Sunil Lahri Shares Mixed Feelings on New 'Ramayana' Film

Actor's Review of 'Ramayana'

Mumbai, Nov 11: Sunil Lahri, renowned for his role as Lakshman in the classic television series 'Ramayan' by Ramanand Sagar, has expressed his mixed feelings regarding the recently released film 'Ramayana.'

While he commended the film's stunning visuals and high-quality special effects, Lahri noted that it does not fully capture the spiritual essence and divine nature associated with the epic. In a video shared on social media, he described his viewing experience as bittersweet, acknowledging the film's impressive visuals but suggesting that more attention could have been given to key scenes and dialogues.

In his video commentary, he remarked, "I had the chance to see the new film 'Ramayana.' It is a grand production with a substantial budget, and the visual effects are indeed world-class. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the cast has delivered commendable performances, embodying their characters with sincerity and dedication. There are many remarkable scenes throughout the film."

However, he criticized the handling of some emotional moments and dialogues, pointing out the omission of significant episodes, such as the Ahalya sequence, and described the Parashurama segment as lacking strength.

“In my view, certain emotional sequences could have been executed more effectively. It seems that not enough focus was placed on some dialogues and crucial moments, while a few key scenes are entirely absent,” he added.

Sunil further elaborated, “For example, I found the Parashurama sequence to be quite weak. The Ahalya episode is completely missing. Additionally, I was not fond of how Shurpanakha converses with Lord Ram. The way Sita Ji addresses Lord Ram also felt inappropriate to me. There are numerous other sequences that seemed weak and did not convey the devotional sentiment and divine essence that are essential to the Ramayana narrative.”

In closing, he encouraged audiences to view the film and share their thoughts.

“I believe the film emphasizes grandeur and power over devotion. It leans more towards Shakti Pradhan (focused on power) rather than Bhakti Pradhan (focused on devotion). I urge everyone to watch the film and express their opinions. Today marks the auspicious occasion of Bhai Dooj, a special festival where sisters apply a tilak on their brothers' foreheads and pray for their long lives, happiness, prosperity, and good health.”

In the caption accompanying his video, Sunil Lahri stated, “Watched the new Ramayan. It was a bittersweet experience. There was no sense of divinity or devotion. Several important scenes are missing, and the dialogue in many scenes lacks the dignity that should be present in a film like this. Ravana has been glorified quite a lot. Saw new Ramayan, it was a mixed experience, divinity was not visible.”

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, 'Ramayana' features a star-studded cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, Arun Govil, and Lara Dutta. The film premiered in theaters on November 5.