Welcome To MovieAnimeX! Some stories don’t need a trailer to pull you into a theatre. You grew up with this one, on Sunday mornings in front of the TV, in your grandmother’s voice at bedtime, in every Ramlila under Diwali lights. So when Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 (also titled Ramayana: Rise of a Legend) arrived in cinemas on November 5, 2026, just days before Diwali, there was only one question in every heart: would it treat the epic with the love it deserves?
It does, beautifully. In this Ramayana Part 1 review, we look at the story, the performances, the music and the visuals of the most ambitious Indian film ever made, and why it earns a proud 8.5/10 from us.
Table of Contents
Ratings and Film Details
- MovieAnimeX:- 8.5/10
- Director:- Nitesh Tiwari
- Cast:- Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal
- Music:- Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman
- Runtime:- 3 hours 15 minutes (195 minutes)
- Release Date:- November 5, 2026, in cinemas and IMAX
- IMDb:- Ramayana: Rise of a Legend (2026)
The Story (Spoiler-Free)
Here’s the first surprise in Ramayana Part 1: the film doesn’t open in Ayodhya. It opens in Lanka. Before we ever meet Lord Rama, Tiwari shows us the rise of Ravana, his fierce penance, the boon from Lord Brahma, his victory over Lord Indra and his claim on the golden city of Lanka. It’s a bold, confident start, and it tells you right away that this retelling has patience and a big heart.
Then the story comes home to Ayodhya. You watch the young prince grow up, train under Maharishi Vishwamitra, protect the sages from Tataka, and win Mata Sita’s hand at the Swayamvar in Mithila. And then comes the moment every Indian knows by heart: Queen Kaikeyi’s two boons, and fourteen years of exile accepted without a single word of protest.
Every chapter you remember is here, told faithfully and with care. Part 1 carries Lord Rama, Mata Sita and Lord Lakshmana deep into the forest, builds to the turning point that changes everything, and leaves you counting the days until Part 2 arrives on Diwali 2027.
Performances: Ranbir Kapoor Finds the Calm of Lord Rama
Watch Ranbir Kapoor in the scene where Lord Rama hears that he must leave Ayodhya. He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t break. He simply accepts, and somehow that stillness hits harder than any big speech could. His portrayal of Lord Rama is gentle, patient and full of dignity, and it truly captures the spirit of Maryada Purushottam. He also plays Lord Parashurama, and their meeting is one of the film’s goosebump moments.
In Ramayana Part 1, Sai Pallavi is a natural fit as Mata Sita. She brings grace, warmth and a quiet inner strength, and the tender scenes between Lord Rama and Mata Sita give the film its emotional heartbeat. As Lord Lakshmana, Ravi Dubey is pure devotion, and his easy bond with his elder brother adds lovely, light moments along the way.
And then there’s Yash. The moment his Ravana walks on screen, the whole mood changes. He plays the king of Lanka as a towering, brilliant and ambitious ruler, and his screen presence is simply massive. The supporting cast is just as strong: Arun Govil as King Dasharatha (a beautiful full-circle moment for everyone who grew up watching him as Lord Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan), Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, and Anupam Kher, whose voice gives Jatayu a deeply moving final stand.
Music, Visuals and Direction
Then the music hits, and you feel it in your chest. Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, in Zimmer’s first full Indian film, blend sweeping orchestral themes with Sanskrit verses, and Kumar Vishwas’s lyrics give the songs real devotion. “Jai Jai Ram,” sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, is the kind of track you’ll hum all the way home.
Visually, this is Indian cinema at a world-class level. DNEG’s effects and the cinematography of Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye give every place its own soul: Ayodhya feels calm and graceful, Mithila glows with beauty, and Lanka shines in gold and power. The Jatayu sequence is a true big-screen moment, so if there’s an IMAX near you, go.
Most importantly, Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal, Chhichhore) never lets the grandeur swallow the emotion. He stays faithful to Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana, handles every character with respect, and keeps the family bonds at the centre of the story. It feels made with devotion, and it shows in every frame of Ramayana Part 1.
Final Verdict: 8.5/10
So, to sum up our Ramayana Part 1 review: this is the retelling a generation has been waiting for. Grand visuals, a soul-stirring score, Ranbir Kapoor’s graceful Lord Rama, Yash’s commanding Ravana and Sai Pallavi’s luminous Mata Sita come together in a film that honours the epic and makes it feel brand new for the big screen. Take your family this Diwali.
MovieAnimeX Rating: 8.5/10
Recommended For: Families, anyone who grew up with the Ramayana, fans of grand epic cinema, and anyone who wants to show the next generation this timeless story on the biggest screen possible.
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Ramayana Part 1 Review: FAQs
Is Ramayana Part 1 worth watching?
Yes, absolutely. It is a grand, faithful and emotional retelling of the epic with strong performances from Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, a stunning Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman score and world-class visuals. MovieAnimeX gives it 8.5/10, and it is best enjoyed on the biggest screen you can find, ideally IMAX.
What is the runtime and certificate of Ramayana Part 1?
Ramayana Part 1 runs 195 minutes (3 hours 15 minutes) and has a U certificate, so it is suitable for the whole family.
Where does Ramayana Part 1 end?
Without giving away too much, Part 1 follows Lord Rama from his childhood in Ayodhya through his marriage to Mata Sita and the fourteen-year exile, and ends at the turning point in the forest that sets up the great war in Part 2.
When will Ramayana Part 2 release?
Ramayana Part 2 is planned for Diwali 2027.
Who composed the music of Ramayana Part 1?
The music is composed by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, marking Zimmer’s first full Indian film, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas.
Who plays Ravana in Ramayana Part 1?
Yash plays Ravana, the king of Lanka, in Ramayana Part 1. He is also one of the film’s producers through his company Monster Mind Creations, alongside Namit Malhotra.
(Featured image and all images in this article: Prime Focus Studios, Monster Mind Creations and DNEG.)
