‘Ramayana’ First Glimpse: Witness Ranbir Kapoor’s Divine Transformation as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s Visual Spectacle

Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and James Cameron now have company. Nitesh Tiwari, who helms “Ramayana Part 1” joins this elite list of film visionaries who have given audiences cinema that transcends scale while staying steeped in emotion and drama. You will make comparisons and draw references to Peter Jackson’s universe-building or the visual scale of recent James Cameron films.

The first glimpse of “Ramayana,” titled “Rama” is power-packed from the opening frame. For a film like this, 3-D can be tricky, but Namit Malhotra and team have ensured that technology is put to full use. The Glimpse introduces us to Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama. You can’t take your eyes off the actor from the moment he enters the frame. From his walk to his gaze to the fast-paced action scenes to the silences, he becomes Lord Rama. This is truly the rebirth of Ranbir as an actor, a second coming of sorts as a hero who holds a place in every Indian’s heart. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but Kapoor’s transformation into Lord Rama feels divinely inspired.

“Ramayana” is a story that every Indian knows, so the teaser isn’t trying to tell you anything new. But the visuals leave you spellbound. The music and the on-screen text is designed to move you, and does so brilliantly. The background score crafted beautifully by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman blends two worlds seamlessly into one. It’s not loud or over-the-top but melodic and almost perfect with every note. 

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None of the other characters are revealed in the teaser, and that works in its favor. When the subject is the “Ramayana,” the focus has to be on Lord Rama. Ranbir Kapoor not only looks the part, he owns it. It takes courage and conviction to don the attire and play Bhagwan without it feeling like a costume drama.

Producer Namit Malhotra’s reimagining of the genre feels nothing short of visionary. There’s a clear intent to push the boundaries of scale and storytelling and it shows. The imagery is grand, the tone is immersive and the ambition is unmistakable. Nitesh Tiwari’s imaginative flourishes are in full command here, blending reverence with cinematic ambition in a way that feels both fresh and rooted. The director’s vision, the scale, and the emotion all strike the right chords.

Great news for devotees of Lord Rama and fans of the movies: this looks like a theatrical event in every sense. The teaser makes one thing clear. This is aiming to be the last word in spectacle-driven filmmaking. An old-fashioned story, retold with modern craft and global-scale execution, it wastes no time establishing its world.