Can Ramayana Compete With Dune 3 & The Odyssey? Namit Malhotra Says 'Audience Wants To See Something Different' Newspoint  |  Apr 14 2026 16:04:25 IST

Amidst the host of Hollywood films releasing this year including Dune Part Three, The Odyssey and Avengers: Doomsday, will Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra's Ramayana stand out and pull audience to theatres? Ever since the film's first look was released, many criticised the makers for using below-par VFX. This has made many fans doubt the film's potential.


Laying all rumours and anticipation to rest, Namit at CinemaCon 2026 in Los Angeles revealed that the "freshness" and "excitement" in Ramayana are sure to make it a hit. Namit also explained Ramayana's timeless appeal and how the film is designed for international viewers.

Namit Malhotra on how Ramayana will compete with Hollywood films

Speaking at CinemaCon 2026 in Los Angeles, Namit explained that though Ramayana is rooted in India, this time it will be shared with global audiences. "There's a lot of freshness and excitement towards it. Obviously, every Indian, their heart beats with this story. All of us, our parents, our grandparents, generations before us - have all learned the Ramayana, heard the Ramayana, experienced it in various different forms. It's very interesting to sort of bring something with that big screen spectacle, but with the heart that every Indian cares about to the world. That I think is very, very relevant," Malhotra explained.



When asked how they are presenting a modern story for 2026 audiences based on an ancient epic, he added, "What is interesting, and it was a perspective I actually heard from someone in America itself - it was like - 'You are bringing us the first story of the world or the first story of the universe, but it's something we don't know much about. So, it's almost like you are telling us a timeless story, but it's actually... we are going to discover it for the first time."


Namit also explained that though there are big Hollywood films lined up for release, Ramayana definitely stands out.


Referring to other epic films like Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya's Dune: Part Three and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Malhotra said, "With all the other epics that you just mentioned, the audiences in cinemas want to see something that is new and different. Their mindset is a lot more open to consuming different types of stories. I think we've all seen enough of the same fare. But I think now it's about what new can we bring?"


Prime Focus Studios


In another interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Namit said that Ramayana will feel like an Avatar meets Gladiator moment’. He said, "I always love to give a comparison - It's like an Avatar meets Gladiator moment where you see the absolutely wonderful world of Avatar but the human story of Gladiator, where you have that emotion and that graph of how these two sorts of worlds co-exist.”




Watch the teaser of Ramayana here:










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