Yash’s Ravana commands every frame as the Ramayana trailer finally arrives

The makers of the much-awaited Ramayana dropped the full trailer on 30 July 2026, and within hours it had become the most talked-about film preview of the year. The nearly four-minute cut offers a sweeping first look at Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part adaptation of the ancient epic, setting Ranbir Kapoor’s restrained Lord Ram against Yash’s towering Ravana. Early reaction has been overwhelmingly one-sided: Yash, as the demon king, steals every scene he appears in.

The trailer opens with an ominous, face-obscured entry by Ravana before revealing Yash in full regalia as he declares dominance over the three worlds. The narrative then traces familiar beats – Sita’s swayamvar, Ram’s exile, Lakshman’s confrontation with Surpanakha, Sita’s abduction, and the build-up to the climactic war. Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Ram is portrayed as a compassionate prince who hardens into a warrior, while Sai Pallavi’s Sita shares several emotional moments with him. The ensemble cast also includes Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, and Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva.

One conspicuous absence is Sunny Deol’s Hanuman, which instantly became a talking point online. No glimpse of the character appears, leading fans to speculate that the makers are saving the reveal for a later promotional push. Social media reaction otherwise centered on the film’s visual scale, the darker fantasy-inspired look of the rakshasas, and the background score. One user called the trailer a “generational phenomenon,” while another labelled it “absolute cinema.”

Ramayana: Part 1 is backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, with music by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman and action choreography by Mad Max veteran Guy Norris. Filmed for IMAX, Part 1 is scheduled for Diwali 2026, with the second instalment following at Diwali 2027.

What makes this Ramayana adaptation different – and why the trailer is already a cultural event

The response to this trailer reveals as much about the audience’s relationship with the Ramayana as it does about the film itself. Valmiki’s epic is not just a story in India; it is woven into the moral and cultural fabric of a vast population. Any adaptation therefore carries enormous expectation, and the makers have clearly invested in scale and craft to meet it.

Why Yash’s Ravana is the early centre of gravity

Yash’s screen presence, refined over the KGF franchise, translates seamlessly into the mythological antagonist role. The trailer’s structure – starting with Ravana before introducing Ram – consciously positions him as the gravitational force of the story, and the audience reaction confirms that choice worked. For a two-part epic, establishing a charismatic antagonist early is commercially vital; it sustains interest between instalments.

The strategic bet behind the production

The involvement of DNEG for visual effects, two Oscar-winning composers, and a Hollywood action director signals an attempt to craft a spectacle that can travel beyond Indian diaspora audiences. Shooting for IMAX and releasing during the Diwali window – traditionally the most lucrative period for Hindi cinema – underlines the financial ambition. Whether the emotional register of the epic translates globally remains an open question, but the first trailer suggests the film has the technical polish to compete with international tentpoles.

The missing Hanuman calculus

Withholding Sunny Deol’s Hanuman is a deliberate marketing tactic. Hanuman is arguably the most beloved character in the Ramayana for many devotees, and a reveal timed closer to release can create a second wave of momentum. It also diverts conversation from any early criticism, keeping the discourse focused on the spectacle and Yash’s performance for now.