Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 7: Acclaimed filmmaker S Shankar has praised director Nitesh Tiwari’s epic film Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend, describing it as a visual spectacle that raises the standards of Indian cinema following its theatrical release on November 5.

Sharing his review on social media platform X, the director of Indian 2 lauded producer Namit Malhotra and Tiwari for taking Indian cinema to international standards through the film’s production values, visual effects and technical execution.

Shankar also praised the film’s music, composed by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer, along with its overall look, sound design and grand scale. He singled out Yash, who plays Ravana, for special appreciation, describing him as a “lovable villain” and praising the quality of his performance in every frame.

“#Ramayana – What a spectacle!!! Never seen visuals like this in Indian cinema. Huge appreciation to @malhotra_namit and @niteshtiwari22 for taking Indian cinema to international standards. Brilliant VFX, rich production values, superb look and feel, great music by @arrahman and @HansZimmer, and massive sound! It’s a delight to watch @TheNameIsYash in every frame. He is such a lovable villain and has delivered a quality performance. Best wishes to #RanbirKapoor and @Sai_Pallavi92. Grand applause to the entire team for this wonderful effort and making Indian cinema proud,” Shankar wrote.

Responding to the appreciation, Tiwari thanked Shankar on X, replying, “Thanks a lot sir,” accompanied by folded-hands emojis.

Shankar’s reaction follows appreciation from other prominent filmmakers, including SS Rajamouli and Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who have also praised the scale and execution of the adaptation.

Based on sage Valmiki’s Ramayana and the 16th-century devotional epic Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas, the film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Yash as Ravana.

The ensemble cast also includes Arun Govil as King Dashrath, Indira Krishnan as Queen Kaushalya, Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjiva and Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra.

The film concludes with a post-credits sequence introducing Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The character is expected to play a prominent role in the second instalment, Ramayana: Part 2, which is scheduled for theatrical release in 2028.