“Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” is an epic visual feast

“Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” is a film on a grand scale based upon the Hindu epic poem the Ramayana. Stunning visual effects, dramatic battle sequences, and incredible creatures and demons all are present here in this retelling of the revered Hindu text. The impressive scale and scope are augmented by fine production values.

The movie begins with a discussion of the three main Hindu deities. Brahma is the creator. Shiva is the destroyer that brings about renewal. Vishnu is the protector.

In the beginning two groups of beings fought each other for control. The Devas represented the good force and the Asuras the evil force. In one climactic battle, the Asuras appear to be headed for victory. Then Lord Indra (Kunal Kapoor) appears on a winged white elephant. He summons strength from Vishnu to turn the tide for the forces of good.

The Devas take control of the land of Lanka. The Asuras live in a netherworld and dwell in terrible subhuman conditions. Eventually Kaikashi (Shobana) tells her son Dashanan to stop playing his instrument and reading scriptures. He is go out into the world and find a way to elevate the Asuras.

Dashanan goes on an epic journey and ends up on a mountaintop. He takes root as a tree. Energy from him begins to shake the earth. Brahma, concerned about his creation, tells him to relent. Dashanan asks to be immortal. Although this wish cannot be granted, he is given the power to not be killed by humans. He adopts the name Ravana (portrayed by the actor Yash). Ravana goes to Lanka and takes over. He single-handedly mows down soldiers of all kinds. He rallies his people to join him in conquests.

In the city of Ayodhya, King Dasharatha (Arun Govil) has three wives who bear him four sons. Rama (played as an adult by Ranbir Kapoor) grows in both skill and prowess. He is a favored son.

Rama is asked by a sage to go into a forest with his brother Lakshmana (Ravi Dubey) to defeat some demons. After they complete this task, they travel to the kingdom of Mithila. King Janaka (Rajiv Kumar) has a bow named Pinaka, from the god Shiva, that no one has been able to string. Whoever strings it will win the hand of his daughter Sita (Sai Pallavi), who is a master of martial arts and scriptures.

Several people try to master the bow but cannot even lift it. When Rama starts to string the bow, it breaks. Rama and Sita are married and the party returns to Ayodhya. On the way, they meet Parashurama (also Ranbir Kapoor), the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He challenges Rama for breaking the bow but soon sees that the young man is indeed blessed by the Gods. He dissolves and so Rama becomes the seventh avatar of Vishnu.

Time passes. King Dasharatha requests that Rama become king in his place. Rama accepts. But soon the birth mother of Rama’s half-brother Bharata (Adinath Kothare) reminds the King that upon their marriage he agreed to make her son the King. Bharata is crowned and Rama begins a 14-year exile in the forest with Sita and Lakshmana. What will happen to Rama and his party during their travels and sojourns in other lands?

Full disclosure: I have never read The Ramayana nor am I familiar with the work at all. I am a product of a different culture entirely.

That being said, one can imagine the power of the epic poem by the drama in this film. There are elements of the hero’s journey, the belief in fate and how choices affect that fate, finding one’s true love, and the battle between good and evil.

I saw this film in 3-D in Hindi with English subtitles, which appeared to hover in front of the action at the base of the picture. These glasses added an extra sense of realism by creating a life-like setting through depth.

The cinematography is one of the extraordinary elements of this production. The clarity of shots, the choice of shot selection, and the use of close-ups and long shots were superbly handled. I especially loved the aerial views, whether from Ravana’s flying machine or from the perspective of the semi-divine vulture Jataya.

Another wonderful production value are the costumes. Whether it is the rags of the Asuras or the finery of the palace, one gets a sense of what life was like in the historical times depicted. Often the colors just pop out of the screen on large royal stages.

The art direction and production design also are extraordinary, especially in the urban and royal settings. It was hard to tell how much was CGI-generated or human-crafted. But the magnificence of these backdrops enhanced the story.

In some ways, this movie reminded me of this year’s adaptation of a Western classic, “The Odyssey,” by Christopher Nolan. Both are epic works from an oral tradition. Heroes, supernatural beings and the fight between good and evil are present in both. The use of a bow is significant in each as well. It strikes me as remarkable that two such films should appear in the same calendar year.

My one quibble is with the acting. I felt that scenes of anger were well-depicted with genuine human emotion. But the attraction between Sita and Rama seemed more doe-eyed than passionate. In scenes involving regular dialogue, the presentation often seemed declamatory rather than natural.

The battle sequences are marvelous. Whether it is a raging tornado effect or being pursued by animals, the action is visceral. The supernatural weapons and powers on both sides seem to equalize and balance what could have been too much of a deus ex machina for either side.

Ranbir Kapoor as Rama stands out in his portrayal of a man who also struggles with questions of his fate. Yash as Ravana is a good counterpart as he makes what could have been a stock villain into a more nuanced character.

The movie ends on a cliffhanger as we progress to the next installment due on Diwali in 2028 (pushed back from Diwali 2027). The current film is being released during Diwali, a holiday associated with the Ramayana, this year.

This movie is a massive undertaking. To transfer a work of this significance to the big screen is a phenomenal task. Despite my few quibbles, I have to give this picture 5 out of 5 stars.

Based on the celebrated ancient epic known to billions, Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana: Rise of a Legend tells the story of Rama, a prince bound by sacrifice; Ravana, an immortal king driven by vengeance; and the prophecy that binds their fates together. It stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi.

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol
Directed by: Nitesh Tiwari
Screenplay by: Shridhar Raghavan
Score by Academy Award® winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman