Ramayana Part 1
It is a weird experience watching Ramayana Part 1 on Diwali 2026. Mostly because if you would have told a younger Pareen that someone from Bollywood will make a really great movie out of Ramayana and it will be popular and artistic at the same time, I would have first laughed at you.
It is not just that the story, acting, visuals, music make something like Michael Bay movies feel smaller. I think what I am most impressed by is the fact that a young mind will still find it relatable and not boring.
For those who aren’t completely against Hinduism, this film has the potential to set values for their life.
Let’s dive in.
Raavan is not the anti-hero. Ram and Raavan are mirrors of each other. Raavan is powerful, knowledgable, rules well, is liked by people around him. Both know right from wrong in all circumstances. The difference is what each lets in between knowing and doing.
- Focus. Raavan is the symbol of a distracted and unclear mind. When he has to decide whether to take revenge for Soorpanakha, the 10 different personalities in his mind are overbearing. Ram is the symbol of focus, and focus gives clarity. He follows his curiosity (Jigyasa) that leads him to his destiny. He accepts reality and makes the best choice in that moment. He acts without hesitation.
- Ego. Raavan lets ego take control of his decisions. He did not need to kill Vidyut. It was a fair fight and Vidyut surrendered. The only two reasons to kill him would be insecurity or ego. Raavan fell for ego. Same with taking revenge for Soorpanakha.
- Temptation. Raavan cannot keep lust away. Sita is the clearest example.
Knowing right from wrong is not rare. Keeping ego, distraction and temptation away from that knowledge is what makes Ram.
I cannot believe that this is cool. This culture was made fun of in 90s/2000s while I was growing up. The subtext was that it is not compatible with modern life.
Top top tier casting, acting, music and storyline.
Sita questioning Lakshman and breaking Lakshman Rekha is something that really bothered me.
Raavan does not break the line. He comes dressed as a sadhu asking for bhiksha and uses Sita’s own dharma of giving to bring her out. And before that, Sita turns on Lakshman, the one person protecting her.
Every culture has an innocent part that accommodates the enemy, and an aggressive, protective part that it often blames. Gad Saad calls this suicidal empathy. Shatrubodha is important, especially for the positive thinkers of a culture.
Cultural attackers have learned to look like guests, so the immune system stops recognising them. Every attack takes a little more lung capacity.
This just made me curious to read and dive deeper into Ramayana. I know many things are modified for film and for today’s Overton window. I want to see what are the variables here and what values it advocates, how it relates to other cultures.