Ramayana First Glimpse Review: Why NRIs Must Watch Ranbir Kapoor’s Epic Battle Against Yash’s Ravana

Mumbai, July 3, 2025 – The wait is over! The first glimpse of Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, dropped today, sending waves of excitement through the Indian diaspora. This 3-minute teaser, unveiled across nine Indian cities and showcased at New York’s Times Square, introduces Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, promising a cinematic retelling of India’s timeless epic for a global audience. Slated for a Diwali 2026 release, Ramayana: Part 1 is poised to be a cultural milestone. For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), this film is more than a movie—it’s a connection to their roots and a redemption of mythological cinema after Adipurush’s (2023) misstep. This SEO-optimized review for www.masalamirror.com dives into the glimpse’s highlights, compares it with Adipurush, and explores why NRIs should make it a must-watch.

Ramayana First Glimpse: A Cultural and Cinematic Marvel

The 3-minute Ramayana: The Introduction glimpse is a breathtaking blend of reverence and spectacle, opening with the cosmic trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, setting the stage for the “war to end all wars.” Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi’s Sita, Yash’s Ravana, Sunny Deol’s Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey’s Lakshman are introduced with subtlety, building anticipation for the Diwali 2026 release. Backed by DNEG’s Oscar-winning VFX and a score by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, the glimpse promises a global cinematic experience rooted in Indian ethos.

Key Highlights of the Glimpse

• Hollywood-Level VFX: DNEG’s expertise delivers stunning visuals, from mythical landscapes to battle sequences, filmed for IMAX. NRI fans on X, like @NRIcinemafan, raved, “The VFX is on par with Marvel films, but with our Ramayana’s soul.”
• Hans Zimmer-A.R. Rahman Score: The pulsating music blends orchestral grandeur with Indian classical depth, resonating with NRIs nostalgic for cultural melodies. @DesiAbroad tweeted, “The BGM gave me chills—perfect for the diaspora craving authentic Indian storytelling.”
• Ranbir’s Rama and Yash’s Ravana: Ranbir’s fleeting, poetic portrayal of Rama, darting through trees with a divine arrow, captures Valmiki’s vision. Yash’s intense, single-shot Ravana reveal is “menacing,” with @NRIReels noting, “Yash’s stare alone outdoes Saif’s Ravana in Adipurush.”
• Global Launch: The glimpse’s unveiling at Times Square and fan screenings in cities like Mumbai and Delhi connect NRIs to India’s cinematic ambition. Namit Malhotra, an NRI himself, emphasized, “This is our truth, shared with the world.”

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, after viewing the glimpse and a 7-minute vision showreel, tweeted, “#JaiShriRam… #Ramayana’s glimpse is a cultural triumph for Indians worldwide. A must-watch for NRIs!” The global hype, amplified by posts on X, positions Ramayana as a bridge between India and its diaspora.

Why NRIs Should Watch Ramayana

For NRIs, Ramayana is more than a film—it’s a cultural lifeline and a cinematic milestone. Here’s why it’s a must-watch:

1. Reconnecting with Cultural Roots:
   • The Ramayana is a cornerstone of Indian identity, taught to NRIs through bedtime stories, temple discourses, and festivals like Diwali. The glimpse’s authentic portrayal, rooted in Valmiki’s text, offers NRIs a chance to relive their heritage. @DiasporaVoice on X wrote, “As an NRI, seeing Ranbir as Rama feels like coming home to my childhood stories.”
   • The film’s global scale, with IMAX visuals and a Zimmer-Rahman score, makes it accessible to NRIs accustomed to Hollywood standards, bridging their dual identities.
2. Redemption After Adipurush:
   • Adipurush (2023), starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan, disappointed NRIs with its lackluster VFX, irreverent dialogues, and shallow storytelling. Rated 5.8/10 on IMDb, it was criticized for failing to honor the Ramayana’s sanctity. NRIs, who often share Indian cinema with global audiences, felt let down.
   • Ramayana’s glimpse promises authenticity, with Tiwari’s emotional storytelling and DNEG’s VFX addressing Adipurush’s flaws. @NRIMovieBuff tweeted, “After Adipurush’s disaster, this glimpse restores faith in our epics.”
3. Global Representation of Indian Culture:
   • NRIs often serve as cultural ambassadors, screening Indian films at community events or sharing them with non-Indian friends. Ramayana’s Times Square launch and Hollywood-caliber production make it a proud showcase of Indian storytelling. Malhotra’s vision to “take Ramayana to the world” resonates with NRIs eager to share their heritage globally.
   • The casting of Ranbir, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, combined with international talent like Zimmer, ensures appeal across cultures, making it a conversation starter in diaspora communities.
4. Emotional Resonance:
   • For NRIs, the Ramayana’s themes of duty, sacrifice, and justice mirror their own journeys of balancing tradition with modern life. The glimpse’s focus on Rama’s divinity and Ravana’s complexity offers emotional depth, with @USDesi noting, “This Ramayana speaks to every NRI torn between two worlds.”
   • The film’s Diwali 2026 release aligns with a festival NRIs celebrate fervently, amplifying its emotional pull.
5. Community Pride and Unity:
   • The diaspora’s active engagement on X, with hashtags like #JaiShriRam and #RamayanaGlimpse trending globally, reflects collective pride. NRIs in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia are organizing fan screenings, fostering community bonds.
   • The film’s ambition to rival global epics like Lord of the Rings empowers NRIs to champion Indian cinema on international platforms.

Comparison with Adipurush

Adipurush, despite its Rs 550 crore budget, faced backlash for poor VFX, dialogues like “marega tu,” and a lack of reverence, alienating NRIs who expected a faithful adaptation. Ramayana’s glimpse, with its Rs 835 crore budget for Part 1, sets a new benchmark:

• VFX: Adipurush’s “cartoonish” effects were a letdown, while Ramayana’s DNEG-crafted visuals are “Hollywood-level,” with fans on X calling them “a game-changer for Indian cinema.”
• Casting: Prabhas’s Rama and Saif’s Ravana lacked depth, whereas Ranbir’s restrained divinity and Yash’s intense Ravana resonate with NRIs seeking authenticity. Sai Pallavi’s Sita is praised for her “grace,” unlike Kriti Sanon’s less impactful portrayal.
• Music: Adipurush’s Ajay-Atul score was overshadowed by its flaws, but Ramayana’s Zimmer-Rahman collaboration is a “cultural masterpiece,” per @NRIcinema.
• Storytelling: Adipurush’s modernized approach felt disconnected, while Tiwari’s focus on Valmiki’s Ramayana ensures reverence, vital for NRIs sharing the epic with global audiences.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Adipurush was criticized for trivializing the epic, while Ramayana’s glimpse, with its cosmic framing, honors its sanctity, earning praise from NRI communities.

Audience and NRI Reactions

The glimpse has electrified the diaspora, with X posts reflecting pride and anticipation. @NRI4Ramayana wrote, “This is the Ramayana we NRIs have waited for—authentic, grand, and global.” @BollywoodNRI added, “Unlike Adipurush, this respects our culture while matching Hollywood’s scale.” Some NRIs, like @DesiInUK, expressed caution, citing Adipurush’s overhyped teaser: “Hope the dialogues match the glimpse’s promise.” Critics like Taran Adarsh and IndiaForums hail it as “a cultural gift for NRIs,” predicting a “global box office storm.”

Concerns and Expectations

While the glimpse is near-perfect, NRI fans voiced concerns over leaked set images of Ravana’s army, fearing similarities to Adipurush’s “underwhelming” costumes. However, DNEG’s involvement and Tiwari’s track record (Dangal, Chhichhore) inspire confidence. NRIs expect dialogues to reflect the epic’s depth, avoiding Adipurush’s pitfalls, and anticipate the 7-minute vision showreel to further cement the film’s promise.

Conclusion

The Ramayana first glimpse is a cultural triumph that NRIs must watch to reconnect with their heritage, celebrate Indian cinema’s global ascent, and heal the wounds of Adipurush’s failure. Ranbir Kapoor’s divine Rama, Yash’s commanding Ravana, and Nitesh Tiwari’s authentic vision make Ramayana: Part 1 a cinematic event for the diaspora. Set for Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in 2027, this epic promises to unite NRIs worldwide in pride and reverence. Stay tuned to Masala Mirror for updates on Ramayana’s journey to redefine mythological cinema!

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