Shiv Sagar Revises His View on Ramayana Trailer, Praises Global Ambition

Ramanand Sagar’s grandson, Shiv Sagar, has publicly reversed his earlier reservations about the upcoming Ramayana film, calling the newly released trailer a marked improvement. In a fresh reaction, he admitted that an older promotional asset had left him unimpressed with the quality of the visual effects relative to the reported budget. However, the full trailer changed his mind.

Shiv Sagar singled out Yash’s portrayal of Ravana as “brilliant” and praised Sai Pallavi’s depiction of Sita, particularly her delivery and articulation. He also highlighted two standout visual sequences—the conception of the Pushpak Viman and Surpanakha’s tiger chariot entry—as evidence of the film’s grand design.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios alongside DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana Part 1 is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, with the sequel following a year later. The two-part epic is being positioned as a worldwide IMAX spectacle, aiming to introduce the ancient story to a new generation and international audiences.

Why the Sagar Legacy Endorsement and VFX Debate Matter for Indian Cinema’s Global Push

A Seal of Approval from the Sagar Legacy

Shiv Sagar’s endorsement carries weight beyond a casual fan reaction. His grandfather’s 1987 television adaptation of the Ramayana remains a cultural touchstone for millions of Indians, making his praise a symbolic bridge between the story’s most iconic screen version and this modern cinematic retelling. For the producers, that nod helps assuage concerns among nostalgic audiences that the film might betray the epic’s emotional core in pursuit of spectacle.

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Visual Effects: The Debate Over Budget and Execution

The initial disconnect Shiv Sagar flagged—between the quality of early graphics and the scale of the budget—echoes a common industry challenge. High-budget Indian films often face scrutiny when VFX work appears unfinished or inconsistent in teasers. His reversal suggests that the final trailer has demonstrated a technical uptick, likely the result of extensive post-production work at DNEG, a global VFX studio with credits on Hollywood blockbusters. Whether the finished film sustains that quality across its running time will be a key metric for both critics and investors.

Global Ambitions: Can Ramayana Open Doors for Indian Mythology?

Shiv Sagar was explicit in hoping the film “opens up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy.” That ambition aligns with the project’s international IMAX release and the involvement of DNEG, a company intimately familiar with global audience expectations. If Ramayana succeeds commercially abroad, it could pave the way for a new export-oriented subgenre, much as South Korean content broke through a decade ago. The risk, of course, is that the film must first deliver a universally accessible narrative without losing the story’s Indian essence.