Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has been building enormous anticipation ever since its first glimpse introduced audiences to its star-studded cast and ambitious scale. While the film’s trailer generated excitement for its visual effects and cinematic presentation, it has now found itself at the centre of a fresh controversy months before its theatrical debut. A Delhi-based religious organisation has formally approached the filmmakers, asking for an advance screening to ensure the adaptation does not contain scenes or dialogues that could hurt religious sentiments.
The request comes from Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, whose president, Arjun Kumar, has also warned that the organisation could stage protests if its concerns are not addressed before the film reaches cinemas. The development has once again highlighted the heightened scrutiny surrounding cinematic adaptations of revered Hindu epics following the backlash faced by Adipurush in 2023.
Shri Ramlila Mahasangh Seeks Advance Screening
In a formal letter addressed to the makers, the organisation requested that a special screening be arranged for members of Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, Ramlila committees, and Hindu organisations based in Delhi. According to Arjun Kumar, the purpose of the screening is to ensure the film remains faithful to religious beliefs and avoids creative choices that could lead to controversy after release.
Explaining the demand, Kumar referred to the criticism that surrounded Adipurush and said, “…Recently, a film starring Prabhas was released, and we even organised a promotional event for it at the Red Fort…However, the film contained objectionable content. For example, the golden city of Lanka was depicted as black, leather was used inappropriately, and some characters were portrayed with features resembling Mughal-era figures…In our view, Adipurush presented a negative image, which is why that mega-budget film failed at the box office.”
The organisation also raised concerns about how Lanka should be portrayed in mythological adaptations. In its statement, it referred to “the depiction of Lanka in black instead of gold, and the portrayal of Ravana and his army in a manner that did not align with traditional beliefs,” saying such creative liberties should not be repeated in Ramayana.
Concerns Raised Over Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Rama
While expressing support for the project, Shri Ramlila Mahasangh also commented on Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama after watching the recently released trailer. Arjun Kumar said the organisation is willing to promote the film and even organise free screenings for thousands of viewers if the final product respects the source material, but he questioned whether the trailer fully captured the gravitas associated with the iconic character.
He said, “As for the upcoming film starring Ranbir Kapoor, we are ready to welcome and promote it. The Ramlila Committee even plans to arrange free screenings for thousands of people. However, we have one request for the filmmakers. The recently released trailer for the Ramayana adaptation appears underwhelming. Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram seems weak and lacks the gravitas associated with the character.”
Kumar further added, “In our opinion, he does not fully resemble the image of Lord Ram…In contrast, regarding this new mega-budget film starring a major actor like Ranbir Kapoor, our only request is that it should avoid the kind of scenes that appeared in Adipurush and contributed to its failure…We would like a show of the film to be arranged for Hindu organisations in Delhi, including the Ramlila committees.”
Organisation Warns of Protests if Request Is Ignored
Along with its appeal for an advance screening, Shri Ramlila Mahasangh has also issued a warning about possible demonstrations if the filmmakers decide not to engage with the organisation before release. According to Kumar, the group understands that it does not have the authority to certify films, but believes it has a responsibility to raise objections if it feels religious scriptures have been misrepresented.
He said, “If any concerns arise during the screening, we would request that the filmmakers consider making the necessary corrections. If they choose not to arrange such a screening, there is little we can do. We are not the certifying authority, but we will certainly raise objections if we believe the film distorts the scriptures.” The organisation stated that, if its request is ignored, it could organise protests outside cinema halls in Delhi as well as other parts of the country.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is among the most expensive Indian films ever produced, with the two-part epic reportedly carrying a combined budget of around ₹4,000 crore. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Yash as Ravana. The recently unveiled trailer drew praise from audiences for its visual effects and scale, adding to the excitement surrounding its worldwide theatrical release on Diwali 2026, while the second installment is scheduled to arrive in 2027. As anticipation continues to grow, the filmmakers now find themselves balancing audience expectations with renewed calls for religious sensitivity before the epic reaches the big screen.
