Adipurush: Ramayana-Based Movie
Adipurush is an Indian mythological movie inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana. The film is directed by Om Raut and produced by T-Series and Retrophiles. It stars Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh, and Devdatta Nage. The film was shot in both Hindi and Telugu, catering to audiences in the north and south of India.
Release and Box Office
Adipurush was released on 16 June 2023, with a budget of around ₹500 crore (US$52 million) to ₹700 crore (US$73 million). Because of this massive budget, it became the most expensive Indian film of 2023. Despite this, it turned out to be a box office disaster, though it still managed to become the second-highest-grossing Telugu film of that year. This contrast between its enormous financial investment and its poor overall reception made it one of the most talked-about box office disappointments of the year, drawing attention from industry analysts and audiences alike.
The Story of Ramayana
The story follows the Ramayana, the greatest and most revered narrative within Sanatan Dharma, or the Hindu faith. It begins with Lord Ram, a great prince also referred to as the "complete man." After completing his education at the gurukul alongside his three brothers, Ram returns to Ayodhya. It is now time for the princes to marry and begin serving their nation.
Later, at a swayamvar, Lord Ram successfully wins Sita's hand in marriage, defeating Ravana, who was then the strongest demon on Earth. Ram returns to Ayodhya with Sita, and the two are married in a divine ceremony, blessed by all the gods and deities. Lakshman, Ram's younger brother, also gets married, followed by Bharat and Shatrughan.
The Turning Point
The divine and happy family of Lord Ram does not remain happy for long. Maa Kaikeyi plans to remove Ram from succession to the throne, driven by her anger and a boon previously granted to her by Raja Dashrath. She succeeds in forcing Ram to leave Ayodhya, setting into motion a chain of events that would define the rest of the epic.
Lord Ram now goes into the forest, where he, Sita, and Lakshman are meant to remain unseen for 14 years. If discovered during this period, they would be forced to spend another 14 years in exile. They continue living in the forest until Surpanakha arrives and declares her love for Ram, a moment that leads Lakshman to attack her. Wounded and humiliated, she recounts the entire incident to her brother — who is none other than Ravana.
The Battle Begins
Ravana abducts Sita. Ram, filled with rage, learns that Jatayu was injured while trying to save her during the confrontation with Ravana. Determined to rescue Sita, Ram seeks an army and goes to meet Sugriva. Both Sugriva and Hanuman join Lord Ram in his mission to save Sita.
A great battle then begins. Ram warns Ravana, but Ravana, consumed by arrogance, refuses to listen. Ravana possesses knowledge of all four Vedas and is considered the most intelligent being on Earth, having conquered Hell, Heaven, and Earth alike.
That same arrogance ultimately costs him everything. Ravana had a chance to release Sita and avoid war altogether, but he refuses, choosing battle instead. As the war unfolds, Hanuman unleashes his power, and demons, vanaras, and humans alike fight for the sake of peace.
The world needs to be freed from the demons, and to accomplish this, Lord Ram kills Ravana by shooting an arrow into his navel, finally bringing peace to a world plagued by cruelty. Through this victory, Lord Ram establishes a path of divine spirituality that continues to be worshipped to this day.
Criticism of the Film
Adipurush follows the story of the Ramayana, though the script used in the film was rewritten and edited, as some of the dialogue was considered inappropriate. Audiences did not respond well to the movie overall, criticizing its VFX and CGI work heavily. Viewers also criticized the costume and set design, pointing out that the clothing and depiction of the cities did not align with how Ayodhya and Lanka are traditionally described. Lanka, for instance, is originally described as being made of gold, yet the film portrayed it as black, without any gold elements shown at all.
The acting performances were also considered underwhelming, and many felt that Prabhas simply didn't suit the look of Lord Ram. Even so, because Prabhas is an enormous star, Adipurush still earned well on its opening day and in the days that followed — despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews that followed the film. This gap between opening-day earnings and long-term reception reflected how much of the film's early success depended on star power rather than the quality of the final product itself.
The Ramayana is a divine story centered on spirituality and peace, but the film instead presented it more like a modern action movie, complete with contemporary-style dialogue. As a result, the movie was heavily trolled and criticized for numerous reasons, with much of the online conversation centering on how far the adaptation strayed from the tone audiences expected from such a sacred story.
Why the Film Fell Short
The Ramayana holds deep emotional significance for many people, who have read the original texts and grown up listening to its stories. The older television adaptation of Ramayana also told the story in a manner widely regarded as excellent. Because of this, audiences carry strong memories of the story and its characters, making it especially difficult for any new adaptation to replace those long-held impressions. As a result, Adipurush ultimately failed to meet audience expectations. Given the massive budget behind the film, people expected a far stronger and more polished cinematic experience, one that honored both the visual grandeur and spiritual weight of the source material rather than falling short on both fronts.
A Hopeful Note for the Future
The teachings of the Ramayana are something that deserve to be portrayed beautifully on screen, and there remains hope that future Bollywood productions will be able to bring such a vision to life — one that honors the depth, spirituality, and cultural significance of this timeless epic in a way that resonates with audiences both old and new. Given how deeply the story is woven into the cultural and spiritual fabric of the country, any future attempt at adapting it carries an enormous responsibility — not just to entertain, but to do justice to a narrative that has shaped generations of belief, morality, and devotion. Filmmakers who take on this challenge in the years to come will need to balance grand visual storytelling with genuine reverence for the source material, something audiences have made clear they expect and deserve when it comes to a story as sacred as the Ramayana. Until such a film arrives, Adipurush will likely remain a cautionary example of how even a massive budget and a major star cannot compensate for missing the emotional and spiritual core that audiences hold so close to their hearts.
