The first teaser of Ramayana, by Namit Malhotra, is finally here. It doesn’t whisper, it roars. Released on YouTube on July 7th, the glimpse into this cinematic reimagining of India’s most cherished epic delivers grandeur, spirituality, and a profound reverence for the mythology that has shaped generations. With a powerhouse cast featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. And Hans Zimmer, and A R Rahman as the music producers. The teaser builds anticipation not just for a film, but for a cultural moment.
A Divine Prelude
The teaser opens not with action or dialogue, but with silence. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, fill the screen, accompanied by a hauntingly atmospheric score. These aren’t just visual flourishes; they signal the divine energies that set the narrative in motion. Around them, celestial colors swirl like cosmic dust. Vibrant nebula tones of blue, violet, orange, and gold. Forming a palette that evokes mysticism, creation, and the spiritual weight of the tale about to unfold.
This sequence, though brief, immediately signals the film’s aesthetic commitment: the use of VFX not as a gimmick, but as a devotional tool. It’s clear the film seeks to be as spiritual as it is cinematic.
The Tridevas in the Ramayana Teaser (YouTube)
Sculpted Introductions: Characters as Living Icons
As the music rises, we’re introduced to the central characters, not through scenes or dialogue, but through sculptural tableaus. Each character is showing through their bronze statue which is very common in India, giving them an ode. Their names appear one by one: Sai Pallavi as Sita, graceful, and serene; Sunny Deol as Hanuman, commanding, and fierce; and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, loyal, and poised for war. These are not casual entries. They are ritualistic, symbolic, and deeply reverential.
Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, and Yash as Ravana
The teaser’s energy shifts when Ranbir Kapoor appears as Ram. His posture is upright, his gaze unwavering. Draped in simple dhoti, and armed with his bow. There is no over-dramatisation, no forced intensity. Only stillness, quiet power, and a sense of grace that feels rooted in the sacred.
Then comes the counterforce: Yash’s Ravana. If Ram is golden, and calm, Ravana is darkness incarnate. He isn’t depicted as a caricature villain rather, he’s an embodiment of ego, power, and unchecked ambition. His visual presence alone promises a nuanced, larger-than-life performance. Something the myth deserves.
A Poster Of Ramayana (IMAX)
The DNEG Studios Collaboration: A Turning Point
The groundbreaking collaboration with DNEG Studios. Known globally for their award-winning work in Dune, Inception, and Interstellar, DNEG’s involvement marks a turning point for Indian VFX. This partnership promises to elevate Indian mythological cinema to world-class visual standards, ensuring that the grandeur of stories like Ramayana is matched by technical brilliance. It’s a powerful statement that Indian cinema no longer needs to compromise between scale, and quality. It can have both.
Visual Symbolism, and Spiritual Layers
The use of nebula-inspired colors, celestial iconography, and elemental imagery throughout the teaser gives the trailer a transcendental quality. Rather than hyperrealist sets, the visual tone is painterly, almost mythopoeic. Every frame feels suspended between the earthly, and the divine. A reminder that Ramayana isn’t just a story. It’s scripture, memory, and moral code all at once.
Rama and Ravana in The Ramayana Teaser. (YouTube)
A Closing That Sends Shivers
The teaser ends on a powerful note. The symbol“ॐ” glows in golden, in it has all the bronze statues previously shown. The symbol slowly dissolves into a blue, and a silhouette of India forms subtly in the background, anchoring the mythology not just in time, but in geography. The message is unmissable: this story is not fantasy, it is legacy. It belongs to every corner of this land.
A still from the teaser (YouTube)
A Two-Part Epic Arriving on Diwali
Adding to the anticipation, the makers announced that Ramayana will unfold in two parts.The first part is slated for release on Diwali 2026, with the second part following exactly a year later on Diwali 2027. The choice of Diwali itself a festival celebrating Ram’s return to Ayodhya. It is fitting, and symbolic, promising that the cinematic experience will feel like an extension of the cultural celebration itself.
A Cinematic Invocation, Not Just an Adaptation
The Ramayana teaser sets itself apart from every other mythological film of recent times. There are no attempts at modernizing the epic. No reinterpretations. What it offers instead is respect for the story, for its characters, and for its audience.
With striking visuals, spiritually resonant VFX, and a cast that already seems deeply in sync with their roles, Ramayana doesn’t just look promising. It feels monumental. If the final film delivers on the promise of this teaser, it may just redefine mythological cinema for a new generation.
