Bengaluru turned into the launchpad of a global cinematic push on Thursday as Sony Pictures pulled back the curtain on the second trailer of Ramayana. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, is now officially on the world stage, with its international release locked for November 5.
The trailer arrived in English, a clear signal of intent. Sony is positioning Ramayana as a global theatrical event, the kind of mythological spectacle that can sit alongside Hollywood’s biggest fantasies.
Yash’s Ravana steals the show
If the first trailer was about introducing the world of Ramayana, the second one is about its conflict. Yash’s Ravana dominates the frame, all menace and swagger, in what many fans are already calling his most commanding screen presence since KGF: Chapter 2. The trailer lingers on the growing threat of the demon king of Lanka as Rama prepares for the war that lies ahead.
One moment that is already doing the rounds online comes from the extended television promo released a day earlier. It shows Kunal Kapoor as Indra, the king of the gods, riding his celestial elephant Airavata. Ravana strikes the divine beast, sending it crashing to the ground, and declares with chilling calm that before him, every head will bow. It is the kind of theatrical menace that Yash delivers better than almost anyone working today.
A bigger canvas than before
The new trailer expands considerably on the first glimpse unveiled in July. The scale is visibly larger, the war sequences more elaborate, and the emotional stakes clearer. Sai Pallavi’s Sita gets more screen time this round, and the supporting cast glimpsed in the character posters, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as Dashrath, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara and Anupam Kher as Jatayu, all begin to feel like parts of a single, massive tapestry.
The visual effects are being handled by DNEG, the eight-time Oscar-winning studio founded by Namit Malhotra, in collaboration with Prime Focus Studios and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. With AR Rahman composing the music and Nitesh Tiwari directing, the film brings together some of the heaviest hitters in Indian cinema on a single project.
The numbers behind the hype
The logistics of this release are as epic as the story itself. A few key facts worth knowing:
- Runtime: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend clocks 3 hours and 15 minutes, Ranbir’s longest since Animal. The US censor board has granted it a PG-13 rating.
- Release: Part one arrives in theatres worldwide on November 5, 2026, with part two planned for Diwali 2027.
- Languages: In India, the film releases in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with IMAX screenings planned.
- Distribution: Sony Pictures handles international markets, while Dharma Productions distributes the Hindi version in India.
- Two parts: The film is conceived as a two-part epic, a format that gives the story room to breathe beyond a single sitting.
Why this launch matters
Indian mythologicals have flirted with global ambitions before, but few have had this machinery behind them. A major Hollywood studio running the international campaign and a trailer launch in Bengaluru attended by the lead cast suggest the makers are betting on Ramayana crossing over like no Indian epic has.
The timing helps too. The film lands in the middle of the festive season, when family audiences traditionally turn out in large numbers, and the advance buzz suggests opening-day numbers could be historic. Tickets for international markets are already on sale through Fandango, and early trade chatter points to one of the biggest advance bookings ever for an Indian film overseas.
What comes next
With exactly three weeks to go before release, the promotional engine is only going to get louder. Advance bookings open on Dussehra, and a screening at Rashtrapati Bhavan is reportedly on the cards.
For now, though, the second trailer has done its job. It has given the world its first proper look at the battle between Rama and Ravana, and it has made one thing clear: this is not a film that is trying to be modest about its ambitions.
FAQs
When is Ramayana releasing?
Part one releases in theatres worldwide on November 5, 2026, with part two scheduled for Diwali 2027.
Who plays Ravana in Ramayana?
KGF star Yash plays Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, opposite Ranbir Kapoor as Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita.
What is the runtime of Ramayana?
The film runs 3 hours and 15 minutes and carries a PG-13 rating in the United States.
Who is directing Ramayana?
The two-part epic is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal and Chhichhore, and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios with DNEG.
In which languages will Ramayana release in India?
The film releases in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with IMAX screenings also planned.
Three weeks to go. The countdown to November 5 has officially begun, and if the second trailer is anything to go by, Indian cinema is about to witness its biggest bet ever.
