Okay, so guys, a small glimpse—or teaser, call it what you will—for *Ramayana* Chapter 1 has been released. The audience reaction to this glimpse has been somewhat mixed; while there are positive aspects, the opening scenes—which rely heavily on VFX and CGI shots—don't quite convey the impression that we are watching a preview for a film made on a massive ₹2,000 crore budget. Now, allocating such a colossal budget specifically for VFX is a significant undertaking, but we expect to see a commensurate output. After all, we are already familiar with the story of *Ramayana*; we know the general narrative trajectory. We have seen numerous films and anime adaptations—some of which have depicted the epic beautifully, while others have arguably compromised it due to excessive creative liberties (take *Adipurush*, for instance, which was a rather poorly executed adaptation of the *Ramayana* theme). However, regarding *this* film—and its director, as well as the financier behind this massive budget, Namit Malhotra (who, notably, owns his own VFX and CGI company)—our expectations were sky-high. We anticipated witnessing a *Ramayana* adaptation unlike anything we had ever seen before in our lives. Yet, certain scenes within this brief glimpse have left us feeling somewhat disappointed, while others have genuinely surprised us.
First, I’d like to address the negative points. Specifically, the opening sequence—where a deity descends while seated upon a massive bird, only to be struck down by a monster—feels distinctly "animated." It lacks the sense of realism it ought to have possessed. To put it simply, the various monsters created for this glimpse feel quite cartoonish; in other words, the monster designs could potentially emerge as one of this film's major weaknesses.
Now, moving on to the film's positive points... Speaking of the visuals, the monster designs are truly unique, and the overall aesthetic—the way everything has been designed—is genuinely impressive. For instance, in this glimpse, the scene featuring the *Pushpak Viman* (celestial vehicle) is remarkable; the manner in which technology has been utilized to bring it to life is simply excellent. To be able to present Ravana's grandeur on such a massive scale within just a brief scene truly speaks to the mind of a mastermind. Seriously, the *Pushpak Viman* has been depicted in a fantastic way. After all, the word *Pushpak* translates to "flower" or "blossom." In other *Ramayana* movies and TV shows I’ve watched, the *Pushpak Viman* usually takes on a conventional form; however, in this film, it is shaped like a flower—and the way it moves is truly magnificent.
This suggests that there is still a significant amount of work left to be done on the film. Yet, even if the movie ultimately fails to live up to our expectations once completed, there is one aspect in which it is bound to be top-tier: Ravana—specifically, Ravana played by Yash. Yes, indeed! Because, brother, that man is going to be an absolute showstopper. Whenever we imagine Ravana—portraying such a terrifying figure, yet embodied by such a stylish actor—our minds immediately conjure up all sorts of wild theories and possibilities, simply because the concept is so compelling. Now, it remains to be seen how Yash chooses to present himself as Ravana and the extent of the brilliance he brings to his performance in this film.
Let's wait and see what other surprises—or potential disappointments—this movie has in store for us.
