Big and beautiful are the two words that are likely to stay with us long after watching the magnum opus of the year, Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend. Few epics have been retold as many times, in as many different ways as the Ramayana. From dramas and folk songs to puppet shows, comics and television shows and theatricals, the story of Lord Rama's journey to rescue Goddess Sita from Ravana has found expression in different form, across mediums through the centuries. And yet, its fascination remains undiminished. Now, director Nitesh Tiwari, with Ranbir Kapoor headlining his ambitious adaptation, joins the bandwagon to bring the timeless epic to the big screen, on a scale never attempted before. As one settles down in a packed theatre for an early morning screening, the buzz and excitement are undeniable. Riding on sky-high expectations, the film's breathtaking opening sequence sets the tone beautifully for the many wonders to come in the sprawling saga.

 

 

 

The first part of the two-part epic traces the origins of all the key characters, including Lord Rama (Ranbir Kapoor), Goddess Sita (Sai Pallavi), Lakshmana (Ravie Dubey) and Ravana played magnificently by the formidable Yash. Other characters including King Dasrath (Arun Govil), Kaikeyi (Lara Dutta) Surpanakha (Rakul Preet Singh), Manthara (Sheeba Chaddha) are given their due as the saga traces the rise of Ravana to the pinnacle of power and Lord Rama discovering his divine destiny as the seventh avatar of God Vishnu. With some of the biggest of names in the showbiz lending their mojo to the project -- right from Dangal maverick, Nitesh Tiwari, musical maestros Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, lyricist Dr Kumar Vishwas, action greats Terry Notary and Guy Norris with Oscar-winning global visual effects and animation studio DNEG adding to the formidable line-up - Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend is a proper proper epic, which ticks off all the boxes, well almost! The Ramayana is a deeply revered epic and Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation clearly understands the enormity of the task at hand and takes the responsibility seriously too.

 

This is no half-hearted attempt (Adipurish anyone?!), as Ramayana goes the whole yard and pulls out all stops of scale and spectacle to bring the timeless saga alive. Nitesh Tiwari never loses sight of the weight of the monumental story and it shows. The thread of solemnity and reverence running throughout the film is unmistakable, even when the director layers the narrative with drama, emotion, battles or betrayal. Ramayana goes absolutely overboard with its visual treats. It’s an out-and-out visual feast and some of the stunning frames deserve a standing ovation. From the grands sets, to sweeping vistas, the starkly different loks, or the elaborate action sequences, there is never a dearth of things to feast your eyes on. There are thunderous battles, mighty warriors, inventive animals, divine interventions and loads of magic and mayhem to keep one glued to the screen. And just when you think you've seen it all, Ramayana throws up yet another majestic surprise.

 

Namit Malhotra wasn't kidding when he said he was putting Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend up there with spectacles like Avatar and LOTR. Ramayana sure scores big on the visual front. Several sequences in the glittering saga are simply out of this world. Be it the penultimate Jatayau sequence, the stunning war with Indra Dev, or the sensational face-off in Janasthan, the battles are big, bombastic and worth the steep price of admission. Also in a major win, the special effects are of the brightest quality; no grainy, or dark visuals play spoilsport here. Also, finer but important details of the saga also get a mention in the film, though fleeting. Be it a young Sita effortlessly lifting the divine Shiva Dhanush, Kaikeyi’s back story or Surpanakha’s dilemma all add a lot of gravitas to the film. The operatic score by Hans Zimmer and A R Rahman adds to the film's grandeur.

 

The score is sweeping takes the already dramatic moments several notches higher making it a wholesome experience. The dialogues by Shreyas Jain and Nitesh Tiwari are superb and lend the film a lot of solemnity. However, when it comes to the storytelling, things are a little shaky. For all its scale and technical brilliance, Ramayana does stumble in places, leaving you wishing the narrative was as strong as the spectacle. The film at times trips over its own ambition. There is too much happening in some sequences and the abundance of dramatic turns and big moments barely give us time to take it all in. Even the 195-minute runtime feels inadequate for a story of this magnitude. A little breathing space between the bombastic moments, a few quieter moments and some time to savour in the highs and lows of the characters, could have made the world of difference to Ramayana. Though the VFX are world class, some sequences- especially those involving motion are a real downer. But the movie’s brisk pace and abundance of threats ensure that these remain a muted grumble.

 

Ranbir Kapoor wears Lord Rama's nobility with an effortless grace. He looks and acts every bit the part and his portrayal is superbly restrained. There is almost a palpable calmness to his performance even in the most intense situations. After a few initial moments, he becomes one with the character but never allows the divinity to be overwhelming. Sai Pallavi, brings on her natural grace and warmth to her role. She looks ethereal and plays Sita with quiet strength. Yash as Ravana towers over everyone, literally too. He is all fire in the film and blazes in the majestic hues of anger, arrogance, brute strength with conviction. With a fascinating build-up and well-itched characters arch, he embodies the fearsome Lankesh. Be it his menace, his swagger or his fury he is magnetic in every frame. Ravi Dubey is a revelation and shines as the dutiful brother with a swag. In fact, all the performances are riveting. Though some characters -- including Vivek Oberio, Kunal Kapoor -- walk away with the film, others barely get any room to shine, the overpopulated film is richer by measured performances. Big on ambition, bigger on spectacle Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend with its dazzling frames, sweeping visuals, soaring music delivers a spectacle of mammoth proportions. Despite razzmatazz dialled up to maximum, the heart of Ramayana remain strong and beats reverentially. With the majestic glimpse of the almighty Bahubali, Lord Hanuman wetting our appetite for more, the wait for the second instalment is going to be a long one.