Actor Mukesh Khanna expressed criticism regarding the film 'Ramayana' featuring Ranbir Kapoor, which is set to be released for Diwali. Questions began to arise after the release of the trailer, teasers, and the first musical number for the film.
Mukesh Khanna criticized the action scenes and the heavy use of visual effects (VFX) in the movie. He believes that director Nitish Tiwari portrayed Shri Rama not as 'Mandariya Purushottam' (the ideal of virtue), but as an action hero.
Mukesh Khanna's Disapproval of Rama's Portrayal
Khanna noted that despite having read numerous versions of the Ramayana and seen Ramalila, he had never seen such a depiction of Rama in a trailer where he flies through trees and fights in battle. He stated that 'Shri Rama has been made cool.'
He emphasized that Rama is a divine incarnation, similar to Krishna, and that in the film, he was depicted as a character comparable to actors like Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, or Roger Deakins. Khanna insists that Rama is an embodiment of virtue who smiled.
Questions Regarding the Use of VFX
Mukesh Khanna also objected to the large quantity of visual effects in the film. He mentioned hearing about plans for a global release and speculated that foreign audiences might perceive the image of Rama through the lens of 'Star Wars.' However, according to Khanna, if the film is shown in India, it should be presented through the prism of faith and piety.
Criticism of Rama's portrayal is not new among the Indian audience, who have already voiced objections regarding heavy VFX and character portraits. The film 'Ramayana,' created with a budget of around 4000 crore, will show its box office results only during Diwali. In the film, Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash plays Ravana, Sani Deol plays Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana. The film will be released in two parts, with the second part scheduled for Diwali 2027.