Ramayana Trailer Review: Yash Dominates as Ravana, but Can Ranbir Kapoor Truly Become Lord Rama?

After watching countless leaked clips, low-quality recordings and fan-made edits, many people probably believed that the official Ramayana trailer would have nothing new left to reveal. Surprisingly, the real trailer still manages to create a completely different experience.

Released at the symbolic time of 4:15 a.m. IST on July 30, the trailer presents Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation as more than another mythological film. It wants to become a global cinematic event—one that respects the cultural importance of the story while presenting it through modern filmmaking technology.

However, while several moments feel genuinely world-class, some creative choices still leave a slightly mixed impression.

Yash as Ravana Is the Trailer’s Biggest Strength

Opening the trailer with Yash was arguably the smartest decision made by the marketing team.

From the moment he appears as Ravana, the energy changes. His face, voice, physical presence and expressions communicate aggression, pride and authority without requiring lengthy dialogue. He does not appear to be an actor wearing a Ravana costume. He appears completely comfortable inside the character.

There will always be debates about casting iconic mythological figures, but Yash has already crossed the most difficult stage: acceptance.

Very few viewers are currently discussing which other actor could have played Ravana better. That alone proves how strongly Yash has established himself in the role. His interpretation appears powerful without becoming cartoonish, and theatrical without losing seriousness.

The most interesting part is that Ramayana Part One may focus more heavily on Rama’s journey, meaning Ravana might not receive the maximum possible screen time. Yet Yash already feels like one of the central attractions.

If he can dominate a trailer with limited footage, imagine what could happen in Part Two, when the conflict between Rama and Ravana becomes the main focus.

Ravana will ultimately lose the battle—but from a performance perspective, defeating Yash may become Ranbir Kapoor’s greatest challenge.

Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama Creates Mixed Feelings

Ranbir Kapoor’s casting remains the trailer’s biggest discussion point.

Certain scenes work beautifully. The blindfolded sequence, for example, carries the scale and imagination expected from a major Indian epic. The framing, atmosphere and visual symbolism make the moment feel larger than ordinary cinema.

However, the impact becomes inconsistent when the trailer moves into closer shots of Ranbir’s face.

The problem is not the video quality. It was visible in the leaked recordings, and it remains noticeable in the official high-definition trailer. The real issue is the enormous expectation attached to the character.

Lord Rama cannot simply look heroic. His presence must communicate peace, dignity, compassion, discipline and divine authority at the same time. Some shots capture that calmness, while others make Ranbir appear more like an ordinary human prince than a divine figure.

That does not automatically make his casting wrong.

In fact, Ranbir still has a tremendous opportunity to silence the criticism through his complete performance. A trailer only contains selected expressions and disconnected moments. The emotional journey of the film may give him the space required to slowly transform into the Rama audiences want to experience.

Director Nitesh Tiwari has described Rama’s journey as deeply human, built around sacrifice, moral clarity and the difficult choice of duty over personal desire. Ranbir has similarly said that he approached the role as an opportunity to learn from Rama rather than merely represent him.

That perspective could explain why the performance appears deliberately restrained rather than conventionally “godlike.”

Still, viewers are not wrong for asking questions. Blind hatred is unnecessary, but blind praise is equally unhelpful. A character this important deserves honest discussion.

Sai Pallavi Brings Purity and Emotional Warmth

The criticism directed at Sai Pallavi feels far less convincing after watching the trailer.

Her portrayal of Sita appears simple, natural and emotionally grounded. The costume design avoids making her look unnecessarily glamorous, allowing her expressions and personality to become the focus.

That simplicity is exactly what makes the presentation effective.

Sita’s strength does not require loud action scenes or dramatic declarations. Her smallest emotional moments must carry dignity, resilience and spiritual purity. Sai Pallavi appears capable of communicating those qualities through her eyes and restrained dialogue delivery.

Her scenes with Ranbir Kapoor also provide some of the trailer’s most peaceful moments. Together, they create the emotional softness that the larger battle sequences need in order to feel meaningful.

The supporting cast adds further weight. Arun Govil’s presence carries an emotional connection for generations familiar with earlier adaptations, while glimpses of characters such as Surpanakha expand the world beyond the central trio.

The Visuals Are Grand—but Not Yet Perfect

The trailer immediately proves that comparing this film with poorly executed mythological spectacles would be unfair.

The production design, landscapes, kingdoms, forests, costumes and large-scale battle imagery suggest that the filmmakers are seriously attempting to construct a complete historical and mythological world.

The two-part production has been filmed for IMAX, with DNEG and ReDefine working on the visual effects. Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol and Ravie Dubey lead the officially announced cast as Rama, Ravana, Sita, Hanuman and Lakshmana respectively.

At its best, the trailer makes Indian mythology feel cinematic without appearing embarrassed by its cultural roots. It treats the subject with respect and avoids the feeling that the creators are merely borrowing familiar names to sell a fantasy action film.

Nevertheless, several creatures and digitally created elements still look unfinished.

Some monster designs are considerably better than what appeared in the earlier promotional material, but they remain short of complete realism. A few shots may even remind viewers of high-budget television rather than premium global cinema.

The positive sign is that the colour grading, environments and overall visual consistency already appear improved. With additional polishing before release, many of these weaknesses can potentially be corrected.

Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman Create the Divine Scale

The background score may be the trailer’s most universally praised element.

The collaboration between Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman gives the film an extraordinary musical identity. The score does not simply make scenes louder. It creates a combination of spiritual calm, tension, silence and overwhelming scale.

The final portion of the trailer is especially effective because noise and stillness seem to exist together. The music generates excitement while maintaining the dignity required by the subject.

This is the first musical collaboration between Zimmer and Rahman, and the trailer suggests that their combination could become one of the film’s defining strengths.

Final Verdict

The Ramayana trailer is not flawless, but it is extremely promising.

Yash looks born to play Ravana. Sai Pallavi brings natural grace to Sita. The music feels powerful, emotional and spiritually charged. The action appears massive, while the filmmakers’ attention to mythology is visible in numerous small details.

Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama remains the biggest question mark, but that question may also become the film’s most exciting dramatic challenge. His performance does not need to imitate previous actors who have played the character. It needs to create enough truth, dignity and emotional depth for audiences to accept a new interpretation.

The creatures and certain VFX shots still require improvement, but the overall presentation shows ambition, respect and genuine vision.

Most importantly, a new generation woke up before sunrise to watch the trailer of an Indian epic. That level of excitement cannot be created by marketing alone. The film’s team has clearly done something meaningful enough to make audiences care.

Ramayana may not have achieved perfection yet, but its official trailer makes one thing clear: Indian cinema is preparing to enter a new era of epic storytelling.

Jai Shri Ram.

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