Now Reading: Ramayana trailer stirs debate over modernised costumes and VFX
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Ramayana trailer stirs debate over modernised costumes and VFX
The trailer of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, has drawn mixed reactions over its visual style, with some viewers calling the costumes and aesthetics 'too modernised'. Bengaluru fashion…
The Story in Brief
The trailer of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, has drawn mixed reactions over its visual style, with some viewers calling the costumes and aesthetics 'too modernised'. Bengaluru fashion and film experts questioned whether creative liberty had compromised the epic's cultural essence. Stylist Kristen John defended the design as rich and cinematic, while fashion designer Ruchika Bhat said the look felt 'whitewashed' and aimed at a western audience.
Actor Ranbir Kapoor, in an interview with Collider, hit back at what he called 'CG critics' who judge the CGI after watching the trailer on phones. Producer Namit Malhotra called the criticism 'noise' and urged viewers to see the film in IMAX 3D. The first part of the reported Rs 4,000-crore film is set for Diwali 2026 release.
The Indian Opinion
The debate over Ramayana's look reflects an old Indian anxiety: can a modern retelling respect tradition without slavishly copying Ramanand Sagar's 1980s serial? Some critics dismiss the film as 'Hollywood-ised' before a single frame has hit the big screen. Yet judging a Rs 4,000-crore spectacle on a phone is as unfair as ignoring that cultural essence matters. The real test will come when the film releases: will audiences embrace a new visual grammar or reject it as soulless?
Sources (2): newindianexpress.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
