Ramayana aims to redefine world's perception of India: Producer Namit Malhotra

India Today

16-07-2025

Producer Namit Malhotra, known for his work on visual effects for films like 'Dune' and 'Oppenheimer', recently shared insights into his decision to back Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious project, 'Ramayana'. In a podcast interview, Malhotra expressed his desire to elevate Indian culture on the global stage, using the epic as a medium to challenge existing narratives about India. He emphasised the importance of presenting a narrative that reflects the rich heritage and grandeur of Indian civilisation.advertisementMalhotra articulated his vision to change the Western narrative about India. He noted that many Indian stories that gained international acclaim, such as 'Slumdog Millionaire', 'Gandhi', and 'Lion', often depicted India in a victimised light. He stated, "When I looked at the kind of Indian stories that had broken through internationally - Slumdog Millionaire, Gandhi, Lion, even RRR, which is a great testament to (SS) Rajamouli's success in making a film that resonated with Hollywood for the first time, but until then, I realised most of them portrayed us as victims. We were poor and always less fortunate."Malhotra, who was speaking to podcaster Prakhar Gupta, further explained his motivation for choosing 'Ramayana' as the medium to convey an alternative perspective of India. He believes that the epic embodies the essence of India's historical and cultural richness, providing an opportunity to present India as more than just a backdrop to hardship.
'Ramayana' represents, for Malhotra, the evolution of civilisation and serves as a beacon of India's potential on the world stage.Reflecting on his personal drive, Malhotra shared, "I was like, 'no, that's not who we are'. That's not where my core strength and energy come from. Ramayana became that story for me. How do I take this and present something that is the evolution of the planet, that's the first civilisation in the world? That's the greatest in the world."His vision stemmed from a desire to redefine how Indian stories are perceived internationally, focusing on strengths and cultural contributions.Namit Malhotra's commitment to showcasing Indian culture through 'Ramayana' aims to shift perceptions, offering a narrative that celebrates India's historical and cultural legacy. By bringing Indian stories to the forefront, Malhotra hopes to inspire a wider appreciation for India's past and its continued influence on global culture.The film, which has been made in two parts, features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, while Ravi Dubey plays the role of Lakshman. Sunny Deol and Yash essay the roles of Lord Hanuman and Ravana, respectively. The film series is being made on a whopping budget of Rs 4000 crore, with the first part releasing during Diwali in 2026.- EndsMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Ranbir Kapoor#Yash#Sunny Deol