Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha: Negative marketing after ₹46 lakh

Prakash Mahobiya, producer of Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, has claimed that a coordinated negative campaign kept audiences away from his film. The small-scale version of the Ramayan released on September 25 and, according to Sacnilk, collected only ₹46 lakh worldwide. Mahobiya says the film was never given a fair run, and he has hinted at a possible re-release.

The allegation

In an interview with India Today, Mahobiya said negative comments were circulated among YouTubers and influencers before viewers could form their own judgment. “It was negative marketing throughout,” he said. “We never got a chance to reach our audience.” He added that people who watched the film enjoyed it, but that online buzz asked others not to buy a ticket.

When asked whether he was accusing the team behind Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana — backed by Namit Malhotra and Yash — he stopped short of a direct charge. “I am not sure,” he said, while maintaining that this was what his team had been told. The distinction matters: it is an allegation about a campaign, not proof of who funded it.

Two Ramayanas, very different budgets

Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, directed by Abhishek Singh, stars Anjali Arora, Dev Sharma and Rajneish Duggal. It was criticised before release over Anjali’s casting as Sita and its VFX; after release, viewers also noted a Vanar Sena member wearing spectacles in a poster.

The big-budget rival is a different beast. Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, is reportedly mounted at ₹4,000 crore and planned as two parts. Part one is scheduled for Diwali 2026 and part two for Diwali 2027.

• Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha: released September 25, ₹46 lakh worldwide so far.
• Ramayana: reported ₹4,000 crore budget, Diwali 2026 and 2027 release plan.
• Producer’s claim: negative marketing by influencers; team planning a re-release.

Why it matters

This is not only a dispute between two films. It is a reminder of how pre-release discourse shapes a smaller title’s fate. If negative clips travel faster than a film can build word of mouth, even a passionate audience may never give it a look. For viewers who love the Ramayan as a story, the real loss is not seeing a version that those who watched describe as enjoyable.

The producer has not yet announced a re-release date, but the conversation may give Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha a second, more visible window. If it returns to theatres, the audience will get a chance to decide with their own eyes.

Source: Hindustan Times

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