Hema Malini says Ramayana is a unique Indian cinema experience

Veteran actor Hema Malini has weighed in on Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, and her verdict is warmer than she expected it to be. In an Instagram note shared on Tuesday, she wrote that she entered the screening with the “least expectations” and left convinced the film offers something new.

A sceptic’s seal of approval

Malini’s hesitation was rooted in the source material itself. Because the epic is so widely known, she said, there is only so much a filmmaker can change in a story many viewers already know by heart. That familiarity made the film’s impact all the more striking for her. She praised its “mind-blowing special effects” and the casting of the central characters, and described watching the audience around her become part of the unfolding events.

“A completely unique experience for the Indian audience indeed,” she wrote, crediting the latest technical innovations for the difference.

Ramayana at a glance

• Release: November 5
• Director: Nitesh Tiwari
• Lead cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana
• Music: Hans Zimmer and A R Rahman
• Format: First installment of a two-part adaptation

The film has been produced under Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and Monster Mind Creations. Terry Notary and Guy Norris are part of the action team. Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Indira Krishnan and Lara round out the cast.

Why her praise matters

For a project built on one of India’s most widely told stories, word of mouth is both an opportunity and a test. Hema Malini’s note lands while the film is still in cinemas, and it frames the experience as more than a retelling: a large-screen event where craft and scale carry the emotion.

The story follows Lord Ram’s journey into exile, Sita’s abduction by Ravana, and the battle between the forces of good and evil. With two Oscar-winning composers on the soundtrack and a dedicated action team, the first chapter is designed to feel global even though its roots are deeply Indian.

Malini’s emphasis on participation, not plot, is the takeaway. Audiences know how the story ends. What the film has to do is make them feel present for it. With the second installment still to come, the reception to this opening chapter will shape how the continuation is received.

Source: Hindustan Times

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#Bollywood#Hema Malini#Indian Cinema#Nitesh Tiwari#Ramayana#Ranbir Kapoor#Sai Pallavi#Yash