Epic Retelling: Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana Joins Legacy of Iconic Screen Adaptations

Nitesh Tiwari's much-anticipated two-part epic saga Ramayana has officially set its release dates, with Part 1 hitting screens during Diwali 2026, and Part 2 following in 2027.

The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and KGF actor Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol will star as Hanuman.

This grand retelling adds to the long history of filmmakers adapting the Ramayana, each offering their own interpretation of the ancient epic.

Before Tiwari's Ramayana, several notable films have drawn inspiration from this mythological story, each adding a modern twist to the ancient narrative.

Singham Again (directed by Rohit Shetty) takes its cues from the Ramayana, with Ajay Devgn’s DCP Bajirao Singham and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Avni Kamat mirroring the figures of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. The movie has performed well at the box office, though mixed reviews have slightly affected its long-term success.

Released in 2023, Adipurush, directed by Om Raut, brought the Ramayana to the big screen with Prabhas as Raghava (Lord Rama), Kriti Sanon as Janaki (Sita), and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh (Ravana). Despite a massive opening of Rs 103 crore globally, the film was criticized for its visual effects and dialogue, leading to a disappointing box office collection of Rs 353.50 crore.

RRR, SS Rajamouli’s 2022 blockbuster, didn’t directly adapt the Ramayana, but drew clear influences from it. Ram Charan’s role as Rama Raju echoes Lord Rama, while Jr NTR's Komaram Bheem shares traits with Hanuman, both in physicality and loyalty. The film was a massive success, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 2022.

Ram Setu, starring Akshay Kumar, explored the origins of the Ram Setu (Adam's Bridge) and brought the Ramayana into the modern age. While the film underperformed theatrically, it managed to outdo its Diwali co-release, Thank God.

Mani Ratnam’s Raavan (2010) offered a dark, nuanced perspective of the Ramayana through the eyes of the demon king, Ravana. While the film flopped in its Hindi version, it was a success in Tamil. Abhishek Bachchan's portrayal of Beera Munda (Ravana) and Aishwarya Rai’s Ragini Sharma (Sita) highlighted the complexity of the characters.

Lastly, Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1993), co-produced by Japan and India, remains a nostalgic favorite for many. However, it faced controversy in India when it was initially banned, and its theatrical release was delayed for years. Although it was never released in theaters, its influence remains strong, and a potential re-release is awaited.

As the new Ramayana films continue to draw attention, audiences are eager to see how Tiwari’s adaptation compares to these past attempts, especially with the star-studded cast and the epic scale of the project.

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