Ahead of its grand Diwali release, Ranbir Kapoor‘s ‘Ramayana’, one of the year’s most awaited films, has run into controversy. Arjun Kumar, President of Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, has written a formal letter to the makers, asking for a special screening before the film releases in theatres. The organisation says the screening is needed to ensure no scenes or dialogues hurt religious sentiments, and has cautioned that protests could follow if its request is ignored.
Arjun Kumar calls Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram ‘weak’
As reported in Hindustan Times, Kumar wants the screening arranged specifically for members of the Mahasangh, Ramlila committees, and Hindu organisations in Delhi. In his interaction with the media, he went on to term Ranbir’s portrayal of Lord Ram as “weak.” As per the press note, “…Recently, a film starring Prabhas was released, and we even organised a promotional event for it at the Red Fort…However, the film contained objectionable content. For example, the golden city of Lanka was depicted as black, leather was used inappropriately, and some characters were portrayed with features resembling Mughal-era figures…In our view, Adipurush presented a negative image, which is why that mega-budget film failed at the box office.”He added, “As for the upcoming film starring Ranbir Kapoor, we are ready to welcome and promote it. The Ramlila Committee even plans to arrange free screenings for thousands of people. However, we have one request for the filmmakers. The recently released trailer for the Ramayana adaptation appears underwhelming. Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram seems weak and lacks the gravitas associated with the character.“The depiction of Lanka was also among the concerns raised. As per the press note, “The depiction of Lanka in black instead of gold, and the portrayal of Ravana and his army in a manner that did not align with traditional beliefs” was flagged as problematic.He further shared, “In our opinion, he does not fully resemble the image of Lord Ram…In contrast, regarding this new mega-budget film starring a major actor like Ranbir Kapoor, our only request is that it should avoid the kind of scenes that appeared in Adipurush and contributed to its failure…We would like a show of the film to be arranged for Hindu organisations in Delhi, including the Ramlila committees.”
Organisation warns of protests if screening request is denied
The organisation also warned that failure to arrange the requested screening would result in Shri Ramlila Mahasangh and various Hindu organisations staging protests and demonstrations outside cinema halls in Delhi and other states. “If any concerns arise during the screening, we would request that the filmmakers consider making the necessary corrections. If they choose not to arrange such a screening, there is little we can do. We are not the certifying authority, but we will certainly raise objections if we believe the film distorts the scriptures,” he added.
About ‘Ramayana’: Star cast, budget and release details
‘Ramayana’, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is a two-part epic said to carry a combined budget of Rs 4,000 crore. Ranbir plays Lord Rama, with Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Yash as Ravana rounding out the cast. Since its release, the film’s trailer has drawn praise from audiences and critics, especially for its VFX work. The first instalment is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on Diwali 2026, followed by the second part in 2027.
