Sunil Lahri expresses critical opinion on the new Ramayana adaptation, noting lack of spirituality

Nitish Bhardwaj, an actor who played Lord Krishna in B.R. Chopra's television series 'Mahabharata', watched the film 'Ramayana' featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, and expressed strong disappointment with it. He stated that there is nothing good to be said about this adaptation.

He shared his opinion in a long social media post, noting that the film does not meet the standard of Indian cinema on the international stage. Bhardwaj accused the filmmakers of distorting the history, heritage, and spiritual values of India.

In his Instagram post, Nitish emphasized that 'Ramayana' is not just a story but an integral part of India's civilization and spiritual consciousness. He also raised objections to how the character of Ravana was portrayed in the film. In his view, the depiction of Ravana alters the original lesson and moral principles of the 'Ramayana.'

The actor wrote that presenting Ravana as extremely generous, a proponent of social justice, and an impartial person changes the moral foundation of the 'Ramayana', which calls into question the true purpose of embodying a divine avatar. He also clarified that his initial praise for the trailer did not match his impressions after watching the entire film.

Expressing his disappointment, he stated that he could not find a single positive aspect in the movie. He noted that magnificent visual effects (VFX) cannot replace the value, philosophical depth, and spiritual essence of this epic. Bhardwaj insisted that India's cultural heritage must be presented to the world properly, and questioned whether such a film has the right to represent India on the international scene.

He concluded: 'In my opinion, this film is not worthy of representing Indian cinema internationally because it distorts India's history, heritage, and core spiritual values.'

It should be noted that previously Nitish Bhardwaj had spoken in support of the film, suggesting that 'Ramayana' should receive an 'Oscar' as the best international film. However, he is now retracting his previous statements. Many people have supported his viewpoint. It remains to be seen how this will affect the box office collection of 'Ramayana.'

Regarding collections, the film has reached the mark of 700 crore worldwide. On Monday, it set a significant record for collections in India, and on Tuesday, being a working day, the film also showed good results. Now it remains to be seen if it can reach the planned budget of 2000 crore.

Bringing a great story like the Ramayana to the screen is a complex task that requires preserving not only grandeur but also emotional depth, character dignity, and the seriousness of the mythological world. However, in the film 'Ramayana,' featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, there is a tendency where the creators seem to have moved away from important aspects of the narrative for the sake of flashy CGI and visual effects.

Looking at the faces and appearance of many characters, the excessive use of technology is clearly felt. Some figures look like cartoon characters, and their mannerisms and presence in the frame do not always align with the spirit of the story.

Even the scene of Rama's exile failed to make a strong impression. When Rama is shown crossing the river by boat at night, this key moment of the Ramayana should have conveyed emotional depth, sacrifice, and the beginning of a new life. But the presentation of the scene did not evoke such an emotional response. Instead of focusing on the state of the characters' souls and the pain of exile, this important moment was reduced merely to beautiful visual effects.

The creators missed the connection between Ravana and Mahadeva. In the Ramayana, Ravana is depicted not just as a powerful king and villain, but also as a devoted follower of Mahadeva. His asceticism, devotion to Shiva, and spiritual side give his personality a special depth. This important aspect is insufficiently addressed in the film. Although the figures of Brahma and Vishnu are shown, Ravana's connection to Mahadeva was not presented convincingly. This is regrettable because devotion to Shiva is an integral part of Ravana's character.

CGI technologies are widely used in the film. The attempt to present the divine world, vast sets, and demons looks grand, but the effect is not consistent everywhere. The faces of many characters appear too digital, which makes it difficult to establish an emotional connection with them. It gives the impression that the emphasis was placed on the excessive brightness of the world rather than its realism.

The portrayal of Kumbhakarna, played by Faisal Malik from 'Panchayat,' looks comical rather than imposing. His appearance and scenes in Lanka are often perceived as comedy rather than something serious. Kumbhakarna is a colossal and influential character in the Ramayana whose presence should inspire fear and a sense of power, but here his image weakens the atmosphere even before he has a chance to influence the viewer.

The battles with demons in the forest were also disappointing due to VFX. When Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana fight a demon and a demoness in the forest, the scene does not make a strong impression. The three heroes run through the forest, and an entire army of Asuras is visible behind them. However, there is a lack of realism in this battle scene. The appearance of the demons and the fights themselves look so artificial that the viewer cannot fully immerse themselves in what is happening. Where there should be fear and excitement, there is the falseness of CGI.

The film 'Ramayana' is considered one of the biggest projects in the Hindi cinema industry, boasting a budget of around 4000 crore. It will be released in two parts, with the first part preparing for release in the near future. Actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash are actively promoting the film by sharing their experiences during conversations.

During one interview, Ranbir made a rather unexpected statement. While discussing the filming process, Ranbir Kapoor mentioned the third part of 'Ramayana' in a conversation with Review Nation.

The actor stated that he has completed half of the shooting for his role in the second part of 'Ramayana', and that filming is ongoing. He emphasized that despite working on the second or potential third part, this story will remain with them forever. Ranbir noted: 'This is something that happens only once in life. Regardless of the outcome, the truth is that we were given the opportunity to show this on such a grand scale. When we talk about it, it is a moment that defines our lives.'

Nevertheless, the film's producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitish Tiwari have not yet made an official announcement regarding the existence of a third part. Currently, they have only mentioned two parts: the first part will be released on November 5th, and the second part is rumored to be planned for Diwali 2028.

The cast of the film 'Ramayana' also includes stars such as Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta, Faisal Malik, and Kunaal Kapoor.