Last Updated: 21 July 2026, 11:30 AM IST | Fact Checked By: SpotlightersPost Editorial Team

The promotional campaign for Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological film Ramayana has been specially launched for a selective audience. Following exclusive industry previews of the guarded footage, early reviewers and filmmakers are celebrating the film’s massive scale and visual identity as a landmark achievement.

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TL;DR:The early Ramayana trailer reaction from exclusive industry previews has hailed Nitesh Tiwari’s epic as a landmark moment. The four minute trailer, titled Pratham Sankalp, features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita alongside Yash as Ravana. The official theatrical trailer will premiere worldwide on July 24, 2026, following its global debut at the San Diego Comic-Con.

While the general public has to wait until July 24 for the official online release, filmmakers, industry insiders, and selected guests who attended the exclusive “Pratham Sankalp” 3D screening at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi have shared their early reviews online.

Early Industry Reactions: Filmmakers Praise the Magnificence of the Ramayana Trailer

Select members of the media, filmmakers, and industry insiders recently gathered in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam and in Mumbai for an exclusive 3D screening of the trailer. The early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers describing the four-minute footage officially titled Pratham Sankalp as a cinematic marvel.

Prominent directors were among the first to express their awe online. Siddharth Anand praised the trailer as a spectacular visual experience with its heart in the right place, noting that it easily exceeded his high expectations. Filmmaker Atlee was equally blown away, applauding producer Namit Malhotra’s creative vision and Nitesh Tiwari’s direction.

Absolutely blown away by the #Ramayana trailer! What a vision by @NamitMalhotra sir and what incredible craft from @niteshtiwari22 sir.@TheNameIsYash bro looks unbelievably lethal, Ranbir Kapoor bro is stunning, and @Sai_Pallavi92 is ethereal. Every frame feels grand, fresh,…

— atlee (@Atlee_dir) July 20, 2026

Calm and Divine: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram Showcases Elegance and Control

Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram has emerged as a major high point, with early viewers celebrating the serene authority and grace he brings to the screen. Unlike past cinematic attempts that relied on loud and dramatics, this time Kapoor’s performance appears rooted in quiet dignity and emotional depth. His calm expressions and steady gaze capture the peaceful strength traditionally associated with the character.

At the grand launch event held in New Delhi on July 18, Kapoor charmed the gathered audience with his warmth and humor. Despite suffering from a temporary eye infection, conjunctivitis, which he contracted from his daughter Raha, the actor chose to attend wearing dark glasses. He addressed the crowd gracefully, saying, “Meri aankhon mein infection hua hai. Lekin iss shubh avasar par mere dil mein sirf affection hai!”.

Ethereal Devotion: Sai Pallavi’s Spiritual Preparation on Set

Sai Pallavi, who portrays Sita Maa, won the hearts of attendees at the Delhi launch event with her elegant presence and deep respect for the role. She admitted that portraying a revered goddess on screen is a unique challenge for any actor, expressing gratitude to the filmmakers for selecting her for such a historical project.

Rather than relying purely on standard acting methods, Pallavi approached the character through spiritual discipline. She revealed that she kept her thoughts neutral and pure during filming, spending her time on set in deep meditation. She frequently prayed, “Sita Maa, you act through me. Whatever comes through me is what you want for the film”. Her dedicated preparation was highly praised by those who previewed the trailer, with Atlee calling her presence “ethereal”.

Sovereign Might: Yash as Ravana Emerges as the Menacing Anchor of Pratham Sankalp

While Ranbir Kapoor embodies divine calm, Kannada superstar Yash has emerged as the most dominant force in the Pratham Sankalp footage. Early viewers note that the trailer is strategically structured to establish the central conflict by emphasizing the raw power of Yash as Ravana. The footage opens with the demon king’s imposing presence and closes with Lord Ram’s vow to defeat him before the three worlds.

Yash, who also serves as a co-producer on the film, commands every frame he occupies with a majestic physicality and measured dialogue delivery. Reviewers have praised his towering screen presence, describing his portrayal of the ruler of Lanka as menacing, powerful, and incredibly impactful. The sheer weight of his performance suggests that Ravana will be one of the most talked about elements of the adaptation.

A Psychological Symphony: Rishab Rikhiram Sharma’s Electronic Sitar Scoring Debut

The film’s soundscape features a historic musical collaboration between Academy Award winners Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. Joining them is young classical sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma the youngest and last disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar who is making his official Bollywood music scoring debut with the project. Sharma was brought on board to compose the trailer’s title track and key theme elements.

Rather than relying on a conventional orchestral background score, the filmmakers sought a psychological experience. Drawing from his experience with sound therapy during his global “Sitar for Mental Health” tour, Sharma utilized his custom engineered electronic sitar, SITARA. This unique instrument was used to create distinct, contrasting musical signatures for Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman, and Lankesh Ravana, adding a modern classical depth to traditional spiritual themes.

Grounded and Authentic: How Nitesh Tiwari Refined the CGI Palette After Teaser Backlash

The massive two part project has been mounted on an unprecedented budget of over Rs 4,000 crore, with visual effects executed by DNEG under the leadership of CEO-producer Namit Malhotra.

While the initial Hanuman Jayanti teaser received praise for its scale, it also faced some online criticism from fans concerned about overly bright lighting and cartoonish CGI. Netizens had expressed worries that the visuals looked too artificial, drawing unfavorable comparisons to past adaptations.

Taking this feedback seriously, the production team has utilized the intervening months to refine the visual identity. Those who attended the exclusive 3D previews of the new trailer have noted technical improvements. The lighting has been balanced, and the colour palette now feels grounded, earthy, and authentically Indian, keeping artificial, Western style fantasy aesthetics to an absolute minimum.

Hidden Lore: Five Narrative Beats Revealed in the Trailer Footage

The detailed four minute trailer offers a rich look at the narrative depth Nitesh Tiwari is bringing to the screen. Careful analysis of the footage reveals several key storytelling beats:

• The Crown vs. The Exile: The footage transition highlights the tragic turn in Ram’s journey, showing him in royal finery as he is about to be crowned king, which cuts directly to him dressed in simple exile robes bidding farewell to a weeping crowd.
• Protection of Dandaka Forest: The trailer teases the action heavy Aranya Kaandam phase, depicting Lord Ram defending the peaceful sages of the Dandaka forest against giant, menacing demons during his exile.
• Sita’s Swayamvar: In a beautiful sequence, Lord Ram is shown calmly lifting and stringing the Pinaka bow, fulfilling King Janaka’s pledge to win Sita’s hand, followed by shots of him walking through a crowd being showered with petals.
• Ravana’s Pushpaka Vimanam: The trailer showcases the majestic, peacock themed design of Ravana’s divine flying chariot, the Pushpaka Vimanam, originally built for Kubera and seized by the demon king.
• Jatayu’s Last Rites: In a deeply emotional moment, Ram is shown administering the final funeral rites of the heroic vulture Jatayu, who died trying to protect Sita from abduction, honoring him with the same reverence he would show his own father.

Key Production and Narrative Milestones of the Ramayana Adaptation

The creative journey of this monumental cinematic adaptation highlights how the filmmakers have refined their approach between the initial teaser and the grand 3D trailer.

Table 1: Key Production and Narrative Milestones of the Ramayana Adaptation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. When is the official public release of the Ramayana trailer?

The highly anticipated four minute trailer, officially titled Pratham Sankalp, is scheduled to release publicly on Friday, 24 July 2026. Select filmmakers and media professionals have already attended exclusive previews of the trailer in 3D at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and in Mumbai.

2. Who plays the lead characters of Lord Ram, Sita, and Ravana?

Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Ram, bringing a calm and serene authority to the divine ruler. Ethereal actress Sai Pallavi portrays Sita Maa, while Kannada superstar Yash embodies the powerful and menacing demon king Lankesh Ravana.

3. Who composed the background score and title track for the Ramayana trailer?

The epic background score features a monumental collaboration between Academy Award winners AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Additionally, young Indian classical musician Rishab Rikhiram Sharma makes his Bollywood debut by composing the trailer’s title track, utilizing his custom electronic sitar named SITARA to introduce a fresh, psychological depth to classical themes.

4. What is the reported budget of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana?

Producers have mounted the cinematic adaptation on an unprecedented scale, with a reported budget of over Rs 4,000 crore (approximately $500 million USD) for the two parts combined. The cutting edge visual effects are being handled by DNEG under the leadership of CEO-producer Namit Malhotra.

5. Why was Ranbir Kapoor wearing sunglasses at the Delhi trailer launch?

Ranbir Kapoor wore dark glasses during the grand promotional kickoff event in Delhi on July 18 because he was suffering from a temporary eye infection, conjunctivitis, which he contracted from his daughter Raha.

6. What are some of the key narrative details teased in the Ramayana footage?

Early viewers have highlighted several classic storytelling sequences in the footage, including Lord Ram’s emotional transition from his royal crown to simple exile robes, the protection of the Dandaka forest, Sita’s Swayamvar with the Pinaka bow, Ravana’s peacock-themed Pushpaka Vimanam, and Ram performing the final rites of the heroic vulture Jatayu.

7. How have early reactions compared this film to Adipurush?

While the initial teaser released on Hanuman Jayanti faced criticism for overly lit frames reminiscent of Adipurush, early reviewers of the Pratham Sankalp 3D trailer state it looks vastly superior. Reviewers have praised its visual effects, realistic details, and an authentically Indian color palette that keeps artificial Western elements to a minimum.

8. Why does the trailer reportedly focus heavily on Yash’s Ravana?

The trailer is strategically structured to establish conflict by framing it around the menacing power of Yash’s Ravana. It opens with the demon king’s sovereign command and closes with Lord Ram’s intense, powerful vow before the three worlds to slay Lankesh, leaving Yash’s towering screen presence lingering in the audience’s mind.

Also Read:

• Ramayana Part 1: Everything We Know About Ranbir Kapoor’s Epic Trilogy and the 2026 ReleaseHow Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti Transformed Ranbir Kapoor’s Dramatic Career
• Karan Johar Secures Ramayana Movie Hindi Distribution Rights for Record ₹350 Crore
• Ramayana: Nitesh Tiwari’s Rs 4,000 Crore Saga Maps Local-to-Global Cinematic Roadmap
• Embodying Divinity: Sai Pallavi’s Spiritual Method for Sita, Ranbir Kapoor’s Lifestyle Overhaul, and the ₹4,000 Crore Ramayana Launch

Disclaimer: All images, posters, character designs, and trailers referenced in this article are the intellectual property of Prime Focus Studios / Star Overseas / DNEG / Bollywood Hungama / Hindustan Times / Sacnilk and their respective creators. They are utilized here under fair use guidelines for journalistic reporting and sports/entertainment commentary.