Nitesh Tiwari-Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: Part One debuts at secret LA screening; global audience praises 'gargantuan' scale and 'rooted' storytelling

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part One held a successful LA test screening. Starring Ranbir Kapoor with a Zimmer-Rahman score, the ₹835cr VFX epic hits 40,000+ screens globally in November 2026.

Ramayana: Part One

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the legendary epic Ramayana: Part One had its first cut shown to an invited group in Los Angeles on Monday night, February 23. A report in The Week states that the private test screening at Cinemark Playa Vista is a major milestone as the production nears the end of its lengthy post-production cycle.

Who attended Ramayana: Part One first cut screening and what was the intial reaction?

The screening reportedly attracted a carefully selected group spanning the ages of 18 to 60. Reports indicate that the opinion from this diverse group, which included film students and industry professionals, was extremely positive. Many attendees remarked on the film's "rooted storytelling" and the impressive technical work of its "gargantuan" visual effects.

Global technological standards are supposedly being closely monitored by producer Namit Malhotra who is also the head of Prime Focus and the Oscar-winning visual effects studio DNEG. Rumour has it that the Los Angeles screening was more of a "test experiment" to see how people responded to the story's progression and character arcs before the final cuts were locked.

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How is the production ensuring visual excellence and scale?

To stay away from the mistakes made by other adaptations of Indian mythology, the production has put an emphasis on a major visual revamp. Dedicated VFX work of roughly 300 days is still planned, with the makers aiming to enhance the "monstrous" visual spectacle noticed by early viewers. Making history as one of the most lavish film productions in India, the film is reportedly being made on a budget of more than ₹835 crore.

Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Ram, and the film has an impressive ensemble cast. Yash portrays the villain Ravana, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, Ravie Dubey plays Laxman, while Lara Dutta and Rakul Preet Singh round out the supporting cast.

What makes Ramayana's musical score unique?

The groundbreaking musical partnership between Oscar winners AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer further adds to the film's global popularity. In a recent interview, Rahman characterised the epic's composition as "terrifying and complicated," referring to the difficulty of establishing a new musical environment for a narrative that is heavily rooted in Indian tradition. To please listeners all across the world, the team is reportedly fusing classical Sanskrit poetry with contemporary cinematic orchestration.

Following the recent success of Dhurandhar at the box office, industry observers are closely monitoring the performance of Ramayana. Given its planned release across over 40,000 screens globally and its pan-India appeal, Tiwari's epic Ramayana—structured as a two-part saga—is anticipated to surpass these figures.

What is the official release schedule for the Ramayana saga?

Part One will debut globally in theatres during the Diwali window in November 2026, while Part Two will follow in theatres during Diwali 2027.

Ramayana: Part One FAQs:

Q: What is the total budget of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana?

A: Ramayana is reportedly being produced on a massive budget of ₹835 crore (approximately $100 million) for Part One alone. This positions it as the most expensive cinematic venture in Indian history, surpassing previous blockbusters like Kalki 2898 AD and RRR. Producer Namit Malhotra has stated the project aims for global technical standards without borrowing a single rupee.

Q: When is Ramayana: Part One releasing in theatres?

A: Ramayana: Part One is scheduled for a grand global theatrical release during the Diwali window in November 2026. The production is structured as a two-part saga, with the concluding chapter, Ramayana: Part Two, slated to follow a year later during Diwali 2027.

Q: Who is in the cast of the new Ramayana movie?

A: Ramayana features a high-profile ensemble cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Laxman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, and Rakul Preet Singh in a key role.

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