Ramayan (2026) – Masterpiece or Overproduced B-Movie?

With a massive budget, a star-studded cast, and dazzling visuals, the film ‘Ramayana’, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, has been a subject of much discussion even before its release. However, following its premiere in Los Angeles, the film has drawn a mixed response from critics.

While some have praised its visual scale and production, others have raised concerns regarding a weak narrative, excessive runtime, and the quality of the performances. Opinions range from hailing it as an "epic masterpiece" to dismissing it as an overly ostentatious "B-grade" film. 

International reception: A "B-grade" verdict
Although some Indian media outlets have lauded the film’s visual effects, sets, and costume design, international reviewers were more mixed when it came to the reception. American film critic Brandon Zachary, for instance, gave it a 7 out of 10, while the international film criticism site ‘IndieWire’ assigned it a "B" grade, a rating that suggests a position somewhere between good and mediocre.

Furthermore, several critics have taken issue with the film’s three-hour length and the way the story was stretched as a result. ‘NYC Movie Guru’ described the film as "overlong, messy, tedious, emotionless, and poorly acted," with reviewer Avi Offer labeling it an "overly flashy B-grade movie."

Meanwhile, Giovanni Lago of ‘Next Best Picture’ suggested that the story might have had a better presentation had it been developed as a series, akin to ‘Game of Thrones’.

A "masterpiece" in the eyes of local critics
In contrast, Indian film critic Taran Adarsh offers a completely different perspective. In his review, he describes ‘Ramayana’ as "extraordinary" and "captivating," awarding it a perfect 5 out of 5. According to him, such a grand-scale production has never been seen before on the Indian screen. Along with the visuals, emotions, music, and the overall scale of the production, the critic also praised Nitesh Tiwari’s screenplay. Special mention was made of the performances by Ranbir, Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Ravi Dubey; the background score by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer; and the visual effects by DNEG. In the critic’s words, ‘Ramayana’ is not just a film, it is an experience.

However, some netizens have dismissed this review, labeling it a "paid review."

A 4,000-Crore ‘Ramayana’
In terms of budget, ‘Ramayana’ has secured a significant place in the history of Indian cinema. Actor and co-producer Yash revealed that the total budget for the project, covering production, promotion, and post-production for both parts, is Rs. 4,000 crore.

The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The first part is scheduled for a global release on November 5, while the second part is planned for release during Diwali 2027. In India, the film will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, including an IMAX version.

-    NS