Ramayana movie review news has arrived today, 5 November 2026, along with the film itself. Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is now in cinemas, and the first full reviews are in — and they largely agree on one thing: this is a film made to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Image Credit: T-Series — Official Trailer/Poster via YouTube
This is not a first-reactions roundup or an advance-booking update. Those angles have already been covered here. This Ramayana movie review gathers what today’s critics actually said after watching the complete film, what they praised, what they questioned, and whether the 195-minute epic is worth your time this week.
Ramayana movie review: the verdict in one line
Filmfare gives Ramayana 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a spectacle with soul and praising the acting of Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash. Filmibeat rates it 3.5 out of 5, highlighting Ranbir Kapoor’s grace, Yash’s intensity and top-notch visual effects. Indulge also rates it 4 out of 5, singling out Yash’s Ravana as the show-stealer.
Put together, the early consensus is clear. Ramayana Part 1 is grand, sincere and visually enormous, even if its pacing is not perfect all the way through. It works best as a theatrical experience, and it deliberately leaves the biggest battle for the second part.
What is Ramayana Part 1 about?
Ramayana Part 1 follows the early journey of Lord Rama, played by Ranbir Kapoor. The story begins with Ravana’s rise to power, then moves to Ayodhya, where Rama’s life changes after Kaikeyi invokes her boons. Rama accepts a 14-year exile, and Sita, played by Sai Pallavi, and Lakshmana, played by Ravie Dubey, go with him into the forest.
Without spoiling the finer details, reviewers note that the first part builds its emotional foundation slowly: the marriage, the family bonds, the forest episodes, and the events that set up the great conflict to come. Filmfare notes that the first part culminates in Sita’s abduction, setting the stage for the war that will follow in Part 2. Sunny Deol is introduced as Hanuman towards the end, giving audiences a clear reason to look forward to the continuation, which is scheduled for Diwali 2028.
The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios. It releases in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with an English version titled Rise of a Legend. The Hindi runtime is 195 minutes, or 3 hours 15 minutes.
Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash lead a huge cast
One point on which the Ramayana movie review coverage agrees is the casting. Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama is described by both Filmfare and Filmibeat as calm, dignified and restrained — a performance built on quiet strength rather than loud heroics. His scenes with Sai Pallavi and Ravie Dubey are repeatedly praised for their warmth and ease.
Sai Pallavi’s Sita is another highlight. Critics describe her as graceful and resilient, and Filmfare points out that this Sita is also shown as a warrior princess who can hold her own in battle, which adds a fresh dimension without removing her grace.
Yash, meanwhile, is the name most reviewers reach for first. Filmibeat calls him the star performer, while Indulge says he steals the show as Ravana. His screen presence, physicality and authority dominate every scene he appears in, and Filmfare singles out a split-personality sequence as one of his most impactful moments.
The supporting cast is equally large: Arun Govil as Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Kunal Kapoor as Indra, Shobana as Kaikasi, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Reviewers praise Lara Dutta and Sheeba Chaddha in particular, and note that the Dasharatha-Kaikeyi-Rama confrontation and Rama’s departure from Ayodhya are among the film’s most affecting sequences.
Visuals and music: the film’s biggest strengths
If there is one unanimous praise in every Ramayana movie review today, it is the scale. Filmfare compares the visual finish to Avatar and The Lord of the Rings, praising the forests, the city of Lanka, the Pushpaka Vimana sequence and the hybrid creatures. Filmibeat credits DNEG with top-notch visual effects and says several sequences genuinely deserve the biggest screen available.
The action is also a talking point. The film opens with a full-scale war between the Devas and Rakshasas, and reviewers highlight the Janasthana battle and the confrontation between Ravana and Jatayu as set pieces of genuine scale.
The music comes from A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Filmfare gives special mention to Zimmer’s background score, saying it adds grandeur to the battles and intimacy to the emotional moments, while Rahman’s songs bring an old-world charm. Filmibeat makes the same point: the score works particularly well in both emotional and larger-than-life sequences.
What the critics questioned
No Ramayana movie review today is entirely without reservations, and it is worth stating them honestly. Filmibeat notes that the second half has some slow-paced and dull moments, though it says the climax makes up for them. It also flags a technical issue: lip sync does not always match the dialogue perfectly in places.
Filmfare wishes the film had included smaller, emotionally rich episodes from the epic, such as Rama’s meeting with Shabari and his encounter with Ahilya, which could have added further warmth. Other early reviews note uneven pacing and an occasionally artificial look in some visual-effects shots, even while praising the overall scale.
These are real criticisms, but none of today’s major reviews treats them as deal-breakers. The common view is that the emotional core — duty, sacrifice, separation and love — holds the spectacle together.
Should you watch Ramayana in cinemas?
Yes, if you like grand mythological cinema, this is the week’s clearest big-screen choice. The reviews agree that Ramayana Part 1 is best experienced in a theatre, preferably in IMAX 3D, where the scale, sound and detail can land properly. It is a substantial watch at 195 minutes, but Filmfare argues the brisk pace and moving moments make the runtime feel justified.
It is also important to set expectations correctly. This is Part 1 of a two-part story. It establishes the world, the characters and the emotional stakes, and it ends with the promise of a much bigger second part in Diwali 2028. Viewers expecting the complete war in this instalment will be waiting for the sequel — and that, reviewers suggest, is exactly the point.
No OTT release date or platform has been announced for Ramayana Part 1 yet. For now, cinemas are the only way to watch it, and given the record advance booking reported ahead of release, early shows are expected to stay busy through the opening weekend.
For the advance-booking picture ahead of release, read our earlier update on the film’s Day 1 pre-sales here: https://filmyyfly.com/2026/11/05/ramayana-day-1-advance-booking-dhurandhar-2/
Ramayana movie review: final verdict
Ramayana movie review scores today — 4 out of 5 from Filmfare, 3.5 out of 5 from Filmibeat and 4 out of 5 from Indulge — paint a consistent picture. Ranbir Kapoor brings dignity to Rama, Sai Pallavi brings grace and strength to Sita, and Yash brings commanding intensity to Ravana. The visuals are enormous, the music is world-class, and the emotions, for the most part, land.
It is not flawless. The pacing dips in places, and a few technical rough edges show. But as an opening chapter of India’s most beloved epic, told on a scale Indian cinema has rarely attempted, Ramayana Part 1 earns its place on the big screen. If you were waiting for the reviews before booking, today’s verdict is: go, watch it large, and settle in for the first half of a much bigger story.
Image Credit: T-Series — Official Trailer/Poster via YouTube
