Ramayana: Rise of a Legend opens to mixed early reactions in Los Angeles

The first audience reactions to Ramayana: Rise of a Legend have emerged following its world premiere in Los Angeles on October 27. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the movie is planned as a two-part adaptation of the Indian epic and is set to release worldwide on November 5, 2026. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana.

Reactions and Reviews

Viewers shared varied opinions after the screening. Entertainment journalist Rama praised the visuals, dances, music, and action, calling Ranbir sublime and Yash magnetic on X. Film reviewer Theresa Simoni wrote that Ranbir's performance moved her to tears. Another audience member compared the scale to the first Lord of the Rings movie released in 2001, noting the runtime of over three hours and the original Hindi version being 30 minutes longer than the English-dubbed cut. Conversely, the X handle Venky Reviews gave a mixed verdict, praising the grand scale and Yash's introduction while criticizing the music, certain visual effects, and a narrative that leans more on action than deep emotion.

Cast and Scale

The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as King Dashrath, Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi, and several other notable actors. The project is positioned as a major international release, planned to reach more than 100 countries across roughly 50,000 screens, with a sequel expected in 2028.

Context

High-budget cinematic adaptations of traditional epics often draw intense global scrutiny regarding how well they balance grand visual effects with emotional storytelling. International premieres in major hubs like Los Angeles help build early buzz and test audience reception ahead of wide worldwide theatrical launches.