Ramayana premiere draws praise and criticism in Los Angeles

Ramayana held its world premiere in Los Angeles on October 27, drawing early praise for its scale and performances alongside criticism that its spectacle did not always deliver emotional depth. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is scheduled to open in theaters on November 5. The screening took place at the David Geffen Theatre inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Lead actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash attended with Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra. Kapoor plays Rama, Pallavi portrays Sita and Yash plays Ravana in the two-part adaptation of the Indian epic. Initial reactions from viewers and reviewers were mixed. Some praised the film’s visuals, action and principal performances, while others said its music, pacing and emotional storytelling fell short. These responses followed a premiere screening and do not establish wider audience opinion or the film’s commercial performance. Reviewer Venky Reviews praised the production’s ambition and Yash’s portrayal of Ravana, but said lengthy action sequences and parts of the second half weakened the drama. The reviewer also criticized the music and said the film’s scale did not consistently translate into...