Mumbai: A story most Indians learn before they can read has just become one of the costliest films the country has ever made. Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 opened in theatres on Thursday, the first day of Diwali week, after paid previews on Wednesday evening. The film is drawing huge crowds and a very mixed critical response at the same time, which is a rare combination for a release this big.

A big opening, still being counted

The film opened across roughly 6,900 shows nationwide. Morning occupancy was around a quarter of seats, and industry trackers put the net collection at about Rs 13 crore by midday, with more expected as the evening shows filled. Advance sales were already strong. They reportedly crossed Rs 50 crore gross including blocked seats, and about Rs 43 crore without them.

Projections for the full day run much higher. Trade estimates talk of a Day 1 figure near Rs 125 crore, and some analysts expect a global opening of around Rs 160 crore. These are forecasts, and midday numbers on a festival release rarely tell the whole story, so the real picture will only become clear once tallies are final.

The producer’s “miracle”

Filmmaker Karan Johar, whose company Dharma Productions is among those linked to the project, reportedly called the film a miracle after watching it. It is a warm endorsement, but it comes from a person with a stake in the film’s success, so it should be read as a friend’s enthusiasm and not a neutral verdict.

What the first viewers and critics are saying

Reaction splits into three camps, and the gap between them is wide.

The admirers. Some early viewers and trade voices have been lavish. One leading trade analyst gave the film a perfect score after an advance screening, calling it grand in scale, rich in emotion and respectful of the epic, and praising both Sai Pallavi’s dignity and Yash’s form. Several social media reviewers handed out four and five stars, singling out the visuals, the action and the emotional beats.

The in-betweens. Plenty of viewers landed in the middle. A popular early post gave it three out of five, calling it a grand experience with beautiful visuals and an emotional story. Others said the visual effects, the making and the Jatayu sequence were highlights, but felt the drama was uneven and the running time long.

The sceptics. A more critical review rated it two and a half out of five and summed it up as big on scale but short on soul. It found Ranbir Kapoor decent as Ram and Sai Pallavi simple but without much of a divine presence, while describing Yash as the film’s most exciting asset.

So the film is winning on spectacle and sparking debate on feeling.

The performances

• Ranbir Kapoor gets some of the warmest comments. Viewers describe a strong screen presence and a restrained, dignified Ram, and many call him the film’s biggest asset. He also reportedly plays Parashurama, a second avatar, in a separate look.
• Yash as Ravana is the most consistently praised. Reviewers across the spectrum say he is well cast and commands every scene he is in. He is also a co-producer through Monster Mind Creations.
• Sai Pallavi divides opinion the most. Some find her grounded, tender, and truthful. Others find her too understated for a character of Sita’s stature, and a few called her performance bland. Whichever side one takes, her casting was always going to invite strong feelings.
• The supporting cast includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi and Arun Govil as Dashrath, with Rakul Preet Singh and Kajal Aggarwal also in the ensemble. Amitabh Bachchan is reported to lend his voice to Jatayu, and the Jatayu sequence is one of the moments viewers mention most.

The look and sound of the film

If there is one thing nearly everyone agrees on, it is the visuals. Words like superb, world-class and the best yet on the Indian screen turn up repeatedly, and some viewers have even placed it above other recent effects-heavy epics. The action sequences are praised for scale and intensity.

The music, credited to Hans Zimmer and A R Rahman, has also drawn a good response. The screenplay is by Shridhar Raghavan and Nitesh Tiwari, with cinematography by Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye and editing by Huzefa Lokhandwala.

Where the complaints cluster

The criticism is surprisingly consistent. Reviewers who were less impressed point to the length, a story that some found unexciting because it is so familiar, and a feeling that the emotional core is thinner than the production scale. In short, the effort is visible on screen but, for some, the heart is harder to find.

Why this film carries so much weight

Ramayana is planned as a two-part saga, with Part 2 due in Diwali 2027. It is produced by Namit Malhotra and Monster Mind Creations, with a reported budget of about $100 million, and it aims at audiences outside India as well. That is a heavy load for one film. It has to satisfy devotion, nostalgia, commercial expectations and a global audience, all at once, with a story that millions know by heart.

The opening weekend will matter more than the opening day. Word of mouth will take over from hype, and the verdict of families, who decide how a festival film does in its second week, will count for a lot. How Part 1 holds up will also set the mood for the sequel.

What to watch next

1. The final Day 1 figure against the projected Rs 125 crore.
2. Weekend collections, especially the drop-off, which shows how strong word of mouth really is.
3. Critic ratings as more full reviews arrive.
4. Family and repeat audiences during the Diwali holidays.
5. International numbers, since the film was designed with a global release in mind.
6. Early talk about Part 2, and whether Part 1’s reception changes expectations for it.

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