Ranbir Kapoor Pic in Ramayana: Part 1
BOTTOM LINE
Big on Scale, Short on Soul
RATING
2.5/5
Story, Director:Nitesh Tiwari
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Nitesh Tiwari
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal
Music Director: Hans Zimmer, AR Rahman
DOP: Pankaj Kumar, Mahesh Limaye
Editor: Huzefa Lokhandwala
Producer: Namit Malhotra, Yash
Presented By: Prime Focus Studios
Production Company: Prime Focus Studios, Monster Mind Creations
U.S. Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Related Links: Trailer
Ramayana: Part One story follows Lord Rama’s journey into exile with Sita and Lakshmana, ending with Ravana’s abduction of Sita.
Performances
Ranbir Kapoor is decent as Rama, both in his appearance and performance. He does his job well, and there are no major complaints. At the same time, the role doesn’t bring out the kind of awe and excitement we often feel when an actor portrays a divine figure.
Sai Pallavi is also alright as Sita. She comes across as simple and understated, without much divine aura. Perhaps it’s because we’re used to seeing her in more simple and realistic roles. Here her screen presence as Sita is just alright.
Yash as Ravana is undoubtedly the film’s biggest exciting factor. He is perfectly cast, commands the screen, and delivers a dominating presence and performance among the lead cast.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, best known for Dangal, Ramayana: Part One is mounted on an enormous scale as one of India’s most expensive films. It delivers on the visual front, with a few big-screen-worthy episodes in both halves. The casting adds to the film’s scale, and even though the story is familiar, the visuals and Tiwari’s vision hold your attention.
The film’s biggest shortcoming is its emotional and spiritual core.
With a familiar story like Rama and Sita’s, the divine aura and emotional depth of their bond still need to come through. Here, that connection feels underdeveloped. Rama’s departure for exile, which should be deeply moving, plays like another familiar episode, while several intimate moments between Rama and Sita feel flat.
The action works, but the emotional scenes rarely move beyond the surface. That’s a major miss in the writing and execution.
The large-scale action brings the energy, especially whenever Ravana is on screen. The Jatayu sequence is spectacular and stands out as one of the film’s biggest moments. Action episode of the asuras visuals may remind you of Dune, but they still work. The ending also provides a reasonable cliffhanger and a safe exit point for the first part, even if the story itself is familiar.
Overall, Ramayana: Part One is worth watching on the big screen for its ambitious scale, visuals and action. Just don’t expect the emotional depth or divine aura to be as powerful.
Performances by Other Actors
The film also features Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, Lara Dutta and Shobana, among others. Surprisingly, Rakul fits the role of Shurpanakha well. Though she isn’t known for her acting, she makes the most of her brief part.
Kajal has very little to do in her brief role. Shobana is decent, if not particularly impactful. The rest of the supporting cast, including Ravi Dubey in a key role, is just okay and doesn’t leave much of an impression.
Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman compose the music and background score. The songs are a letdown. None stays with you after you leave the theatre, and they don’t make much of an impact on screen either.
The background score feels fresh in a few key blocks and adds value to the scenes, especially the Jatayu sequence.
Visually, the film is superb. Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye’s cinematography gives it a grand, big-screen feel, despite the extensive CG work. The scale and visuals make several moments exciting to watch.
Huzefa Lokhandwala’s editing could have been crisper. The film feels long because of its pacing, and a shorter runtime would have helped.
Highlights?
Yash as Ravana
Grand scale and visual appeal
Action episodes, especially the Jatayuvu sequence
Drawbacks?
The emotional soul is missing
Lengthy runtime and slow pacing
Flat narrative, despite the epic’s grand cinematic treatment
Forgettable songs
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes. Despite its slow pacing and lengthy runtime, the film has a few exciting big-screen sequences and visuals.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, if you’re okay with a lengthy, familiar epic and are looking for a grand visual experience on the big screen.
Ramayana: Part 1 Movie Reviewed by Kalyan
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