Ramayana-‘The Introduction’: A Glimpse Into a Universe, With Groundbreaking East-West collaboration

Set 5,000 years ago and revered by 2.5 billion people around the world, Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana is a two-part live-action cinematic universe being reimagined on the scale of the biggest tentpoles produced to date. The film unites some of Hollywood and India’s celebrated talent in a partnership like never seen before.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and 8-time Oscar winning VFX studio DNEG in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations; Ramayana is being filmed for IMAX and will release worldwide : Part 1 in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027.

July 3rd, 2025 : The creators behind the world’s most ambitious cinematic event unveiled the epic universe of Ramayana with the global launch of ‘Ramayana: The Introduction’ — setting the stage for the timeless battle between two of mythology’s most iconic forces: Rama vs. Ravana. The launch spanned the globe — with fan screenings across nine Indian cities and a spectacular billboard takeover at Times Square, New York. Helmed by visionary filmmaker and producer Namit Malhotra and co-produced by Yash, Ramayana brings together a formidable army of Oscar-winning technicians, Hollywood’s finest creators, and India’s biggest names in acting and storytelling — reimagining one of civilization’s most powerful epics as a cutting-edge cinematic universe, rooted in Indian culture and created for the world.

THE STORY
Set in a timeless age, the universe is held in balance by the cosmic trinity — Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Protector, and Shiva the Destroyer — who preserve harmony among gods, sages, humans, and demons. But from the ashes of this balance rises a force unlike any before.

An unlikely demon child transforms into Ravana — the most feared and indestructible king in all creation. His roar shakes the heavens, and his purpose is clear: to destroy Vishnu, the god of protection, whom he believes has always stood against his kind.
To stop him, Vishnu descends to Earth in his weakest form — as a mortal prince named Rama.

And thus begins the eternal battle:
Rama vs. Ravana. Mortal vs. Immortal. Light vs. Darkness. This is Ramayana — a story of cosmic war, timeless destiny, and the triumph of good — still shaping the spirit of a billion people today.

THE CAST & CREW
In a stellar casting coup bringing together India’s biggest stars, Ramayana features:
Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, a fourth-generation icon of Indian cinema
Yash, India’s leading pan-India superstar and co-producer, as Ravana
Sai Pallavi as the beloved Sita
Sunny Deol, Indian cinema’s enduring action hero, as Hanuman
Ravie Dubey in a refreshing new role as Lakshman, Rama’s loyal brother
Supporting this powerful cast is an extraordinary crew. For the first time ever, Oscar-winning legends Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman join forces to craft a new cinematic symphony.

Hollywood’s top stunt directors— Terry Notary (Avengers, Planet of the Apes) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa) — are choreographing the epic battles between gods and demons.

The visual grandeur of ancient India is being reimagined by renowned production designers Ravi Bansal (Dune 2, Aladdin, etc) and Ramsey Avery (Captain America, Tomorrowland, etc), delivering an immersive cinematic experience at an unprecedented scale.

A VISION FROM INDIA TO THE WORLD
Namit Malhotra, producer, filmmaker, founder of Prime Focus, and CEO of DNEG, shares:
“This is a cultural movement for every Indian around the world. With Ramayana, we’re not just retelling history; we’re introducing our legacy to the world.Bringing together the finest global talent allows us to tell this story with authenticity, emotion, and state-of-the-art cinematic innovation. We’ve seen Ramayana portrayed before — but this version reimagines its landscapes, creatures, and battles with the scale and splendour they deserve. As Indians, this is our truth. Now, it will be our gift to the world.”

Nitesh Tiwari, director of the film shares:
“Ramayana is a story we’ve all grown up with. It carries the soul of our culture. Our aim was to honour that soul — and present it with the cinematic scale it truly deserves. As a filmmaker, it’s both a huge responsibility and a heartfelt honour to bring it to life. . It’s a tale that has endured across millennia because it speaks to something deep and eternal within us. We are not simply making a film. We are offering a vision — one rooted in reverence, shaped by excellence, and made to transcend borders”

Crafted for the world’s most immersive formats, including IMAX, Ramayana is envisioned as a transcendent theatrical experience — a cinematic odyssey into the heart of one of humanity’s most enduring epics.

The glimpse was exclusively premiered for the media on the state-of-the-art PCX screen at Prasads, and it left everyone in awe. Critics hailed it as a visual marvel and described the experience as nothing like they’ve ever witnessed before.