Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited mythological film Ramayana Part 1 has finally arrived in theatres, bringing one of India’s most celebrated epics to the big screen on November 5, 2026. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita, the film promises a grand cinematic experience filled with powerful performances, impressive visual effects and emotionally charged moments.
However, one performance is attracting particularly strong attention. Yash’s portrayal of Ravana emerges as one of the film’s biggest highlights, with his commanding screen presence giving the antagonist an unforgettable identity. While Ranbir Kapoor delivers a sincere performance as Rama, the contrast between the two characters creates an interesting dynamic throughout the film.
Ramayana: Part 1 Story and Direction
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 revisits the familiar story of Lord Rama, his journey from Ayodhya, his relationship with Sita and the events that gradually bring him into conflict with Ravana. Ramayana
The film attempts to present the ancient epic through a modern cinematic approach without completely losing its traditional foundation. The storytelling explores themes of duty, sacrifice, family relationships and the struggle between good and evil.
Nitesh Tiwari deserves credit for attempting a project of this scale. However, the film occasionally struggles with its pacing, and some dramatic moments could have benefited from stronger emotional writing. Ramayana
Yash as Ravana Steals the Show
Yash is arguably the biggest talking point of Ramayana Part 1. His portrayal of Ravana brings together arrogance, ambition, intelligence and an intimidating personality. Ramayana
Rather than presenting Ravana as a straightforward villain, the film explores his background and gives considerable attention to his character. Yash makes the most of this opportunity, particularly in scenes where Ravana establishes his authority.
His powerful screen presence and controlled expressions make several sequences memorable. The character’s introduction and interactions with other important figures add considerable energy to the narrative. Ramayana
For many viewers, Yash’s performance could become the most memorable part of this first instalment.
Ranbir Kapoor Delivers a Sincere Performance as Lord Rama
Ranbir Kapoor faces a different challenge. Playing Lord Rama requires restraint, dignity and emotional depth rather than simply delivering larger-than-life action scenes.
His performance gradually settles into the character, bringing a sense of calmness and sincerity to Rama. Some of his action sequences are visually impressive, while the emotional portions involving his family give the character additional depth.
However, certain scenes feel less impactful than expected. Compared with Ravana’s more dramatic characterisation, Rama sometimes appears less engaging on screen. Ramayana
This difference is particularly noticeable because audiences already have strong emotional connections with the character through earlier television and film adaptations.
Sai Pallavi and Supporting Cast Add Emotional Strength
Sai Pallavi plays Sita with simplicity and confidence. Her performance brings warmth and strength to the character, while the film gives her more presence than a conventional supporting role.
Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana also contributes to the story, particularly during the forest sequences. The supporting cast, including Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi and other familiar performers, helps create a larger mythological world.
The performances are generally effective, although some supporting characters deserve more development.
Visual Effects, Music and Cinematic Experience
One of the film’s biggest attractions is its production scale. The elaborate environments, grand kingdoms, action sequences and visual effects create an expansive world that is designed for theatrical viewing.
The collaboration between music composers AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer also raises expectations. The background score adds energy to several important moments, although the music does not always deliver the emotional impact expected from such a major project.
Some computer-generated visuals look impressive, while a few artificial-looking creatures and effects interrupt the experience.
Despite these shortcomings, the film offers several visually memorable sequences that deserve appreciation. Ramayana
Ramayana: Part 1 Final Verdict
Ramayana Part 1 is an ambitious theatrical adaptation that delivers impressive visuals and strong performances, particularly from Yash. Ranbir Kapoor brings sincerity to Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi adds emotional strength as Sita.
The biggest weakness is that the storytelling does not always match the scale of its visual ambition. Some portions feel stretched, and the central characters could have received more balanced dramatic development.
Nevertheless, the film offers enough spectacle and memorable performances to attract audiences interested in Indian mythology. Yash’s Ravana is a major highlight, but the larger story still has plenty of potential to explore in the next instalment.
FAQs
1. Who plays Ravana in Ramayana: Part 1?
Yash plays Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1. His commanding screen presence and powerful performance make him one of the film's biggest highlights.
2. Who plays Lord Rama and Sita in Ramayana: Part 1?
Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi plays Sita. Their performances bring emotional depth to the central relationship.
3. Is Ramayana: Part 1 worth watching in theatres?
Yes, the film is worth considering for its large-scale visuals, mythological storytelling and performances. However, its pacing and occasional visual effects shortcomings may affect the overall experience.
Mohammad Raza is the author of XYZ News Live and has over 2 years of experience in digital content writing. His focus is on presenting news and important information in a simple, clear, and accessible language for readers.