RGV Declares Ramayana a Cinematic 'Taj Mahal'

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has revisited Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, reiterating his strong admiration for the movie. He described the film as a 'Taj Mahal of cinema,' asserting his review was from a film enthusiast's perspective, not a religious one, as he is an atheist.

Varma highlighted the film's ambition and grand scale as its primary strengths. He noted that its visual spectacle significantly contributed to the emotional impact, a point he felt some critics missed. The director praised the efforts of director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra for achieving something unprecedented in Indian cinema. Specific sequences like the cosmic battle, Ravana's depiction, and the forest scenes were singled out for praise, with the battle between Ravana and Jatayu being a memorable moment.

The filmmaker reserved significant praise for Yash's performance as Ravana, stating it was a performance for the ages, transcending a typical villainous role to capture the character's intelligence and ambition. Varma also defended Ranbir Kapoor's restrained portrayal of Rama, arguing that the character's strength lies in his measured expressions rather than overt emotion.

Furthermore, Varma lauded the musical contributions of Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, noting how the score enhanced the visuals and character emotions without competing. He addressed criticisms regarding the film's length and specific musical pieces, arguing they were necessary for character development and narrative momentum. Varma concluded that Ramayana: Rise of a Legend serves as a new benchmark for Indian cinema, drawing strength from India's own cultural heritage rather than international franchises, and suggested its sequel would be its only potential successor.