Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Review

*Ramayana: Rise of a Legend* adapts the Hindu epic as a large-scale CGI film, but its mechanical storytelling and conspicuous effects undermine the drama, according to the review. The film presents sacred duty as a repeated lesson and divides the tale before Rama’s rescue mission properly begins, leaving this first instalment without a meeting between its hero and villain.

The 162-minute English-language cut uses in-house generative AI to synchronise characters’ lips with the dub; the original Hindi version is about 30 minutes longer. Yash plays Ravana, who seeks to free his people from Deva oppression before becoming a conqueror, while Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu raised to defeat the Asuras. The film is due in cinemas from 5 November.