Some right-wing voices are unhappy because the film is a Bollywood production that they believe is anti-India. The opposite wing voices appear more interested in putting down Ramayana as they believe it’s a fictional and regressive story.
There is also a section of Telugu cinema fans comparing Nitesh Tiwari with SS Rajamouli. The possibility of Ramayana earning more than Varanasi has triggered comparisons even before either film reaches theatres. Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal had outgrossed Baahubali 2 worldwide, and now the same debate is resurfacing.
Then there are people who cannot accept the idea of an Indian film matching Hollywood standards. For them, anything coming from Indian cinema is automatically inferior.
Everyone has a different reason to bash Ramayana. But one thing is common: they are constantly talking about it.
Negative publicity is also publicity. The film is already generating massive attention, which could work in its favor. Bollywood’s biggest critic, Taran Adarsh, has given the film a five-star review well ahead of its release. While his reviews may not always match everyone’s opinion of a film, his social media reach is enormous. His early review has also given the film more visibility.
If the content lives up to expectations, Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash could be heading for a record-breaking opening.
The current worldwide opening-day expectation is at least Rs. 200 crores gross. Earlier expectations were around Rs. 300 crores, but the promotional assets have not created the expected impact, and the film is arriving during the pre-Diwali period. Even Rs. 200 crores would be a strong start.
Instead of pulling down Indian cinema over industry, language or ideological differences, audiences should judge the film on its actual content. Ramayana has the potential to take Indian cinema to a much bigger global stage.
