In the six chapters of the Ramayana, the fifth chapter, known as Aranya Kanda, deals with Lord Rama’s exile to the forest and Ravana’s abduction of Sita. This fifth chapter forms the central storyline of the film ‘Ramayana’.
Although it is a familiar story that audiences have seen portrayed in various forms, the film presents it with unprecedented technology and Hollywood-level grandeur. The stunning visuals offer a spectacular feast for the eyes, delivering a fresh and breathtaking theatrical experience.
Despite being portrayed as the antagonist in the story, Ravana has been designed almost like the protagonist, with a powerful introduction and spectacular action sequences. Yash delivers a commanding performance in the role. Through his acting and screen presence, he makes Ravana an immensely engaging character. His majestic appearance and fierce aggression are sure to make audiences cheer.
Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Rama, appears calm, gentle and composed, winning the audience’s hearts as Rama. Although he faces setbacks in the first half despite being the central character, the final sequence, where he reveals another side of himself, hints that the second part will be much more intense and action-packed
Sai Pallavi, with her beautiful smile and expressive facial gestures, effortlessly establishes herself as Sita in the minds of the audience. She deserves immense appreciation for handling such a challenging and emotionally demanding character with great responsibility, without compromising for commercial requirements.
Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari and Indira Krishnan as Kaushalya all fit their respective roles perfectly.
The cinematography by Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye brings the grandeur of the epic and its spiritual essence to life on screen. Beyond simply presenting the magnificence of the mythology, they have crafted every frame like a painting, making the visuals a visual treat for audiences.
The music by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman elevates the film’s overall quality several times over. The background score adds another layer of grandeur to the already magnificent visuals.
Although Huseefa Lokhandwala’s editing makes the first half move at a slightly slower pace, the second half picks up speed and keeps audiences amazed with its spectacular sequences.
Nitesh Tiwari, who has written and directed the film, understands that the story is already familiar to audiences. Therefore, he attempts to hold their attention through the visual presentation. His effort turns out to be a tremendous success. In particular, Ravana’s introduction sequence is breathtaking and completely captures the audience’s attention.
Although Rama is the central character of the story, director Nitesh Tiwari impressively showcases Ravana’s unique qualities, bravery and heroic deeds, giving audiences an exceptional theatrical experience. By ending the film with another side of Rama, he also creates enormous expectations for the second instalment.
