Ramayana Part 1 first reviews out: Grand, ambitious and...check honest audience reactions

New Delhi: Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming mega 2-part project - Ramayana is set to release on November 5, ahead of the big Diwali festival. However, the team held a special screening of the magnum opus in Los Angeles and the first reviews are already out. Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Nitesh Tiwari among others were present at the grand premiere of Ramayana, held at the David Geffen Theatre at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Ramayana movie first reviews

A few early birds have already watched the epic saga and took to social media and shared their reviews. Netizens hailed the venture for his grandeur and VFX imagery. Take a look at what honest audience reactions are after watching Ramayana in LA:

One person wrote: A hugely ambitious film mounted on a grand scale, and the effort behind it is clearly visible. The team largely stays true to the Ramayana, but the film leans more on spectacle and action than drama and emotion, leaving parts of the narration feeling flat and even serial like at times. The second half also drags in places because of where Part 1 chooses to end, with limited material stretched out through lengthy action blocks that don’t create much impact

#Ramayana Initial Impressions: A hugely ambitious film mounted on a grand scale, and the effort behind it is clearly visible. The team largely stays true to the Ramayana, but the film leans more on spectacle and action than drama and emotion, leaving parts of the narration feeling flat and even serial like at times. The second half also drags in places because of where Part 1 chooses to end, with limited material stretched out through lengthy action blocks that don’t create much impact Yash as Ravana is the biggest highlight and is superb, especially in his introduction portions. Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi are solid as Ram and Sita, though the divine aura and emotional weight don’t always fully translate on screen. The visuals are stunning in parts and the money spent is clearly visible, but some scenes still have a noticeable studio/green screen feel with a few cartoonish asuras. The biggest negative, hands down, is the music. For a story like Ramayana, the score has to carry much of the divinity and emotion, but the Indian-Hollywood blend largely backfires and ends up feeling like neither apart from a few scenes. The ambition and scale deserve a lot of applause. Definitely watchable and better than a few recent adaptations, but it falls short of the massive expectations and ultimately feels like a mixed bag with so much more potential. Full review with rating later in my usual style (review embargo)

— Venky Reviews (@venkyreviews) October 28, 2026

 Another tweet read: #Ramayana's 1st official review is out, and it's a BLOCKBUSTER!  The people who have watched it are completely blown away by the visuals, story, and performances. They haven't felt something like this in decades.

#Ramayana's 1st official review is out, and it's a BLOCKBUSTER! The people who have watched it are completely blown away by the visuals, story, and performances. They haven't felt something like this in decades. https://t.co/jiN9ckOdjP

— Films Discourse (@FilmsDiscourse) October 28, 2026

Noted film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to X (formerly called Twitter) and shared: 

‘RAMAYANA’ GETS TREMENDOUS RESPONSE IN LOS ANGELES… The #English version of #Ramayana premiered at the Academy Museum last night to an overwhelming response, marking a proud moment for #Indian cinema on the global stage. Early reactions from #LosAngeles continue to pour in, with the film's reception reflecting the growing global interest in #India's timeless epic. #NamitMalhotra has achieved what no #Indian filmmaker has done before – taking the film to an international audience well ahead of its theatrical release in #India, marking a significant milestone for #Indian cinema.

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) October 28, 2026

About Ramayana

Ramayana is one of the biggest films of Indian cinema, bringing one of the greatest epics to life with Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, and Ravie Dubey in the lead roles. Helmed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana Part 1 is slated for release on Diwali 2026, and the second part on Diwali 2027.

Ramayana Part 1 brings an enduring epic story which goes back in time - the Trinity Gods rule the three worlds: Brahma - god who creates; Vishnu - god who protects; and Shiva - god who transforms. As the realms of heaven and earth edge toward chaos, the Trinity god Vishnu descends to earth in an avatar to restore balance.  

The estimated budget of Ramayana is around Rs 4,000–4,800 crore ($420-500M).