In a recent interview on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience, renowned VFX maestro and producer Namit Malhotra, known for his award-winning work on global blockbusters such as Dune and Oppenheimer, detailed his bold vision of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: not just as a film, but as a cultural statement. Malhotra revealed that one of his primary motivations is to reshape the way the world views India, moving away from pervasive narratives of poverty and victimhood to showcasing a nation rooted in grandeur, strength, and deep cultural heritage.
In This Article:
- Unprecedented Scale: India’s Most Expensive Film Ever
- Release Timeline & Stellar Cast
- Global Filmmaking: International VFX & Music Powerhouses Onboard
- First Glimpse: Launch Event Sparks Emotions
- Critics Sound Off: Letting the Film Speak
- Cultural Reclamation: Redefining India’s Global Image
- Bottom Line
“Films like Slumdog Millionaire, Gandhi, Lion, and even RRR broke through internationally, but many depicted us as victims,” he explained, adding, “We were poor and always less fortunate”, a portrayal he felt misrepresented the true spirit of Indian civilisation.
Unprecedented Scale: India’s Most Expensive Film Ever
According to multiple credible reports, including the Hindustan Times, Eastern Eye, and Economic Times, Ramayana is the most costly production in Indian cinema history. The two-part saga boasts an eye-watering combined budget of approximately ₹4,000 crore (around £375 million/$500 million), eclipsing Hollywood tentpoles like Avatar and Avengers.
Malhotra disclosed that collaborators initially deemed the budget insane when it was first proposed six to seven years ago, yet he persisted, driven by the ambition to elevate Indian storytelling to a truly global scale.
Release Timeline & Stellar Cast
The Ramayana duology is set for release during Diwali, Part 1 in November 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027. It features an extraordinary ensemble:
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram
- Sai Pallavi as Sita
- Yash as Ravana
- Sunny Deol as Hanuman
- Amitabh Bachchan voicing Jatayu
- Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana
This casting reflects a fusion of mainstream star power and performances steeped in cultural resonance.
Global Filmmaking: International VFX & Music Powerhouses Onboard
The production boasts a world-class crew:
- VFX will be handled by Prime Focus in partnership with the Oscar-winning studio DNEG.
- A dream collaboration sees A.R. Rahman team up with Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, marking Zimmer’s Bollywood debut.
- The action sequences are being choreographed by team members from Hollywood’s powerhouse movies, including work by stunt director Guy Norris (known for Fury Road).
This cross-continental alliance underscores the film’s ambition to set a global standard in technical innovation and cinematic storytelling.
First Glimpse: Launch Event Sparks Emotions
On July 3 in Mumbai, the much-anticipated first IMAX 3-minute glimpse of Ramayana was unveiled. The event, streamed globally, saw director Nitesh Tiwari visibly moved by audience reaction. Tiwari shared that beyond the technical spectacle, his deepest hope is igniting emotional pride in India’s cultural legacy.
Producer Malhotra echoed Tiwari’s sentiment, calling the project “a long-held dream”, one aimed at making every Indian stand proud on the world stage, and at ensuring the film does justice to the epic’s stature.
Critics Sound Off: Letting the Film Speak
Not all voices are completely enthusiastic. Director Sanjay Gupta, known for Shootout at Wadala, took a subtle jab via social media, reminding creators of memorable franchises like Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and Dune that the work should speak for itself without pre-release promotion. His remarks hint at a caution against over-promising, especially when budgets reach stratospheric levels.
Cultural Reclamation: Redefining India’s Global Image
At its heart, Ramayana is being marketed not merely as entertainment, but as cultural reclamation. Malhotra emphasises that this adaptation stands as a counter-narrative to the portrayal of India as subservient or disadvantaged in Western storytelling.
Drawing inspiration from classic epics worldwide, the producers envision Ramayana as India’s answer to monumental global sagas like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, anchoring it firmly in India’s spiritual and historical roots.
Bottom Line
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, backed by visionary producer Namit Malhotra, aspires to transcend conventional definitions of Indian cinema. With its monumental budget, international music collaboration, historic cast, and global visual effects, it positions itself as a cinematic milestone. More than just a movie, it’s framed as a global cultural ambassador, a chance to reshape perceptions and illuminate the grandeur of India’s mythology.
By – Sonali