October 1, 06:36Aaj Tak

Mukesh Khanna criticized Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ramayana' film for excessive focus on action

Actor Mukesh Khanna expressed criticism regarding the film 'Ramayana' featuring Ranbir Kapoor, which is set to be released for Diwali. Questions began to arise after the release of the trailer, teasers, and the first musical number for the film.

Mukesh Khanna criticized the action scenes and the heavy use of visual effects (VFX) in the movie. He believes that director Nitish Tiwari portrayed Shri Rama not as 'Mandariya Purushottam' (the ideal of virtue), but as an action hero.

Mukesh Khanna's Disapproval of Rama's Portrayal

Khanna noted that despite having read numerous versions of the Ramayana and seen Ramalila, he had never seen such a depiction of Rama in a trailer where he flies through trees and fights in battle. He stated that 'Shri Rama has been made cool.'

He emphasized that Rama is a divine incarnation, similar to Krishna, and that in the film, he was depicted as a character comparable to actors like Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, or Roger Deakins. Khanna insists that Rama is an embodiment of virtue who smiled.

Questions Regarding the Use of VFX

Mukesh Khanna also objected to the large quantity of visual effects in the film. He mentioned hearing about plans for a global release and speculated that foreign audiences might perceive the image of Rama through the lens of 'Star Wars.' However, according to Khanna, if the film is shown in India, it should be presented through the prism of faith and piety.

Criticism of Rama's portrayal is not new among the Indian audience, who have already voiced objections regarding heavy VFX and character portraits. The film 'Ramayana,' created with a budget of around 4000 crore, will show its box office results only during Diwali. In the film, Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash plays Ravana, Sani Deol plays Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana. The film will be released in two parts, with the second part scheduled for Diwali 2027.

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www.aajtak.inSeptember 29, 16:36

Official trailer for animated 'Ramayana: Path of Dharma' released against the backdrop of a live-action project with Ranbir Kapoor

While Nimit Malhotra is investing 40 billion rupees in creating a live-action version of Ramayana with Ranbir Kapoor, the trailer for the animated 'Ramayana: Path of Dharma' has recently been released. This project emerged against the backdrop of the recent release of 'Ramayana' featuring Anjali Arora, whose visuals received mixed reactions from viewers.

The animated series 'Ramayana: Path of Dharma' was presented by a studio named 'Path of Wonders'. The released trailer pertains to the first episode of this series. Although the plot is based on the classic Ramayana, it will be depicted from the perspective of modern youth.

The trailer begins with a child who, after reading the Ramayana, starts seeing the story of Lord Rama in his dreams and sets out to explore it. This is followed by a scene showing only the silhouettes of huge arms, legs, and the tail of Hanuman lifting the Sanjeevani mountain. Then, the image of Lord Rama preparing to leave his kingdom for the forest is demonstrated, as he intends to fulfill a promise made to his father.

Mata Sita and Lakshman also decide to accompany him. After this, a voiceover plays, narrating how he voluntarily left the throne, which slipped away like sand, but fully kept the vow made to his father.

'Ramayana: Path of Dharma' is voiced by many renowned Indian artists. As of now, the release date of the series has not been announced. However, viewers reacted to the trailer with great enthusiasm, considering this version significantly superior to the 'Ramayana' with Anjali Arora. Viewers liked both the musical score and the visuals. Many even noted that this project touched their hearts more than 'Ramayana' Ramananga Saagara.

www.aajtak.inSeptember 18, 17:20

Kangana Ranaut criticizes modern mythology-based films, mentioning upcoming 'Ramayana' adaptation

After posting a critique of the approach to depicting characters from mythological stories in recent films, actress Kangana Ranaut has sparked rumors that she is commenting on the forthcoming film 'Ramayana' starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.

On Friday, the actress and Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party shared a video clip from an old religious film. Along with this, she highly praised the way mythological plots were depicted in old cinema and criticized the use of modern clothing in recent films based on religious figures.

In her Instagram account, Kangana Ranaut wrote under the video: 'The more access people have to technology, the further they move away. We watch recent movies about God where characters who lived thousands of years ago are dressed in clothes resembling modern television series. It gives the impression that designers do not pay attention to the descriptions given in the scriptures. Whereas decades ago, without any visual effects or CGI, the masters of cinematography worked strictly according to the descriptions given in the scriptures. Look at the results, Jai Menaxi Amma.'

In her post, Kangana did not mention 'Ramayana' or any of its actors. However, after the release of the trailer for Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming 'Ramayana', when debates arose over the costumes and stylization of some characters, speculations began online based on her words.

Social media discussions revolve around the looks of Sai Pallavi as Sita and Laura Datta as Kaikeyi. Some users questioned the modern styling of the costumes, while others compared some looks to those shown in mythological TV shows.

Costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula commented on this criticism and explained the creative concept behind the film's costumes. They stated that these designs were created considering the cultural context, production needs, and the scale of the project, rather than aiming for an exact reproduction of any historical attire from the Ramayana period.

The designers also mentioned the difficulty of presenting this Indian epic to a global audience and viewers worldwide. These statements came amid ongoing discussions about character stylization, including Sita and Kaikeyi.

This is not the first time Kangana has voiced criticism related to 'Ramayana'. In 2023, she expressed disappointment that Ranbir Kapoor was chosen to play the role of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's film. At that time, Kangana made several personal accusations and criticized Kapoor's suitability for the role. She also questioned his acting abilities in the role of Lord Shiva in the 'Brahmastra' franchise.