The first international showcase of Ramayana: Part One has produced early reactions that are largely admiring – and one notable note of caution. Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation, internationally titled Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, premiered in 3D at the David Geffen Theatre inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 27, ahead of its worldwide theatrical release on November 5.
Initial posts from the invitation-only screening praise the film’s ambitious scale, its visual presentation and its treatment of the epic, while a dissenting voice questions whether the spectacle leaves enough room for feeling. That split matters because it previews the precise test full reviews will apply on October 30.
A premiere positioned for the world
Choosing the Academy Museum for the first major showcase is a statement in itself. With an international title, a 3D presentation and an English-language dub, the production is asking to be judged against global event cinema, not merely as a domestic blockbuster. Director Nitesh Tiwari, stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, and producer Namit Malhotra attended, with Jada Pinkett Smith, Jonathan Scott and Poorna Jagannathan among the reported guests.
Ravana, Rama and a Rings comparison
The circulating reactions single out Yash’s commanding Ravana and Ranbir Kapoor’s restrained Lord Rama, along with Sai Pallavi’s screen presence, the visual effects and the background score. One attendee compared the film’s impact to watching The Lord of the Rings in 2001. “The visuals, the dances, the music, the action were all colossal,” a post by Rama’s Screen read, calling it a “grand spectacle”. Theresa Simoni added that Ranbir “is some serious talent, moved to tears”.
Reactions also note that the ending sets up the second instalment – meaning this first film is carrying the weight of a franchise launch, not a standalone release.
The note of caution
Not every response was unreserved. One reviewer praised the production’s ambition, Yash’s performance and its broad faithfulness to the Ramayana, but questioned portions of the storytelling and music, arguing that some sequences prioritised spectacle over emotional depth and that certain digitally created elements appeared unconvincing. The account’s viewing circumstances have not been independently established.
For a film adapting a revered epic, that is the central risk: large-canvas action can impress without moving an audience. The early split simply makes visible what the full reviews will have to settle.
AI, dubbing and the road ahead
Tiwari used the premiere to address the English-language presentation directly. The dubbed dialogue, he clarified, was performed by human voice artists, with Brahma AI used to synchronise lip movements rather than generate the voices themselves. The distinction is an authenticity claim aimed squarely at international audiences – and at anyone worried that technology might flatten the performances.
With the review embargo expected to continue until October 30, the initial reactions offer only a preliminary picture. What to watch next:
- October 30: Full reviews land and will test whether the scale holds up in the quieter, emotional passages.
- November 5: Worldwide release begins; overseas audience response will show if the Lord of the Rings comparison holds beyond the premiere.
- The sequel: Reactions say the ending points to Part Two, so this opening verdict shapes a franchise, not a one-off.
Source: Sacnilk
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