The Ancient Story of RAMAYANA: Part One

 

Jeri Jacquin

Currently in theatres from writer/director Nitesh Tiwari, Shridhar Raghavan, and Sony Pictures comes the epic story of RAMAYANA: Part One

The tale begins with the fight between Asuras and Devas. The battle is led by Indra, and when the Asuras are defeated, the Devas begin their rule over Lanka. Warrior Kaikashi (Lara Dutta) and the rest of the Asuras are living underground, struggling to survive. Angry, Kaikashi takes her young son Dashanan aside and tells him he must avenge their people. That is when Dashanan travels across the land, finding a place to meditate. Finally, Brahma accepts what he has been doing and asks what he wants. Dashanan decides he wants to be invincible so that no supernatural being can take his life. Brahma agrees.

Dashanan is now a changed man and takes on the Devas in Lanka. Nothing can stop him from taking the throne under the title of King Ravana (Yash). With his new power, his goal is now to battle all the realms of the universe. It is Indra who asks Vishnu to intervene. He chooses Prince Rama of Ayodhya (Ranbir Kapoor) as Vishnu’s seventh incarnation. Rama is the son of King Dasharatha (Arun Govil) and is the favored among the King’s four sons. After helping Vishvamitra defeat demons, he is given the hand of Princess Sita (Sai Pallavi) in marriage. Not wanting to marry without his brothers Lakshmana (Ravi Dubey), Bharata (Adinath Kothare), and Shatrughna (Nitish Sharma), they also find love at the same time as Rama.

As things begin to settle, King Dasharatha decides it is time to crown Rama as the successor. It is a hideous maid who convinces another of the King’s wives that her son should be king. She reminds Kaikeyi of a promise made at the time of their marriage that Bharata should be the successor. Rama wants to follow his father’s wishes like a good son and agrees to stand down, but Kaikeyi adds another command to it – that Rama remain in exile for fourteen years. Leaving their home, Sita and Lakshmana leave with Rama, much to the dismay of the people. Trying to find a safe place to call home, it doesn’t take long before Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha finds them and decides she wants Rama. Trying to let her down easy, he makes it clear that his only wife and love is Sita.

Trying to trick Rama, it sets the stage for revenge by Ravana, who wants to destroy him and doesn’t care that he is Vishnu’s avatar. Love, revenge, greed, and trickery are in play, and it is Rama who makes a vow to take back what is his and destroy Ravana, completely.

Kapoor as Rama is a kind and gentle person who believes in taking care of his people and takes on every danger. It is clear he loves his father and brothers, always wanting to protect them. So much so that he doesn’t hear the murmurings that will change his life. Kapoor’s portrayal is of a man who never once raises his voice, fights strongly, and honors the wishes of his father. All of it leads him down a path that never lets him take a moment's rest. Pallavi as Sita, instantly takes a liking to Rama, but she is not a little wallflower! A fighter in her own right, she jumps in when necessary and takes care of her husband and brother-in-law as they both decide to do right by a man who has been wronged.

Dubey as Kashmana is a brother who will not let Rama stand alone. Leaving his own family behind, he stands with Rama at every turn, believing in his every decision. Now that’s a bro’s bro! Dubey holds his character with strength and conviction. So well done. Kothare as Bharata could have easily taken the crown and run, but could not turn from the brother he loves so much. The scene between Rama and Bharata in the forest is one that really moved me. Sharma as Shatrughna is sort of the brother in the middle. He sees what has happened from all sides and throws his loyalty in with his three brothers.

Yash as King Ravana is clearly a beast. Starting out as a musically inclined young man, quickly turns into a grown man with vengeance on his mind. As we all know, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and it is absolutely so in Ravana’s case. The more he gets, the more he wants. Anyone who gets in his way, it doesn’t end well. A little rejection of his sister sets him on a path against Rama that is vicious in every way. Yash’s portrayal of this bad guy is raw, indifferent and so well done.

Other cast include Raghav Malhotra as young Ravana, Kiara Sadh as young Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Indira Krishnan as Kaushalya, Sonal Jha as Sumitra, Rajiv Kumar as Janaka, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Rakul Singh as Shurpanakha, Chetan Hansraj as Sumali, Kanchan Chetal as Tataka, Saurabh Sachdeva as Maricha, Parminder Chhada as Subahu, Faisal Malik as Kumbhakarna, Raghav Juyal as Meghanada, Shobana as Kaikashi, Surabhi Das as Shrutakirti, Riya Kapoor as Mandavi, Sonia Balani as Urmila, Mukesh Tiwari as Agastya, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Suhail Nayyar as Sugriva, Kunal Kapoor as Indra, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva, Harish Uthaman as Vibhishana and Anumpam Kher as the voice of Jatayu.

RAMAYANA is based on the poem by Valmiki. This is part one of the film, based on the first three chapters of that poem. The soundtrack of the film is created by two amazing composers in Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Part Two of the film has already been in the works, but no release date has been set yet. I can’t wait to hear when that is going to happen!

The film is not just a film, it is an epic experience coming in at over three hours. The visuals on the screen are brilliant, breathtaking, beautiful, and truly jaw-dropping. It is just grand on every scale, from the storytelling to the cast. My enjoyment comes on so many levels, but mainly because of my years of watching films from India. I truly enjoy them, yes, even the Bollywood films. RAMAYANA is so vibrant in color, so far-reaching in its creatures, using mythology (even if some of it is fairly stretched), to create such a treat for the eyes. 

Knowing there is a Part Two coming, I know the epic path for Rama is going to be filled with more trials, and Ravana is going to do whatever is necessary to bring, which should be, a huge, epic, mind-blowing battle until the end. I’m here for it.

In the end – the journey is not over!