Long before the first ticket goes on sale, Ramayana: Part 1 is already facing a test far bigger than opening weekend. Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological epic has now drawn formal attention from the Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, which has asked the makers for a special screening before the film’s Diwali 2026 theatrical release, underlining just how intensely the adaptation is being watched.
As detailed in the sourced report, the body has written to Tiwari ahead of the film’s release and “demanded that the film be screened for a delegation before its theatrical release this Diwali, both in India and overseas.” The request has been framed as a precautionary move, with the organisation’s concerns tied to the backlash that followed Adipurush, the 2023 retelling that stirred controversy over its interpretation of the sacred text.
Screening Demand Sharpens Focus On Faithful Adaptation
According to the sourced report, Shri Ramlila Mahasangh president Arjun Kumar addressed a formal letter to director Nitesh Tiwari and the production company, while also invoking the debate that erupted around Adipurush, which starred Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan in key roles. The letter, as described in the report, makes it clear that the body wants an advance viewing before the film reaches audiences in India and overseas.
That demand gives Ramayana an added layer of scrutiny months before release. This is no longer only about scale, star power or visual ambition. The film is also being positioned, in public conversation, as a work that will be examined closely for how it interprets one of India’s most revered epics.
A Mega Scale Rollout With A High Profile Cast
Ramayana: Part 1 is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios. The film is planned as the first chapter of a two part big screen retelling, with Part 1 scheduled for a worldwide release in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 lined up for Diwali 2027. Officially revealed cast details include Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. (indianexpress.com)
The first installment is expected to cover the opening stretch of the epic and build toward the larger conflict that unfolds in the second part. Tiwari recently confirmed the narrative design while discussing the film’s structure, saying the ending of Part 1 can be described as “a cliffhanger,” a choice that signals the makers are treating the adaptation as a sweeping long form event rather than a standalone film. (cinemaexpress.com)
For now, the screening request has added a fresh layer of pressure to one of Bollywood’s biggest upcoming releases. With expectation already sky high, Ramayana: Part 1 now heads toward Diwali 2026 carrying both immense excitement and a very public demand for authenticity.
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