03 August,2026 08:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ramayana. Pic via Instagram
The Shri Ramlila Mahasangh has written to director Nitesh Tiwari ahead of the release of Ramayana: Part 1, issued a strong warning to the makers. President of Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, Arjun Kumar, in his formal letter to the makers, demanded that the film be screened for a delegation before its theatrical release this Diwali, both in India and overseas.
In his letter addressed to director Nitesh Tiwari and the film's production company, Arjun Kumar reportedly recollected the controversy that followed the earlier mega-budget film, Adipurush, produced by T-Series Films. Featuring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan in crucial roles, the film was also based on the epic of Ramayana.
Kumar stated that several scenes in Adipurush had attracted strong objections from members of the Sanatan community as well as those associated with traditional Ramlila performances. The concerns raised were the depiction of Lanka in black instead of gold, as well as the depiction of Raavana and his army in a manner that did not align with traditional beliefs, among others. Arjun reminded makers that the backlash had significantly impacted the film's box office performance.
In his letter, he further emphasised that as per the information received by the Mahasangh, Ramayana: Part One could also contain scenes that could hurt the sentiments of Hindus living in India and abroad. As a result, the organisation requested a special preview screening of the film for the delegation to ensure that any potentially objectionable scenes or dialogues can be identified and removed prior to release.
Additionally, he also warned that if the makers fail to comply, the Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, along with various other Hindu organisations, will stage protests outside cinema halls in Delhi and other states.
Ramayana is a two-part magnum opus, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Raavan. The soundtrack of the Nitesh Tiwari-directed film is composed by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. The makers recently unvieled a 4-minute-long trailer of the film, which has received mixed reactions from the audience.
Ramayana: Part 1 is all set to release during Diwali 2026, followed by the sequel, which will release on Diwali 2027.
