‘Ramayana’ Costume Designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula Address Backlash Over Character Looks

The makers dropped the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana” last week. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in as Lord Rama, Sita and Ravana, respectively. Fans have had mixed reactions after watching the trailer, as some did not agree to the creative choices made by the team. The costumes of the key characters, in particular, came under scrutiny, as viewers debated whether the designs, fabrics and overall styling were historically and culturally appropriate for an adaptation of the Indian epic. The conversations have once again sparked a wider discussion about balancing artistic interpretation with audience expectations when bringing revered mythological characters to the big screen.

Related Stories

Ranbir Kapoor Reveals ‘Ramayana: Part Two’ Is Already 50% Complete

During an interview with Times of India, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, the costume designers of the two-part epic, opened up about being ready to face audiences’ expectations while explaining why they chose to design the ensembles in a certain way. “An epic like 'Ramayana' has lived in our collective consciousness for generations. There will always be opinions about the casting, costumes, visual effects and what people believe is right or wrong. We were prepared for that,” they said.

While responding to the criticism online, especially about Sai Pallavi’s Sita’s ensemble, they added, “When I close my eyes and think of Goddess Sita, I don’t think about archaeological authenticity. I wanted my Goddess, the one sitting in my mandir (temple), to look like the image that has lived in my consciousness.”

Lara Dutta’s appearance as Kaikeyi sparked debates on social media too. Rimple explained, “The green in her costume represents motherhood, while the deep maroon reflects the emotional strength and darkness of the decision she has to make. She is torn between her own son and Rama.”

Rimple also emphasised that there are no definitive visual records from the Treta Yuga that accurately document the clothing of that era, meaning every cinematic retelling inevitably relies on creative interpretation. Harpreet added, “This is our attempt to make an ancient epic speak visually to a new generation. There’s thought behind every thread.”