not only a powerful king and villain but also a devoted devotee of Mahadev (Shiva). He is regarded as a king who performed severe penance to Mahadev and worshipped with total dedication. The film does not show this side at all. Brahma and Vishnu appear, but the bond between Ravana and Mahadev is not presented as effectively as it should be. Devotion to Mahadev was the biggest part of Ravana's life, and its absence from the film is being called a big mistake.

The second is Kumbhakarna, played by Faisal Malik. His look seems comic rather than serious, as if one were watching a cartoon in the form of Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna was a towering and imposing figure in the Ramayana, and that impact is not seen in the film. It has been said that characters in a mythological film should feel alive, and even a small role should be done justice.

The third is the fight in the forest. Ram, Sita and Lakshman are shown fighting demons in the forest, but the scene falls flat. The three characters are seen running through the forest with an army of demons coming after them. The action scene lacks realism. The look of the demons and the fight with them seem fake, and the scene has become laughable. A battle scene should create fear and thrill, but here the artificiality of the CGI shows.

The fourth is Dasharatha's queens. Apart from Kaikeyi, all the other queens have been neglected in the film. They get no significant dialogue or roles. They are only seen smiling on screen. It seems they are there merely to show the grandeur of the royal palace. Their personalities and emotions should have been shown, but this was overlooked.

The fifth is Shurpanakha, played by Rakul Preet. Her look and presence are jarring. Instead of being shown as a demoness, Shurpanakha is portrayed mostly in a glamorous style. Her demonic form is not seen anywhere in the film, and she looks like a glam doll. Shurpanakha is the cause of everything that happened in the Ramayana, so her character is extremely important, but it has not been shown as effectively as it should be.

On the whole, many feel that the film is earning well but has lost the spirit of the original Ramayana.