Cinema VinesIn a recent interview in Mumbai, lyricist and dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir urged audiences to refrain from comparing the upcoming Nitesh Tiwari epic Ramayana with the 2024 film Adipurush. Muntashir, who penned the dialogues for the latter, acknowledged that the film had failed to meet expectations, describing it as a “failed attempt” that nevertheless produced a music score that “has reached the people.” He praised the talent involved, especially Yash’s portrayal of Ravana, and expressed his best wishes for the new project, hoping its soundtrack would surpass that of Adipurush.
Adipurush had a colossal budget of ₹550 crore and starred Prabhas as Lord Rama, Kriti Sanon as Sita and Saif Ali Khan as Ravana. Despite a strong opening, the film suffered from negative word‑of‑mouth and closed with a loss of over ₹200 crore, making it Bollywood’s biggest box‑office bomb. Critics and viewers alike took issue with its dialogue and depictions of key mythological figures, leading to widespread controversy.
In contrast, the new Ramayana trailer showcases Yash as the charismatic Ravana, while Ranbir Kapoor takes on the role of Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi portrays Sita. The cast also includes Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The film’s music is a collaboration between Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, and the first part is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, with a second part expected in Diwali 2027.
While the two films both draw from the ancient epic, Muntashir’s comments highlight the distinct creative paths and audience receptions that separate them. He emphasized that there should be no shame in admitting the shortcomings of Adipurush and that the new Ramayana should stand on its own merits, hoping its music will “match the music of ‘Adipurush’ and go beyond that.”
