Nitesh Tiwari’s long-gestating mythological tentpole Ramayana: Part 1 finally arrived in theatres today. The screen adaptation—mounting one of Indian literature's foundational epics across a sprawling multi-part canvas—drew immediate, vociferous backing from major film industry peers. Leading the early chorus were actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, alongside Kantara director Rishab Shetty, who threw their collective weight behind the big-budget spectacle as morning shows flickered to life.
Rashmika Mandanna, who shared screen space with Ranbir Kapoor in Animal, penned an affectionate tribute celebrating Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama while cheering co-star Sai Pallavi's turn as Sita. "Ranbir, lots of love, and I'm looking forward to watching you as Lord Rama," Mandanna stated, turning next to Pallavi: "Saaaaaai, sending you the biggest virtual hugs and lots of love! You as Sita, as I was telling you, are beautiful. Can't wait to watch you shine, love!" She also singled out Kannada superstar Yash, who steps into the antagonist role of Ravana, expressing raw excitement in Kannada to watch him tackle the mythic villain.
Mandanna extended her note across the production line, praising producer Namit Malhotra, Tiwari, and co-composer A.R. Rahman. "Bringing a story as timeless and magnificent as Ramayana to life is no small feat," she noted. "I can only imagine the amount of love, dedication and vision that has gone into creating this. To the entire cast, each one of you is going to bring something special to this beautiful story."
Deverakonda framed the release as a pivotal cultural export for the subcontinent on social media. "I truly believe this will be another giant leap for Indian cinema, taking our stories, culture and imagination to audiences across the world and making an impact on a global scale," Deverakonda wrote. He pointed squarely to the central acting triumvirate, writing that he "cannot wait to watch Ranbir, Sai Pallavi and Yash create magic on the big screen," before saluting Malhotra, Tiwari, Rahman, and Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer.
Rishab Shetty struck a similar note of cultural scale. "There's something truly special about seeing our timeless stories and culture brought to life on such a grand scale. A proud moment for Indian cinema," Shetty said. In his dispatch, Shetty tipped his hat to the project's sweeping ensemble, tagging Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Anupam Kher, and Kajal Aggarwal alongside the core technical heads.
For Kapoor, who previously admitted reservations about stepping into the divine avatar in his forties, the theatrical launch represents the culmination of intense physical and narrative prep. With Rahman and Zimmer handling the sonic architecture and Malhotra steering the visual canvas, the production now faces its ultimate test: turning deafening pre-release chatter into sustained box-office momentum.