The first wave of industry reaction to Ramayana: Part 1 – Rise of a Legend has gained another influential voice. Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu took to X on November 6, a day after the mythological epic released worldwide, to share his response to Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part retelling of the Valmiki epic.
A named endorsement, not a granular review
The actor’s post was a broad celebration rather than a scene-by-scene critique. He wrote that the stories we have grown up hearing since childhood had come alive on screen, and called the central cast Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi ‘magical.’ He also credited producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari, asking them to ‘take a bow’ for the scale of the production.
That short message matters beyond the compliment. Mahesh Babu is among the most recognisable stars of Telugu cinema, and his public approval carries weight in markets where a Hindi-language mythological epic has to win audiences beyond its home base. When a South Indian star endorses a Hindi film, it doubles as a signal to a large, distinct theatrical audience.
What the film is, at a glance
For those tracking the release, the essentials from the film’s rollout are:
- Released worldwide on November 5 in standard, 3D and IMAX formats across multiple languages.
- Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.
- Stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash in his Hindi cinema debut as Ravana.
- Original score by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.
The casting itself is built as a bridge: alongside the leads, the ensemble includes Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha and Vivek Oberoi as Vidhyutjiva, with Anupam Kher voicing Jatayu. It is a mix of generations and film industries, which suits a project that wants to travel beyond one language market.
The first part follows Rama from his childhood in Ayodhya and marriage to Sita through the fourteen-year exile, ending with Ravana’s abduction of Sita. That is a clean structural break for a two-film saga, and it gives the first instalment a clear emotional arc: establishment, displacement, and loss.
Why the endorsement cycle is worth watching
Celebrity reactions are not box-office data. But in the opening days of a large Hindi release, they are part of the narrative that reaches fence-sitting audiences. A film of this scale already has visual spectacle as its primary argument; an endorsement from a star such as Mahesh Babu adds another layer of legitimacy, especially for a project attempting to cross regional and linguistic lines.
For our readers, the practical question is not whether Mahesh Babu liked the film. It is whether the film’s first-week audience agrees. Watch the pattern: early industry praise can precede word-of-mouth, but the box office will show whether the general audience converts that goodwill into ticket sales, especially in the IMAX and 3D formats.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
Comments