Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Review: Made for Epic Fantasy Fans

This Ramayana: Rise of a Legend review starts with the scale, because the film is huge in every sense. Director Nitesh Tiwari retells the ancient Hindu epic with Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Yash as Ravana. It is a fantasy adventure that wants to be an event, and it mostly looks like one.

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Ramayana plot follows a young prince and princess whose marriage and exile begin a legendary journey. Their story of love, duty and destiny sets up much bigger trials. Rama is a prince bound by sacrifice, while Ravana is an immortal king driven by vengeance, and a prophecy links their fates.

This is the first part of a larger telling, and it plays like one. The film spends its time building a world and placing its pieces. If you know the epic, the shape will be familiar. If you don't, the setup is easy enough to follow.

The tagline, "Our truth. Our history," tells you how seriously the makers take the material. The tone is reverent rather than playful. The film carries a PG-13 rating and runs a long 195 minutes by our figures, though some listings give a shorter time.

What Works in Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

The spectacle is the main draw. Screen Rant calls the film gorgeously realized, with a solid mix of flashy effects and impressive stunt work. Early viewers also described the visuals, music and action as colossal.

The film also respects its source. Tiwari treats the story as sacred history, not a franchise to be tweaked. That gives the early scenes a sense of weight, and the royal court and exile feel lived in.

Fans of big screen fantasy will find plenty here. If that is your taste, browse our Fantasy movie reviews for similar picks. Action lovers can also check our Action movie reviews.

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Cast and Performances

The Ramayana cast is led by Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Prince Ram, with the film also crediting him as Parshuram and Lord Vishnu. Yash plays Ravana, and critics single him out as a highlight. The pairing of hero and villain is the engine of the film.

Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Ravi Dubey is Lakshman, Arun Govil is King Dashrath and Rakul Preet Singh is Surpanakha. Screen Rant notes that Dubey has fun with a quietly snarky take on Lakshman. Early coverage broadly praised the lead performances.

Not every reviewer agrees. One harsh review calls the film emotionally hollow and poorly acted. That is a minority view in the notes we have, but it shows how divided reactions are.

Where Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Stumbles

Pacing is the most common complaint. Several reviews say the film drags, and one calls it bloated and exhausting. At over three hours, that criticism is easy to understand.

The emotional core also draws fire. One critic writes that the two pillars of the epic often feel split until the narratives begin to converge. In other words, the hero and villain stories run side by side before they meet.

Then there is the part-one problem. Reviewers say the film suffers from the usual sins of a first chapter: lots of setup and little payoff. Next Best Picture gives it 5/10, while Screen Rant gives 7/10 and IndieWire a B.

Is Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Worth Watching?

Yes, if you want an epic and can handle a long runtime and an unfinished feeling. The spectacle, the cast and the ambition are strong enough to justify a big screen visit. Critics are split, so expect a flawed but impressive start rather than a perfect film.

The Ramayana release date was listed as 6 November 2026 in our facts, though some sites list 4 or 5 November, so check your local cinema. The film had its world premiere in Los Angeles on 27 October. For background on the cast and crew, see the Ramayana: Rise of a Legend page on IMDb, which collects the critic reviews seen so far.

If you like grand adventure stories, our Adventure movie reviews have more to explore.

Who Will Enjoy Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

• Viewers who love large-scale mythological fantasy and big action set pieces.

• Fans of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash who want to see them face off.

• Audiences who know the epic and are happy to watch a long first chapter.