Maharashtra CM Unveils New Studio, Hopes for Oscar-Worthy Ramayana Films

Inauguration of Prime One Studio

On Thursday, Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis officially opened Prime One, a newly established studio by producer Namit Malhotra, located in Mumbai. During the ceremony, Fadnavis shared his excitement regarding the forthcoming Ramayana films directed by Nitesh Tiwari, expressing his aspiration for the project to secure an Academy Award. He remarked, "I will be disappointed if the Academy Award doesn’t come to Ramayana," underlining the importance of these films, which are planned for release in two segments.

The inauguration occurred at Film City in Mumbai, marking the initial phase of development for Prime Focus Studio. Fadnavis elaborated on his vision for the Ramayana films, produced by Malhotra’s DNEG in partnership with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. DNEG, renowned for its visual effects prowess, has clinched the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects on eight occasions and has worked on acclaimed films like Dune: Part Two and Tenet. The cast features Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, with the trailer recently showcased at the San Diego Comic-Con and a Pratham Sankalp event in New Delhi.

The first installment of the Ramayana films is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, while the second part is expected to debut in Diwali 2027. The trailer has introduced pivotal characters, including Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanaka and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi. However, audience reactions to the trailer have been mixed, with some viewers comparing it to Om Raut’s Adipurush, which faced backlash for its depiction of the Ramayana.

In response to the varied reactions, the Shri Ramlila Mahasangh has formally requested that the filmmakers present the Ramayana film to its representatives before its theatrical debut. The organization’s president, Arjun Kumar, voiced concerns that certain scenes might offend Hindu sentiments. He recalled the criticism directed at Adipurush, stating, "We promoted Adipurush without watching the movie before its release, and that movie depicted certain things from Ramayana inaccurately. We don't want to repeat the same mistake since Ramayana belongs to billions of people."

The Mahasangh has indicated that it has received information suggesting that the Ramayana film may include scenes that could potentially hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus both domestically and internationally. They have cautioned the filmmakers that if their request for a pre-release screening is not met, they, along with other Hindu organizations, will stage protests and demonstrations outside cinemas across Delhi and other states.