Ramayana has finally arrived in cinemas, and the response has been largely positive. The film has been appreciated for its grand scale, spectacular visuals, emotional moments, performances and ambitious presentation. The positive word of mouth is also reflected in its box office collections, with audiences turning up in large numbers to witness the mythological epic on the big screen. However, while Ramayana has several strengths, there are certain creative and strategic decisions that could have been handled better. These seven aspects, had they been approached differently, might have enhanced the film's impact and made an already grand cinematic experience even more memorable.
1. A trailer that revealed too much
At 4 minutes and 10 seconds, the theatrical trailer of Ramayana was unusually long for a Hindi film. While it successfully established the film's scale and grandeur, it also ended up revealing several crucial moments. From Raavan attacking Lord Indra's mighty elephant Airavat to Dashratha screaming 'Ram' as Lord Rama leaves for exile, and from Rama lifting the bow during Sita's swayamvar to Lakshman cutting off Surpanakha's nose, several impactful sequences were already shown in the promotional material. Even an important dialogue from the climax was revealed! Agreed, the story of Ramayana is known to practically every Indian. However, the excitement lies in discovering how the filmmakers have interpreted and presented these iconic moments. By revealing so much, the trailer arguably robbed some sequences of their surprise value.
2. Wolf sequence missing from Indian version
A few days ago, moviegoers in India were surprised when footage of an action sequence from Ramayana began circulating online. The scene reportedly features Lakshman and Sita confronting three terrifying wolf-like creatures. The dangerous beasts attempt to attack the duo before Lord Rama intervenes and eliminates the threat. What surprised viewers even more was that this sequence was missing from the Indian theatrical version but was included in the cut released internationally. Naturally, several viewers questioned why such a sequence was removed, especially when they had paid a premium price to experience the epic in cinemas.
3. Sky-high ticket prices
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Ramayana has been its steep ticket pricing. While the film has attracted considerable footfalls, there is also a section of the audience that wants to watch it but is hesitant to shell out the substantial amount required for a family outing. Several cinemas have reportedly charged some of their highest ticket rates ever. For instance, a cinema hall in Solapur, where ticket prices previously did not exceed Rs. 300, priced Ramayana tickets at Rs. 470! In several multiplexes, even the regular 2D version has been priced at Rs. 500 or Rs. 600, while premium formats such as 3D, IMAX and 4DX are considerably more expensive. A reduction of even 10-15% could have made tickets more affordable and potentially encouraged more families to visit cinemas. Whether such a reduction would have increased overall revenue is debatable, but it might have helped the film reach a wider audience and generate even greater footfalls.
4. The absence of a chartbuster soundtrack
The songs haven't quite struck a chord with audiences in the way that the makers would have hoped. Even one chartbuster track would have made a world of difference.
5. No ‘Jai Jai Ram’
Among the songs released as part of the film's promotions, 'Jai Jai Ram' arguably generated the strongest recall and connected particularly well with audiences. Yet, surprisingly, the track doesn't feature in the film!
6. Sunny Deol’s Hanuman entry creates frenzy, but...
Ramayana’s first part ends on a high with the much-awaited appearance of Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, while ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ plays in the background. Sunny's powerful chant of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ gives goosebumps and has undoubtedly led to a frenzy in cinemas. However, one also expected Sunny's face to be revealed properly. His barely 10-second appearance, without giving audiences a clear glimpse of how he looks as Lord Hanuman, feels like a missed opportunity. While the sequence does generate curiosity and excitement for Ramayana 2, the impact could have been far greater. A few additional shots of Sunny Deol, perhaps accompanied by another powerful dialogue, could have elevated the sequence to an altogether different level. In fact, it had the potential to create the kind of INSANE curiosity that the iconic ‘Katappa ne Baahubali ko kyun maara?’ cliffhanger generated after Baahubali: The Beginning (2015).
7. Screening a shortened English version for Western critics
The makers of Ramayana reportedly screened a shortened English-language version of the film for Western critics. However, this decision perhaps didn't do justice to the film's scale, emotions and storytelling. The mixed reviews that followed arguably added unnecessary negativity to the conversation surrounding the film. Interestingly, non-English-language films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000) and Parasite (2019) achieved extraordinary international acclaim without compromising their original linguistic identity. Even our very own RRR (2022) demonstrated that a film deeply rooted in Indian culture and sensibilities could win over Western audiences. These examples show that international critics are perfectly capable of appreciating films made in languages other than English. One wonders whether Ramayana would have received a more favourable response had critics watched the complete Hindi version with English subtitles. Hopefully, the makers will consider screening the full Hindi version of Ramayana 2 for Western critics when it releases during Diwali 2028.
To conclude
None of these observations takes away from the tremendous effort, ambition and resources invested in bringing Ramayana to the big screen. Mounting a film of this scale is no ordinary achievement, and the makers deserve credit for attempting something that few Indian filmmakers would dare to undertake. Moreover, several of these decisions are subjective, and audiences may have differing opinions about them. Nevertheless, when a film carries expectations as enormous as Ramayana, even seemingly minor choices can make a significant difference. With Ramayana 2 scheduled for Diwali 2028, the makers have an opportunity to build on the strengths of the first instalment while addressing some of these concerns.
Also Read: Ramayana makers unveil ‘The Making of Ravana’ as they offer glimpse into the transformation of Yash
More Pages: Ramayana - Part I Box Office Collection , Ramayana - Part I Movie Review
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