Film

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

Name: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Released: 2026
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil

Period drama

A sweeping reimagining of the Ramayana that treats ancient mythology as epic cinema. Nearly three hours of elaborate fantasy action with real emotional weight—this is devotional filmmaking that doesn't require faith to move you. Built for audiences who love immersive worldbuilding and the kind of scale that demands a theatre.

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Bāhubali: The Beginning2015

Proof that Indian cinema can build genuinely massive fantasy worlds. Stunning action sequences, genuine stakes, and a story that respects its mythological source while feeling utterly contemporary. A direct ancestor to what this film attempts.

But The climax does lean heavily on a plot twist that some find more soap opera than epic. At 159 minutes, it demands patience.

Padmaavat2018

Sanjay Leela Bhansali at full spectacle—everything gorgeously overlit and operatic. A love story framed against impossible odds, with the same grandeur and obsessive cinematography that makes myth feel immediate and real.

But It's deliberately paced and painterly. If you need constant plot momentum, the long sequences of visual beauty may feel like obstacles rather than destinations.

Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva2022

Modern Indian fantasy that blends mythology with contemporary hero storytelling. Ambitious visual effects, a genuinely charismatic lead, and the kind of world-building that suggests sequels worth caring about. Great entry if you want spectacle with genuine warmth.

But The script sometimes prioritises visual set-pieces over coherent pacing. Some of the humour doesn't land, and the middle sags a bit before the ending kicks in.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Making 'The Mahabharata'1989

Both are Hindi-language epics that treat ancient mythology as contemporary story. Both understand that these legends persist because they contain real human questions about duty, power and love—not because of special effects.

B.R. Chopra's television serialisation remains the most complete and emotionally resonant adaptation of the source material. Ninety-five episodes of genuine grandeur made for television—humble in production but immense in scope and moral sophistication. A masterclass in how to tell an epic.

But It's a 1988 Indian television series: the production values are modest, the pacing very slow, and there are ninety-five episodes. It requires genuine commitment and patience.

Devdas2002

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's most visually intoxicating film—a period romance that feels like watching someone's fever dream. If you want to see what pure cinematic ambition looks like, this is essential. Heartbreaking and gorgeous.

But The narrative is deliberately melodramatic and the pacing glacial. It's not a story—it's an aesthetic experience, which means if you need plot to drive you, you'll struggle.

Thugs of Hindostan2018

Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan in a historical action film with genuine fun—cartoonish in the best way, with solid spectacle and chemistry between the leads. Underrated as entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously.

But The script is thin and the film never quite decides its own tone. Some sequences feel bloated and the emotional beats land unevenly.

Raees2017

Shah Rukh Khan as a charismatic antihero in a crime thriller with unexpected depth. Taut direction, excellent supporting cast, and genuine moral complexity. A well-made genre film that respects its audience's intelligence.

But The second half relies on some predictable twists. The climax, while effective, follows a familiar structure that might feel inevitable.

Rustom2016

Akshay Kumar in a period thriller that's genuinely clever about mystery and misdirection. Stylish cinematography, strong supporting performances, and a story that keeps you guessing. Underrated as a thriller.

But Some of the romance subplot feels obligatory. The investigation stretches long enough that momentum slows in the second act.

The Green Knight2021

Both rebuild ancient legends as visual journeys rather than plot machines. Both ask what happens when you take the spiritual weight of myth seriously and build cinema around that rather than action sequences.

David Lowery's medieval fantasy—visually hypnotic, mythologically rigorous, treating Arthurian legend as dream-logic rather than plot. Slow, strange, and absolutely gorgeous. If you want spectacle that feels like folklore rather than Hollywood blockbuster, this is it.

But It's deliberately obscure and refuses to explain itself. The pacing is meditative bordering on static. If you need clear narrative beats, you'll find it maddening.

Kalank2019

Both grapple with duty versus personal desire in period settings. Both understand that love stories in epic contexts are really about what we owe to others versus what we owe ourselves.

Abhishek Vardhan's period drama about partition and forbidden love. Visually ornate in the Bhansali tradition, with genuine historical weight and a story about duty conflicting with desire. Beautiful and surprisingly moving despite its melodramatic premise.

But The plot moves predictably and some character motivations strain credibility. The climax relies on coincidence rather than inevitability.