195-Minute Indian Epic Hits US Theaters
The Hindi-language film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, opens nationwide on Thursday, November 5, 2026, with a second part scheduled for 2028.
By Layla Richardson ·
Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation of the ancient Hindu poem, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, opened in theaters across the United States on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The film is the first installment of a two-part saga based on Valmiki’s epic, which dates to between 750 BCE and 500 BCE. In India, the movie is titled Ramayana: Part 1.
The narrative follows Prince Rama, played by Ranbir Kapoor, who is the heir to the kingdom of Ayodhya and an avatar of the deity Vishnu. After Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana are forced into a fourteen-year exile, they confront the demon king Ravana. Ravana, portrayed by Yash, possesses powers granted by the deity Brahma that threaten humanity.
Audiences in the U.S. will see two versions of the film. A Hindi-language cut with English subtitles runs 195 minutes without an intermission. A dubbed version runs 166 minutes. The longer version preserves the director’s original vision, according to the review, while the dubbed cut is shortened for Western markets.
The production features a score composed by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. The visual effects were handled by DNEG. The film includes flying white elephants and giant troll-like creatures. Critics noted that while the art direction and costumes are immaculate, some composite effects are of lower quality than others.
Tiwari co-wrote the screenplay with Shridhar Raghaven and the dialogues with Shreyas Jain. The cast also includes Sai Pallavi as Sita and Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana. Lara Dutta plays Queen Kaikeyi. The review identified Yash and Dutta as the standout performers in a cast that ranges from engaging to flat.
The film runs long, with the protagonist not appearing until thirty minutes after the start. The narrative is dense with mythology and features dozens of characters and locales. The reviewer noted that the cultural barrier made it difficult to fully understand the story, with comprehension lasting only about half the runtime. The final thirty minutes serve as a setup for the sequel.
The second part of the film is scheduled for release in November 2028. The reviewer gave the film a rating of 6 out of 10. The film is now playing in theaters nationwide.
