New Delhi, Nov 2: With just four days remaining before its theatrical release, Ramayana: Rise of Legend is generating considerable curiosity, but the excitement surrounding the ambitious project appears somewhat lower than expected for a film of its enormous scale and reported ₹4,000-crore combined budget.
Featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the much-anticipated mythological epic is scheduled to hit theatres on November 5. Despite its star-studded cast, grand visual appeal and a story deeply rooted in Indian culture, questions remain over whether the film can translate its massive expectations into an unprecedented box-office opening.
Advance Bookings Show Promising Signs
The film has made a promising start at the advance booking counters. According to trade figures reported on November 1, Ramayana had collected ₹22.67 crore in opening-day advance bookings across India, including blocked seats.
Around 5.04 lakh tickets had been sold across 12,719 shows in 1,408 cinemas spanning 412 cities. Excluding blocked seats, the opening-day advance collection stood at ₹18.85 crore.
Its advance bookings across two show dates had reportedly reached ₹33.15 crore, including blocked seats.
While these figures indicate considerable interest, the initial momentum remains below the advance booking performance of recent blockbusters such as Pushpa 2: The Rule and Dhurandhar 2.
For comparison, Pushpa 2 had recorded more than ₹30 crore in opening-day advance bookings four days before its release, while Dhurandhar 2 eventually registered opening-day advance sales of ₹38.77 crore.
Regional Response Remains Uneven
The response to Ramayana appears to vary across regions. Maharashtra has emerged as one of the leading markets, contributing ₹4.39 crore in opening-day advance gross, followed by Karnataka at ₹4.18 crore and Delhi-NCR at ₹3.46 crore.
Hyderabad has recorded ₹1.44 crore, with reported occupancy of 38 per cent across tracked shows.
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala believes the film's current performance is broadly in line with expectations, although audience traction is stronger in northern markets than in parts of the South. He expects the presence of Yash and Sai Pallavi, regional dubbing and an intensified promotional campaign to help expand its reach.
Premium cinema formats are also attracting attention. IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema and other specialised screenings have reportedly generated ₹4.74 crore from 360 shows. IMAX 3D alone accounts for ₹3.46 crore, indicating interest among audiences willing to pay higher ticket prices for a grand theatrical experience.
Casting and Music Become Talking Points
Despite the impressive scale, the film has not escaped public scrutiny. Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama has become a subject of debate among sections of social media users, while the casting of Sai Pallavi and Yash has also attracted considerable discussion.
The music is another area where expectations have been particularly high. With Oscar-winning composers A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer associated with the project, audiences had anticipated a powerful musical experience. However, the promotional songs and background score have yet to create the widespread pre-release excitement many expected.
Some film enthusiasts have also drawn comparisons with Ranbir Kapoor's Brahmastra, whose music and visual effects generated considerable anticipation before its release.
The experience of Adipurush, which faced criticism over its visual effects, dialogues and adaptation of the epic, has added another layer of scrutiny to the new project.
Early International Reactions Offer Hope
The film has received encouraging reactions from some viewers following its Los Angeles premiere on October 27 at the David Geffen Theatre, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The screening was attended by Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra. Early reactions reportedly praised the performances, visual presentation and cinematic scale, with particular appreciation for the lead actors.
These initial responses could help strengthen audience confidence ahead of the Indian release.
A Massive Investment with Enormous Expectations
The reported ₹4,000-crore budget covers both parts of the ambitious project, including production and promotional expenses, rather than the first instalment alone.
Trade analyst and film producer Girish Johar believes the current advance booking figures could have been stronger for a film of this magnitude. However, he feels there is still sufficient time for audience interest to grow.
He also pointed out that advance bookings alone do not determine a film's commercial success, as a substantial share of ticket sales often comes from audiences booking closer to showtimes or purchasing tickets directly at cinemas.
The festive period following Diwali could provide an additional boost, particularly as families get more opportunities to visit theatres.
The Real Challenge Lies Ahead
Unlike ordinary commercial releases, Ramayana carries an emotional and cultural significance that extends far beyond cinema. Its characters and storyline have been part of India's collective imagination for generations.
That familiarity offers the filmmakers a unique advantage, but it also brings enormous responsibility. Audiences already have strong expectations about the portrayal of Lord Rama, Sita, Ravana and other iconic characters.
Ultimately, spectacular visuals, a celebrated cast and a massive production budget may attract initial curiosity, but compelling storytelling and emotional connect will determine the film's lasting impact.
With the November 5 release approaching, all eyes are now on whether Ramayana: Rise of Legend can turn its promising advance bookings into a historic box-office opening and emerge as the cinematic event its makers have envisioned.
