Ashwin Kumar, the director of the upcoming mythological animated film Mahavatar Narsimha, has shared his perspective on Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor. Kumar's comments come amidst high expectations and significant buzz surrounding the live-action adaptation of the epic tale.
Kumar reflected on the lessons learned from previous attempts at bringing mythological stories to the screen, particularly the film Adipurush, and expressed optimism for the upcoming Ramayana duology. He believes that the setbacks encountered by Adipurush have provided valuable learning experiences for the industry and filmmakers, emphasizing the importance of properly telling these eternal stories. He hopes that Ramayana will mark a "brilliant turnaround industry event".
The director also commented on the massive budget reportedly allocated to Ramayana, stating that while budget plays a significant role, the "feeling the film carries" is more important. He stressed that filmmaking is an art form, and the artist's impression is what ultimately matters.
Kumar highlighted the growing demand for culturally rooted Indian cinema, citing the success of films like Baahubali, RRR, and Kantara as evidence. He believes that there's a "vacuum" for this kind of storytelling, as these tales are embedded in the DNA of the region, and their resurgence on the big screen can be powerful.
Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is being produced by Namit Malhotra and others. The film has generated considerable hype on media platforms, fueled by its massive budget and the ensemble cast and crew. The two-part franchise is slated for release on Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027, respectively. Ranbir Kapoor will portray Lord Ram, with Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Vivek Oberoi as Vidhyutjiva, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
The film is expected to be a visual spectacle with state-of-the-art technology and global-standard production design. There are reports that the film will be dubbed in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Mandarin, to reach a global audience.
Ashwin Kumar chose animation as the medium for his mythological tale, Mahavatar Narsimha, as opposed to the live-action format of Ramayana. He said that "We have a habit of projecting God onto actors". Kumar's Mahavatar Narsimha aims to provide a cinematic, spiritual, and transcending experience. He emphasized the meticulous rendering of each frame and the dedication of the animators, whom he considers "warriors" who understood his vision and brought soul to the characters. Music director Sam CS contributed a "wonderful score, almost divine in its scope".
