When the world descends into chaos, he remains the answer — the ruler of the hearts for over 5,000 years. The Maryada Purushottam Ram is set to grace the big screen this Diwali, and going by its first look, it promises to be nothing short of epic.Released on Thursday, on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, the two-minute-38-second teaser of Ramayana, the film, unveils a world that is both fierce and fascinating. The immediate standout is its sheer scale — the grandeur of palaces, the mystique of forests, and the ferocity of war. With VFX by eight-time Oscar-winning DNEG, Ramayana positions itself among global cinematic spectacles. Glimpses of key moments — the dhanush, vanvas, the golden deer, and the splendour of Sone ki Lanka — create a striking visual canvas.Ranbir Kapoor steps into the role of Lord Ram with a commanding presence, blending restraint with heroism and delivering moments of high-octane action. Meanwhile, a brief back shot of Yash as Ravana adds intrigue, hinting at a powerful antagonist. In efforts and scale, Ramayana remains one of the most visually spectacular clashes ever mounted in Indian cinema.Seven years in the makingDirected by Nitesh Tiwari, best known for Dangal and Chhichhore, the film has long been in the making. “To reach this moment, it has taken me seven years. Filmmaking is often a speculative and lonely journey. Every moment, I’ve imagined how audiences would react when it finally comes out,” Tiwari said, adding that the response so far makes the effort worthwhile.The film features an ensemble cast, including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.Ramayana is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Conceived as a two-part live-action epic, it draws from one of Indian mythology’s most enduring narratives. Malhotra described the project as a labour of love, expressing pride in the team’s effort and hope that audiences connect with the film. “You don’t choose Ramayana — Ramayana chooses you,” he said.Speaking about stepping into the role, Ranbir shared, “I don’t think I’m here to represent Lord Ram; I’m here to learn from him. There is a simplicity and purity to him that is incredibly rare. Understanding and imbibing those qualities has been a deeply humbling experience.”He further added, “Lord Ram has been the moral compass for billions across centuries. He represents the triumph of the human spirit — standing for compassion, courage, righteousness and forgiveness. He is rightly called Maryada Purushottam, the ideal man.”The film is slated for a worldwide IMAX release, with Part 1 arriving in Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in Diwali 2027.Making of RamayanaDespite widespread speculation, the reported ₹4,000 crore budget has not been officially confirmed, though it is widely expected to be among the most expensive Indian films ever made.Backed by global VFX powerhouse DNEG, the film aims to match Hollywood-scale storytelling with cutting-edge visuals.A star-studded cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman and Yash as Ravana brings massive pan-India appeal.A legacy of blockbustersRamayan (1987) by Ramanand Sagar became a cultural phenomenon — streets would empty as millions tuned in every Sunday.The anime Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1993) gained  acclaim for its storytelling and animation.Tele series Siya Ke Ram (2015) reimagined the epic from Sita’s perspective and found strong popularity among younger audiences.Repeated reruns of Ramayan — especially during the 2020 lockdown—once again broke viewership records, proving the story’s timeless appeal.