Rabat – What happens when one of the oldest stories in Indian culture meets modern cinema, Hollywood-level visual effects, and some of India’s biggest stars? The answer is “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend”, a new film that brings one of Hinduism’s most famous epics to the big screen.
The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and has opened in cinemas around the world and arrives in Moroccan cinemas tomorrow, on November 6.
The movie stands as India’s most expensive film production to date, with a reported budget of $500 million for its two planned parts.
Plot
At the heart of the film lies the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of Prince Rama, a figure known for his courage, loyalty, and sense of duty.
Ranbir Kapoor takes on the role of Lord Ram, the prince of Ayodhya. His life changes when his family sends him into exile for 14 years. His wife, Sita, played by Sai Pallavi, and his brother Lakshmana, played by Ravi Dubey, join him in the forest.
Meanwhile, political conflict grows inside the kingdom. Rama’s stepmother wants her own son to take the throne, forcing the prince to leave his home despite his father’s love for him.
After Sita’s kidnapping, Rama faces a difficult journey that will lead to a major battle between the two rulers.
The story then takes another turn when Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka, played by Yash, enters the picture.
The film’s first part builds the story towards this conflict, while the second part will show the epic battle and is expected to arrive next year.
The cast and production
In an interview with ITV News, Ranbir Kapoor spoke about the pressure of playing a character worshipped by millions of people. However, he later described the role as an opportunity of a lifetime.
“I always knew that ‘Ramayana’ was about good versus evil. But the movie gave me an opportunity to understand its philosophy and dive deeper into who ‘Ram’ was as a human being.”
Sai Pallavi also spoke to the BBC about the personal and spiritual side of playing Sita, explaining that the experience helped her grow beyond her work as an actress.
The film brings together several well-known Indian actors alongside Kapoor, Pallavi and Yash. The cast includes Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva and Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha.
Behind the scenes, producer Namit Malhotra leads DNEG, the visual-effects company behind Hollywood films such as “Dune” and “Interstellar.”
For the music, Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman joins German composer Hans Zimmer, known for his work on “Gladiator,” “The Dark Knight” and “Dune.”
What do critics think?
Early reviews show that the film has impressed many critics.
Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times gave the film four stars. He commended the acting and visual effects, saying the production’s huge budget clearly appears on screen. However, he felt that the first half moved too slowly and that the music did not always meet expectations.
Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express said she gradually became more impressed. She described it as a “perfect epic” and praised its mix of adventure, magic and action.
International critics also offered positive reactions. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian awarded the film four stars and called it a “thoroughly engaging, rousing and spectacular Indian epic melodrama”.
He compared parts of its story to Shakespeare’s royal dramas and Homer’s adventures. He also saw similarities with “The Lord of the Rings” and Disney’s “The Lion King,” especially in its landscapes and fantasy scenes.
However, Giovanni Lago of Next Best Picture was less convinced. While he praised Yash’s performance as Ravana and the music by Rahman and Zimmer, he felt that the story might have worked better as a television series, similar to “Game of Thrones.”