As soon as the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s much awaited film ‘Ramayana’ was released, it has created a stir on the internet. As soon as this grand trailer was released, Om Raut’s film ‘Adipurush’, released in 2023, started trending on social media platform X. Both the films are based on India’s most sacred and revered epic, but on the basis of the trailer, there is a world of difference in the presentation, approach and sentiment of both. While ‘Adipurush’ had to face sharp criticism due to its childish visual effects and controversial characterization, ‘Ramayana’ seems to respect the sentiments and beliefs of the Indian people.
Nature of Lord Shri Ram: ‘Warrior’ vs ‘Maryada Purushottam’
The biggest and fundamental difference in the trailers of both the films is in the portrayal of Lord Shri Ram. In ‘Adipurush’, Prabhas (Raghav) was mainly introduced as a fierce and aggressive warrior, where his character was driven by anger, war cries and sharp dialogues like chest-bursting of ego. The focus there was only on action.
In contrast, Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal in ‘Ramayanam’ is very close to the traditional ‘Maryada Purushottam’ image. Even amidst the circumstances of exile and war, his dialogue, ‘If the price of my people’s prosperity is my life, I will gladly give it’, shows his sacrifice, compassion and gentleness. The film’s stance establishes Sriram as a pious, dignified and sacrificial hero, which is in line with mythological values, rather than making him merely an action hero.
‘Game of Thrones villain’ vs ‘Lankapati Ravana’
Saif Ali Khan’s (Lankesh) look in ‘Adipurush’ was the most controversial. The character with buzz-cut hairstyle, blue eyes and riding a bat was considered by the audience to be less like Ravana and more like a modern villain of any western fantasy show ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Vikings’.
On the other hand, the look of Yash (Ravana) in ‘Ramayana’ is full of mythological grandeur and royal splendor. The heavy golden armour, traditional attire and his commanding presence authentically depict the fear and power of the Lankapati. Shri Ram’s statement in the trailer, ‘If Ravana is the lord of all three worlds, then all three worlds will also see his end’, makes Ravana’s character more powerful and serious without deviating from its mythological roots. This form of Yash has emerged as the biggest attraction of the trailer on social media.
Journey from ‘video game’ to ‘mythical world’
The weakest aspect of ‘Adipurush’ was its ultra-modern and artificial VFX, which gave the entire film a video game look. The trailer of ‘Ramayana’ shows a better balance of technology and realism. The scenes of Ayodhya, Dandakaranya forest and battlefield look quite alive and detailed. There is a balanced mix of real sets and modern effects rather than relying solely on digital backgrounds.
Even in the matter of music, both have different views. The music of ‘Adipurush’ was based on the loud hymns and slogans of Ajay-Atul’s ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In ‘Ramayana’, the duo of Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman have woven a web of orchestral and serious tunes, which gives a grand experience of international level to this epic.
Confluence of faith and modern cinema
Although it is too early to make a final assessment of the entire film based on the trailer alone, it is clear that Nitish Tiwari has deeply understood the public rejection and audience expectations from ‘Adipurush’. While Om Raut’s film lost its soul in its attempt to transform Ramayana into a Hollywood-style action-fantasy, ‘Ramayana’ looks to restore the dignity, grandeur and devotion of this immortal saga. This is the reason why this trailer of ‘Ramayana’ has come as a big relief and hope for the viewers who were disappointed with ‘Adipurush’.
Also read: Did you pay attention in the ‘Ramayana’ trailer? 5 mythological secrets are hidden, from Airavat elephant to Jatayu war, every scene has a deep meaning.
Latest Bollywood News
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
