Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana’ Wins Early Praise at Los Angeles Premiere, Sequel Tease Sparks Buzz

The world premiere of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ turned Los Angeles into a celebration of Indian mythology and cinematic spectacle, drawing a packed audience and generating early excitement ahead of its global release. The screening took place at the David Geffen Theatre on October 27, with 945 guests witnessing the big-screen retelling of one of India’s most enduring epics.

Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the film has already sparked conversations over its visual scale, emotional storytelling and ambitious musical collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer.

Early reactions highlighted the film’s grand imagery, sweeping musical score and emotionally charged sequences. Rama’s exile emerged as one of the moments that struck a chord with viewers, while the action sequences reportedly prompted applause and tears, suggesting that the film aims to combine spectacle with the emotional depth of the epic.

The music has also become a major talking point. The collaboration between Rahman, known for his distinctive Indian musical sensibility, and Zimmer, celebrated for his expansive cinematic scores, brings together two internationally recognised composers for a story rooted in Indian cultural tradition.

However, the initial response was not entirely unanimous. One critic pointed to stretches in the second half that felt slow and described the narration as flat, raising questions about whether the film’s visual grandeur consistently translates into compelling storytelling.

The excitement has extended beyond the main feature. A post-credit scene teasing a major character has fuelled speculation about the story’s next chapter, with fans already looking ahead to the planned 2028 sequel.

With its worldwide release scheduled for November 5, 2026, in IMAX and other premium formats, ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ is positioning itself as a major cinematic event. The challenge now will be to turn the premiere’s early buzz into a wider audience response when the film reaches theatres.