Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has expressed his admiration for the cinematic adaptation of the epic 'Ramayana', titled 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend', after rewatching it. Varma, who identifies as an atheist, clarified that his praise is based on his perspective as a film enthusiast and not a devotee of Lord Ram. In a lengthy post, he commended the ambitious scale, visual effects, storytelling, and cinematic vision of director Nitesh Tiwari.
Varma highlighted several sequences, such as the opening cosmic battle, Ravana's ten heads materializing, the forest landscapes, and the climactic Jatayu sequence, praising them for being more than mere visual effects. He described these moments as galactic events that make Indian cinema brighter. He also credited producer Namit Malhotra for backing a project of such magnitude, hoping it would awaken Bollywood from its complacency.
Among the performances, Yash's portrayal of Ravana received Varma's highest praise. He believed that Yash had transcended the role of a conventional antagonist, bringing out Ravana's intelligence, strength, devotion to Lord Shiva, and ambition. Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Ram was also defended by Varma, who argued that Kapoor's restrained portrayal was essential to the character, emphasizing Lord Ram's principles, composure, and emotional control.
Varma maintained that 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' could stand alongside major international productions without borrowing their cinematic language. He compared it favorably with franchises such as 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Avatar'. The film has been praised for its ability to appeal to families, youngsters, Gen Z audiences, and moviegoers in smaller towns.