‘Ramayana’ X review: Is Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s film ‘Drama’yana’ or a cinematic masterpiece? Netizens react

Ranbir Kapoor's screen presence, Yash's powerful episodes and the film's ambitious visual effects have caught viewers' attention, but is Nitesh Tiwari's ‘Ramayana’ let down by its lengthy runtime and storytelling?

After years of anticipation, Nitesh Tiwari's ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ has finally arrived in theatres on November 5. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the ambitious mythological drama has opened amid enormous expectations.

ALSO READ: Indian Idol fame Amritha Rajan on her ‘Ramayana’ debut with AR Rahman: 'I'm still processing' 

Several theatres reportedly witnessed packed early morning shows, with fans turning up for the first-day-first-show screenings.

The excitement had been building since November 4, when paid preview screenings were held across the country. Now, the first audience reactions on X (formerly Twitter) are in, and while some viewers are celebrating the film as a visual spectacle, others have a few reservations about its execution. Interestingly, one viewer even came up with a playful verdict: 'Drama'yana'!

‘Ramayana’ X review: What are netizens saying?

The film's visual effects and production scale have emerged as two of its biggest strengths in the initial reactions. Yash's portions as Ravana, the Jatayu sequence and the background score have also received considerable appreciation.

One viewer summed up the experience as a "grand cinematic experience", praising the visuals, performances and emotional storytelling. However, the review was not entirely glowing. The user pointed out slow pacing, a few unengaging scenes and uneven storytelling, adding that the film could have been better despite its impressive moments.

Another viewer gave the film an average verdict, describing it as 'Drama'yana'. The user listed the outstanding VFX, filmmaking, Yash's episodes and the Jatayu sequence among the highlights. Ranbir's performance, the music and the emotional moments between Rama and Sita also found appreciation. However, the reviewer felt that the story and drama lacked excitement and that the lengthy runtime worked against the film.

A similar sentiment was echoed by another viewer, who called the film average but praised its technical achievements. The user highlighted the VFX, Yash's portions and the Jatayu sequence as the major takeaways, while pointing out the lack of engaging storytelling and the extended runtime as drawbacks.

Ranbir Kapoor has, meanwhile, emerged as one of the film's biggest talking points. One X user described the actor as its "biggest asset", praising his screen presence. Yash also received appreciation for his portrayal of Ravana.

Sai Pallavi's performance, however, has attracted a more divided response. While the emotional moments between Rama and Sita have been appreciated, one viewer called the actor a "huge letdown", criticising her expressions and emotional delivery in several portions.

The visual effects have also prompted comparisons with other big-budget Indian films. One viewer called ‘Ramayana’ visually India's best yet, even suggesting that it surpassed ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ in this department.

ALSO READ: Ramayana first X preview: Did the LA premiere live up to the hype? Early reactions divided

Not all reactions have been critical, though. Several enthusiastic viewers have described the film as a "cinematic masterpiece", applauding its breathtaking visuals, storytelling and powerhouse performances. Some have even called it a once-in-a-generation theatrical experience.

The early verdict, therefore, appears to be a mixed one: the film's scale, technical ambition and lead performances have impressed many, but its narrative pace and lengthy runtime have left others wanting more.

‘Ramayana’: Cast and box office expectations

Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, the film features Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta and Indira Krishnan, among others.

With the film arriving during the extended Diwali holiday period, box office expectations are equally ambitious. ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ is projected to collect around Rs 100-120 crore on its opening day. The holiday advantage and enormous pre-release buzz could further boost its theatrical run.

ALSO READ: ‘Ramayana Part 1’ LIVE review: Badshah calls Ranbir Kapoor's film a 'six on five' 

Whether the film lives up to its massive expectations at the box office remains to be seen. For now, the audience conversation is split between those celebrating a grand cinematic spectacle and those wishing the storytelling had matched its scale.