SerpApi.Org
While Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, the first Ramayana trailer is designed to leave audiences thinking about Yash. Opening with Ravana and closing with Ram's vow to defeat him before the three worlds, the trailer frames the story through the presence of its formidable antagonist. Yash's towering screen presence, measured dialogue delivery, physicality and commanding aura make Ravana feel like the defining force of the trailer.
The trailer was screened exclusively for select members of the media at a grand event in Delhi on Saturday. Owing to popular demand, it was played twice on the big screen, with attendees given 3D glasses to experience the world of Ramayana in all its grandeur.
There's only so much that can be revealed. An NDA (non-disclosure agreement) is in place, and the trailer is yet to be unveiled at events across the world before its global online release on July 24. But one thing can be said with certainty: this is Yash's show.
Yash's Ravana is more than majestic. He dominates the trailer. Every frame he appears in carries weight and depth. He exudes the confidence, power and opulence of the demon king, the ruler of the three worlds and one of the most formidable figures in Hindu mythology. Yash doesn't just play Ravana, he inhabits him with some menace that makes the character impossible to look away from.
That isn't to say the trailer's other elements fall short. The visual effects are stunning, the scale is breathtaking, and the world envisioned by director Nitesh Tiwari instantly draws you in. Ranbir Kapoor's Lord Ram exudes calm conviction, while Sai Pallavi's Sita lends warmth and grace. Together, they bring alive a world that feels sacred, magical and every bit the cinematic spectacle the film promises to be.
Yet, by the time the trailer ends, with Lord Ram's powerful vow to slay Ravana before the three worlds, it's Yash who lingers in your mind. If the trailer is any indication, Ravana could well emerge as the film's biggest talking point. Exactly how Yash commands the trailer is something audiences will have to discover for themselves when it releases online on July 24.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a two-part epic produced by Namit Malhotra under DNEG and Prime Focus Studios, with Yash also serving as co-producer. The film stars Ravi Dubey as Laxman, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, alongside Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Shobana, Saurabh Sachdeva, Faisal Malik and Lara Dutta.
Ramayana: Part I is slated for a theatrical release on November 5, coinciding with Diwali.
