Ramayana's LA Premiere: What the First Reactions Are Saying About Ranbir, Yash and That Massive Scale

This is the moment. Years of announcements, posters, a trailer that broke the internet and a wedding song that finally made us believe Ranbir and Sai Pallavi as Ram and Sita. And now, actual human beings have actually watched Ramayana.

Nitesh Tiwari's epic had its world premiere in Los Angeles on 27 October, at the David Geffen Theater inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. An invite-only 3D screening. Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra were all there, along with international guests.

Indian mythology, premiering in the house the Academy built. Let that sink in for a second.

The short version

The first reactions are positive on spectacle, divided on soul.

That's the headline. Now let's get into it.

What people loved

The scale. Almost every reaction mentions it. People are using words like colossal. One attendee compared the cinematic impact to The Lord of the Rings, which is either the highest compliment or the most dangerous expectation, depending on how you look at it.

Ranbir's Rama. This is the big one. Ranbir seems to have pulled off a restrained, graceful Rama, and a few viewers said he moved them to tears. After all the noise around his casting, that's a quiet win.

Yash's Ravana. Repeatedly called a highlight, especially his introduction. The word "magnetic" keeps popping up. Honestly, we saw this coming. Ravana is the role every actor secretly wants, and Yash has the presence to own it.

The ending. Several reactions say the emotional ending sets up Part Two beautifully.

What's dividing people

The music. This surprised me. A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer is a dream pairing on paper, but the most common complaint is that the blend of Indian and Hollywood sounds doesn't always carry the spiritual weight the story needs. Some even called it the biggest negative.

Emotional depth. A few viewers felt the spectacle overshadowed the devotion. The divine aura of Rama and Sita didn't fully land for them.

VFX in places. Some green-screen moments and a few asuras reportedly look less convincing than the rest.

Pacing. The second half was described as stretched by some, with long action sequences.

Sai Pallavi. Reactions call her solid, but she's getting less love than the two men. I'll wait to see it myself before judging, because she's rarely anything less than wonderful.

Keep this in perspective

A few honest reminders before anyone starts a war in the comments:

• These are early social media reactions from a premiere crowd, not full reviews. The review embargo reportedly lifts after 30 October.

• Premiere audiences are mixed bags: fans, guests, influencers, critics. Some reactions are glowing, some measured.

• A film this big will never please everyone. Ramayana carries the weight of faith, nostalgia and national pride. That's an impossible brief, and the fact that most people are calling it ambitious and impressive is already something.
  

My take

I'm cautiously thrilled. "Great spectacle, music divides people" is a much better problem than "it looks cheap". Emotional resonance is also deeply personal with this story. Somebody's nani in Indore will feel things in this film that no LA premiere guest ever will.

We've tracked this film's journey from the cinematic universe plan to the Mangal Rang song. The real verdict comes from Indian theatres.

When can you watch it?

Ramayana: Part One releases in cinemas on 5 November 2026, ahead of Diwali, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Part Two is slated for Diwali 2027.

Book your IMAX seats early. Something tells me this is going to be a very loud fortnight.

Frequently asked questions

Where did Ramayana premiere?

Ramayana premiered on 27 October 2026 at the David Geffen Theater inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, at an invite-only 3D screening.

When does Ramayana release in India?

Ramayana: Part One releases in cinemas on 5 November 2026, with the second part slated for Diwali 2027.

What are the early reactions to Ramayana?

Early social media reactions praise the film's scale, visuals, Ranbir Kapoor's Rama and Yash's Ravana. Some viewers felt the music and emotional depth did not match the spectacle.

Who composed the music for Ramayana?

The music is by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer.