Hey friends! Barbarella here. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a true cinematic spectacle, so I jump at the chance to watch Namit Malhotra's Ramayana: Rise of a Legend in 3D at the theater. While an English-language version exists, we catch the Hindi version with English subtitles, which appear to float in front of the action. Based on an ancient epic, it stars Ranbir Kappoor as Rama, a prince whose devout nature leads him to make huge sacrifices. While he may not be how I would have pictured Rama based on what I knew about him going into the film, I like that he has a somewhat innocent quality about him and that his look contrasts the vengeance-fueled Ravana’s. Yash portrays Ravana with a true villain’s voice. While it effectively gives him a more sinister quality, it does take me a little time to get used to it. Still, it’s not anything that bothers me at all.
What does bother me somewhat involves some of the dialogue. For example, Sai Pallavi as Sita shares moments with Rama that feel so completely cheesy to me. I cringe at several scenes that may be intended to be romantic, but they just feel too over-the-top and take me out of the moment. There’s even a scene near the end of the film that’s supposed to be dramatic, but I find it more ridiculous than emotionally engaging. That’s disappointing because it could have been quite powerful with different dialogue. That said, the visual elements and colossal scale prove incredible and make up for everything that doesn’t work for me.
Another aspect of the film I love is the score. Award winning Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman provide an epic score to match the grandiose visuals. Throughout the film, I find myself occasionally comparing scenes to Lord of the Rings because the scale is so immense, and the scenes often feature a variety of human and not-so-human creatures. Every action sequence includes dazzling visuals that make me feel a little giddy. Who doesn’t love to be dazzled? Ramayana: Rise of a Legend proves the most visually stunning Indian film I’ve ever seen.
If you are now wondering how many Indian films I’ve actually seen, I couldn’t give you an exact count. I saw my first Indian film at Fantastic Fest in 2013, and it was about a guy who reincarnated as a housefly to get revenge. Called Eega, it was both hilarious and engaging. Since then, I keep an eye out for films from that part of the world, and I am often rewarded with incredible theatrical experiences.
I remember the time I went on opening night to a Cinemark theater to watch Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. I was the only white person in the theater (until my friends showed up), and it was just the coolest experience. I felt like I was watching the movie in India. Also, the couple next to me were so surprised and fascinated that I was there that they asked me how I knew about the film. When I explained that I saw and loved the first one, they seemed delighted. They offered to share their popcorn, which I thought was such a sweet thing to do. Anyway, I’ve seen most of the Indian programming at Fantastic Fest, and I’ve headed to the theater to see other films that fell on my radar as well. There are so many great films from that part of the world, I highly encourage people to seek them out.
For now, people could start by watching Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. It is in theaters now. Check out the English-language trailer!
