Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana first review out: Hit or flop?
Mumbai: The buzz around Ramayana: Part 1 is getting bigger by the day, and the first reactions to the much-awaited mythological epic have finally started pouring in. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita, the film has generated considerable excitement, with early viewers praising its grand visuals, performances and emotional moments.
So, is Ramayana the blockbuster Bollywood has been waiting for? Here is what the first reviews say.
Ramayana first reviews are out
Ahead of its much-anticipated release, the makers hosted a special screening of Ramayana: The Rise of a Legend in Los Angeles on October 27. Several viewers took to social media and Letterboxd to share their reactions, with many praising the film’s scale and the performances of its lead actors.
Calling it one of the year’s most immersive cinematic experiences, a viewer wrote, “Ramayana Rise of a Legend was spectacular! The visuals, the dances, the music, the action were all colossal. Ranbir Kapoor was sublime, Yash was magnetic. One of this year’s most immersive cinematic experiences. A grand spectacle!”
Another viewer expressed confidence in the film’s box-office prospects, writing, “It’s going to be rampage next week. Blockbuster guarantee! Literally everyone has done a great job. Those two NRIs will need to buy a dozen Burnols and Gelusil’s next week.”
Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama also received appreciation, with one viewer claiming that the film left Western audiences emotional.
“Ramayana made western audience EMOTIONAL. Ranbir Kapoor is some serious talent, Moved into tears. We won guys!!! #Ramayana,” the user wrote.
#Ramayana Initial Impressions:
— Venky Reviews (@venkyreviews) October 28, 2026
A hugely ambitious film mounted on a grand scale, and the effort behind it is clearly visible. The team largely stays true to the Ramayana, but the film leans more on spectacle and action than drama and emotion, leaving parts of the narration…
‘RAMAYANA’ GETS TREMENDOUS RESPONSE IN LOS ANGELES… The #English version of #Ramayana premiered at the Academy Museum last night to an overwhelming response, marking a proud moment for #Indian cinema on the global stage.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) October 28, 2026
Early reactions from #LosAngeles continue to pour in,… pic.twitter.com/yAil2YqbhG
“RAMAYANA has One of THE BEST CG CHARACTERS in this GENRE”
— KBP Reviews🏹 (@KshitizCritic) October 28, 2026
Ranbir Kapoor Graces the screen, He is sublime, every time he comes there is a feeling of Woooooo. Yash is Magnetic and is Brutal, He carries an Aura.
Most immersive Cinematic Experience of 2026 pic.twitter.com/GQLwEfvxFA
FIRST REVIEW OF #Ramayana IS OUT
— Yuvraj Income (@NoFilterYuvraj) October 28, 2026
AND THE INTERNET IS LOSING ITS MIND 🔥
Reaction = OUT OF THIS WORLD
Goosebumps on another level
Nothing in the cinematic universe comes close.
This is going to be LEGENDARY. pic.twitter.com/xHnrBRK2dp
First reactions are out! 🔥
— DoomsDay Update’s 🍿 (@DoomsDayUpdatee) October 28, 2026
Ranbir Kapoor is getting praised for his portrayal of Lord Rama,
The post-credit cliffhanger after the Ramayana movie is getting people excited,
and the first reactions are reportedly very positive. 👀
RAMAYANA IS SOMETHING SPECIAL. 🚩🔥… pic.twitter.com/1SybMmBAPP
#Ramayana: EPIC BLOCKBUSTER ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5/5 !!#Ranbir as Lord Rama is outstanding – graceful & divine. #Yash as Ravana is phenomenal & magnetic. #RamayanaMovie
— its cinema (@itscinemaoficl) October 28, 2026
A grand spectacle with breathtaking visuals. Sure-shot BLOCKBUSTER. #ramayanareview
A Box office Blasts On diwali… https://t.co/aXNQjMetTV pic.twitter.com/ccszFB02hv
Producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari, his wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi attended the grand screening in traditional attire. Videos from the event have also been circulating on social media.
Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama and Yash’s Ravana impress viewers
Several early reviews highlighted the contrast between Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama and Yash’s performance as Ravana. While Ranbir was praised for bringing purity and emotional depth to the character, Yash emerged as a standout for viewers who appreciated his screen presence.
One viewer who gave the film five stars on Letterboxd wrote, “Just can’t describe the feeling it carries, the purity of Rama is absolute beauty of this film, fight sequence feel fresh. You will have a fresh feel after watching it.”
Another reviewer praised the intent behind the adaptation, writing, “one of the best movie in recent times, most impactful thing about movie was the intent of the makers .. they stayed true to it’s core, and emotions, music, vfx everything was world class. exited for part 2.”
The reactions suggest that the film’s emotional moments, visual effects and ambitious storytelling have struck a chord with several viewers. However, the response has not been entirely positive.
Ramayana reviews also point out negatives
Despite the praise, a section of viewers expressed disappointment with certain aspects of the film, particularly its musical score, pacing and visual effects.
One reviewer listed the absence of a divine feel, an underwhelming musical score, second-half pacing issues and cartoonish-looking asuras among the film’s shortcomings. The review also criticised the narration and action sequences, suggesting that the film did not consistently deliver the emotional depth expected from a story of this magnitude.
Another viewer acknowledged the film’s impressive scale but felt that some scenes lacked visual authenticity despite the massive investment.
“The visuals are stunning in parts and the money spent is clearly visible, but some scenes still have a noticeable studio/green screen feel with a few cartoonish asuras,” the reviewer wrote.
The user also criticised the music, arguing that the blend of Indian and Hollywood influences did not always work for a story that relies heavily on divinity and emotion.
The review, however, acknowledged the film’s ambition and scale, describing it as watchable while suggesting that it falls short of the enormous expectations surrounding it.
Ramayana budget and release details
Made on a reported budget of around Rs 4,000 crore for the two-part project, Ramayana is among the most ambitious Indian film ventures in terms of scale and investment. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the epic brings one of India’s most celebrated mythological stories to the big screen with an international production approach.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with the first instalment expected to set the stage for the larger story that continues in the sequel.
With enthusiastic reactions pouring in alongside criticism, the film has already sparked conversations online. Whether it can translate the early buzz into a major box-office success remains to be seen.
For now, the first reactions have given fans plenty to discuss, and expectations are running high for what could become one of Indian cinema’s biggest releases.
Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.
This content is published by The Siasat Daily and has not been created or edited by Hello Headlines. View original
