akhilesh kumar

#RAMAYANA: A VISUAL SPECTACLE THAT FAILS TO EVOKE BHAKTI & BHAAVNA.. Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana rides on two pillars – grand visual effects and drama and emotions. First and foremost, I would like to applaud the producers for attempting a film of this scale. Investing such a massive amount of money in a project like this, despite knowing the limitations of the Indian theatrical market, is truly a courageous decision. Visually the film is stunning. I wouldn’t compare it with Avatar or The Lord of the Rings, as they belong to an entirely different league. However, it would not be wrong to say that Ramayana features some of the finest visuals ever witnessed in Indian cinema. Having said that, while the visuals are spectacular, the execution of the action sequences lacks the clap worthy high moments and impact we experience in SS Rajamouli’s films. You certainly witness grandeur on screen, but most of these sequences are something you simply keep watching rather than experiencing. They lack the elevation that gives you goosebumps or makes audiences erupt into applause and whistles inside cinemas. The opening sequence featuring the battle between Indra and the Asuras, Ravana’s entry and the Jatayu sequence towards the climax are impressive, but none of them are truly extraordinary. Several creatures and monsters (Asuras) also look rather cartoonish. Now comes the film’s weakest link – drama and emotions. We are all familiar with the story of the Ramayana, which makes its execution the most crucial aspect of the film. Unfortunately, this is where the film falters. Apart from the Vanvaas sequence, there is hardly a moment that genuinely touches your heart or brings tears to your eyes, even Sita haran sequence is completely flat. The film seriously lacks the devotional connect and spiritual essence that one associates with the Ramayana. The sense of bhakti, devotion and divinity that audiences experienced in films like Hanuman Ansh, Mahavatar Narasimha and Kantara is largely missing here. For the most part, the screenplay feels boring and unnecessarily stretched. The performances are fairly decent, but #Yash is the one who carries the film on his shoulders. Every time he appears on screen, the film gets a significant boost. You genuinely feel that Yash was born to play Ravana. Such is the impact he creates in the role! #RanbirKapoor is very good as Shri Ram. He brings the calmness, composure and grace required to portray this iconic character. However his portrayal of Lord Parshuram is a different story altogether, with his dialogue delivery appearing rather absurd in those portions. #SaiPallavi as Maa Sita is a complete miscast. I find it difficult to imagine audiences accepting her in this particular role. Ravi Dubey does a good job as Lakshman. Arun Govil and the other supporting actors also perform their parts well. The music and background score are another major letdown. Hans Zimmer’s signature musical touch is hardly noticeable throughout the film, barring the Dharti Hai Ambar Hai background score. AR Rahman’s songs are disappointing. Not a single track stands out as a memorable chartbuster that audiences would want to revisit. Overall, Ramayana is an above-average cinematic experience. If you walk into the cinema with normal expectations, you are unlikely to be hugely disappointed. However considering the scale, ambition and expectations attached to this project, the film certainly falls short of its potential. And yes, the brief glimpse of Lord Hanuman is arguably the biggest highlight of the film! I genuinely hope Ramayana succeeds at the box office because, honestly, I don’t see another filmmaker attempting to bring the epic to the big screen on this kind of scale anytime soon. At the box office i don’t think it will beat #Dhurandhar2 India & Global lifetime collection. #RamayanaReview