Poster for the film 'Mahakavya Shri Ramayana Katha' sparks controversy over Sugriva's glasses

The highly anticipated film 'Ramayana,' starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Starer, continues to attract public attention leading up to its release. The first track, 'Jai Jai Ram,' released on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, is drawing particular discussion. In this spiritually rich song, Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama, and Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita.

However, this track has revealed details about the plot that highlight Arijit Singh's uniqueness. To record 'Jai Jai Ram,' Arijit Singh worked through approximately 200 takes. Notably, he was not just recording the song but striving to deeply feel the spirituality and emotion of every attempt.

According to Pinkvilla, Arijit completely immersed himself in the spirituality of this track, exploring emotions with each take. It reached a point where he himself did not know when to stop. Ultimately, Arijit stopped thinking about the technical aspects of the song and fully surrendered to his feelings.

The song, which evokes a sense of reverence in viewers, was created because the singer himself completely dedicated himself to that feeling. 'Jai Jai Ram' is performed by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. This grand spiritual anthem was composed by AR Rahman, and the lyrics were written by Dr. Kumar Vishwas. Viewers are already very excited that Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita. This track is also considered important as it is the first glimpse into the film's world.

Following the news of 200 takes by Arijit, interest in the song has increased. Although Arijit has announced his retirement and will complete all signed projects to take a break.

The film 'Ramayana,' directed by Nitish Tiwari, is produced by Namit Malhotra. The film will be released in two parts. The first part will appear in theaters worldwide on November 6, 2026, coinciding with the Diwali festival. The second part will be released in 2027.

In the film, Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, and Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita. Yash will play Ravana, Sunny Deol will play Lord Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey will play Lakshmana. Other important roles will be played by Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and Vivek Oberoi.

Ranbir Kapoor does not only have 'Ramayana.' He will also appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Love & War,' where Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal play the lead roles. The filming of this movie is complete, and it is expected to be released in theaters on January 21, 2027.

Currently, all attention is focused on 'Ramayana.' Although there is still some time before the film's release, the story of 'Jai Jai Ram' and Arijit Singh's 200 takes has already heightened the atmosphere around this film before its premiere.

The first track from the film 'Ramayana,' which fans have been eagerly awaiting, was released on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. The song 'Jai Jai Ram,' performed by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, received mixed reactions online, but it is actively gaining popularity on social media as it showcases a scene of Sita and Rama's courtship.

This musical piece features scenes with key characters from the film, including Sita's sisters, whose portrayals were also presented. Below is a description of who played the roles in the project.

The Maharashtra actor Adinath Kotare will take on the role of Bharata. As is known, the role of Bharata is significant in 'Ramayana' because his mother, Kaikeyi, sends Rama into fourteen years of exile. Adinath stated in an interview that he received this role after an audition at Mukesh Chhabda's office. Previously, he auditioned for Nitesh Tiwari's film 'Tarla,' and perhaps Nitesh noticed his work then and offered him a role in 'Ramayana.'

Nitesh Sharma will play the role of Rama's younger brother, Shatrughna. He managed to secure this role with great difficulty. Speaking about the challenges of his career, Nitesh has repeatedly noted that he did not achieve success in cinema overnight, enduring many rejections. Getting this role in 'Ramayana' felt like a miracle to him. Before becoming Shatrughna, he was suddenly replaced in a major role, which led to deep disappointment and a return to his hometown. On his mother's advice, he began worshipping in the Hanuman temple and reading the 'Ram Charitmanas.' On the third day of reading, he received a call from Mukesh Chhabda's office, and after an audition, he was accepted into the project.

Actress Sonia Balani, known from the series 'The Kerala Story,' will embody the character of Urmili, Sita's younger sister. Although Sonia initially wanted to play Shrutakirti, she was given the role of Urmili. Sonia gained fame through 'Kerala Story' and was previously well-known in the television industry, starting her career there before moving to cinema. She acted in the shows 'Baad Mein Achhe Lagte Hain,' 'Dil Diya Gallan,' and 'Tu Mera Hero.'

Assamese actress Surbhi Das will play the role of Shrutakirti, Sita's cousin, and will be Shatrughna's wife. Surbhi reported that after working in television, she was looking for digital format and film projects, and it was then that she received an offer to participate in 'Ramayana.'

In the film 'Ramayana,' Riya Kapoor received the role of Mandavi, Sita's cousin and Bharata's wife. Riya had previously participated in minor roles, in addition to South Indian films.

In addition to these actresses, Indira Krishnan will appear in 'Ramayana' as Kaushalya, Sonal Jau as Sumitra, and Lara Datta will play the role of Kaikeyi. Arun Govil will portray King Dasharatha, and Ravi Dubey will play Lakshmana. Ranbir Kapoor will play Ram. The film is scheduled for release this year to celebrate Diwali.

The film 'Ramayana', with a budget of 4000 crore, created by Nitesh Tiwari, generates high expectations as it tells a story familiar to all in India, connected to the deep faith of millions of people. Consequently, when the first track 'Jai Jai Ram' was released on the auspicious occasion of Ganpati Chaturthi, public interest was extremely high.

The combination of music by A.R. Rahman, vocals by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, and lyrics by Dr. Kumar Vishwas presents a powerful musical project. The song brings a feeling of peace to the listener from its very first moments. Majestic scenes are visually presented: the love story of Rama and Sita, their wedding, the streets of Ayodhya, the people scattering flowers, and Rama's warlike appearance. The pairing of Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi looks harmonious on screen.

However, the question of the material's novelty arises. The strength of the song is also its weakness: the familiar melody 'Ram Siya Ram... Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram' instantly evokes memories of childhood and those feelings that people have been accustomed to for years.

This same melody was popular thanks to a 1975 song performed by Jaspal Singh and composed by Ravindra Jain. A dilemma emerges: does the listener like the song itself, or are it their personal emotions associated with this old melody that make them love it?

The reviewer believes that 'Jai Jai Ram' falls slightly short in this regard. Although he does not claim that the entire song is unoriginal or copied, the moment heard in childhood evokes strong emotions. In that case, the song is not perceived as 'Ramayana' as performed by Ranbir.

With such a huge budget of 4000 crore, a large cast, and the involvement of a composer like A.R. Rahman, it was expected that the musical component would possess its own unique characteristic. However, relying on an old melody makes the song feel more like a remake.

Furthermore, just like in the teaser and trailer, almost all key moments of the story are included in the song: from Sita's courtship to the marriage of Rama and Sita, preparations for coronation, and the sacrifice of Lakshmana and Bharata. This is more like a brief overview of the entire 'Ramayana' than a song. This tendency to display everything at once was also observed in the film's promotional materials, where a more gradual unfolding of events might have been more effective.

While giving the audience a song for Ganpati Chaturthi is a good gesture, this gift lacks the sufficient original touch from the creators that the public expects from this film. Despite Rama played by Ranbir, Sita by Sai Pallavi, and the entire world potentially being new, upon listening to the music, listeners return to the image of the old Rama.

Perhaps this is the main paradox of 'Jai Jai Ram': the song sends shivers down the spine but does not sound like the film's own voice. If the same devotion, the same feelings, and the same connection were evoked by a completely new melody, then the first track of this 'Ramayana' would be worth much more.