The much-awaited mythological epic Ramayana has hit the screens, and while the film boasts a stellar ensemble cast and spectacular visuals, it is Yash as Ravana who appears to have emerged as its biggest talking point. The Kannada star has reportedly impressed audiences with his commanding screen presence, stylish appearance and powerful portrayal of the demon king. The epic has opened to terrific response and has collected Rs 180 crore and is still counting at the box office.
Playing one of Indian mythology’s most complex characters is no easy task, but Yash seems to have brought his own charisma and intensity to Ravana. His screen presence adds considerable weight to the narrative, with several viewers feeling that he stands out whenever he appears on screen.
“It is true that Ravana’s character gets more prominence in the first part. Talented Yash turns out to be a show-stealer, and I believe the makers are planning to showcase the heroism and adventures of Lord Rama in the second part,” says director Dolly.
“In commercial cinema, the villain’s character has to be powerful and larger than life. Only when the hero defeats such a formidable opponent does the audience get a different kind of satisfaction. We have to wait for the second part to see how Lord Rama’s journey unfolds and the ultimate clash between good and evil,” he adds.
Reacting to the social media debate over the glorification of dark characters such as Ravana and Surpanakha, and whether it dilutes the central theme of the epic, Dolly disagrees with the criticism.
“I don’t think that is correct. It is purely a matter of interpretation. Two people can have completely different opinions about the same character. These characters are layered, and audiences should not look at them simply in black and white. Even Ravana’s backstory in the film comes as a pleasant surprise,” he says.
He believes the filmmakers have presented the characters as individuals with different shades rather than simply judging them as good or evil.
However, producer Abhishek Agarwal feels Ranbir Kapoor deserves equal appreciation for his portrayal of Lord Rama. He believes the Bollywood star has undergone a remarkable transformation from playing a gangster in Animal to portraying a divine warrior in Ramayana.
“Ranbir Kapoor’s transformation is simply mind-blowing. I think both Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi have done great justice to their divine roles and made the film a watchable experience,” he says.
Agarwal also feels that comparisons with Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television series Ramayan should be avoided.
“We should not compare the two because Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan is a classic made in a completely different era. Director Nitesh Tiwari has adopted a new-age storytelling approach to connect with younger audiences, so such comparisons should be avoided,” he says.
He further points out that a film of this scale needs spectacular visuals and cutting-edge technology to appeal to a global audience.
“It is a worldwide commercial film, and the director has to focus on visual grandeur and VFX to make it a larger-than-life experience. We should showcase our Indian epics on a global platform and prove that we are on par with Hollywood in terms of technical finesse, Hence we need to pat the team for their hard work,” he concludes.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
