‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ Review: Nitesh Tiwari’s Bright, Bracing Saga
Nitesh Tiwari directs a three-hour magical action spectacle based on Valmiki’s Hindu poem, starring Yash, Ranbir Kapoor, Ravi Dubey, and Sai Pallavi.
Published 7 November 2026
An Epic Scale
The year has been exceptionally strong for big-budget film adaptations derived from ancient fantasy epics. While Christopher Nolan offered a notably dour and grey interpretation of Homer's classic with 'The Odyssey' over the summer, Nitesh Tiwari steps in with a vibrant alternative.
Tiwari presents 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' as an electric rainbow of a movie, filled with shimmering extravagance, adventure, and romance that stretches the boundaries of a standard theater experience.
The Journey of Ravana
Running for a substantial three hours, the narrative spans a massive amount of ground. The story centers on a man named Ravana, played by Yash, who seeks to liberate his enslaved people.
Following intense penance on a mountain summit, Ravana is granted a gift by the god Brahma. When denied complete immortality, he settles for being unkillable by anything except humans.
The Rise of Rama
After conquering his kingdom and single-handedly slaughtering an entire army, Ravana lets his immense power corrupt him. In response, the god Vishnu creates a human avatar.
This avatar is Rama, portrayed by Ranbir Kapoor, one of four princes born to a distant king who is trained from birth in daring stunts and demon slaying by a flying birdman.
Allies and Adversaries
Along his journey, Rama and his younger brother Lakshmana, played by Ravi Dubey, save enchanted forests and wield powerful magic weapons.
Rama eventually wins the hand of the beautiful martial arts princess Sita, played by Sai Pallavi, though palace intrigue soon threatens his rightful throne.
A Visual Spectacle
Navigating millennia of cultural history can be daunting for viewers unfamiliar with Valmiki’s epic poem, but the film serves as an exhilarating crash course in unfamiliar mythology.
Tiwari successfully balances the gigantic episodic story by combining stunning action sequences—such as heroes fleeing demons through collapsing forests—with courtly romance and political intrigue.
Value and Pacing
Given the high cost of movie tickets, the three-hour runtime delivers substantial value, offering far more content than many other simultaneous theatrical releases.
Despite concluding rather suddenly as a two-parter, the feature delivers gorgeous costumes, luscious sets, and countless magical creatures that leave viewers eager for the second part.
News Overview
Nitesh Tiwari has directed 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend', a three-hour magical action fantasy film starring Yash, Ranbir Kapoor, Ravi Dubey, and Sai Pallavi. The production adapts Valmiki’s ancient Hindu poem into a vibrant spectacle that balances massive battle sequences with romance, while setting up a planned second part.
Key facts
- Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is directed by Nitesh Tiwari
- The film stars Yash, Ranbir Kapoor, Ravi Dubey, and Sai Pallavi
- The movie has a runtime of three hours
- The story is based on Valmiki’s Hindu poem Ramayana
- The project is structured as a two-parter