A test screening of Ramayana: Part I was held in Los Angeles on Monday, providing a select audience with an early glimpse of the highly anticipated epic. The screening, which took place at the Cinemark Playa Vista theatre, presented a rough first cut of the film well ahead of its Diwali release. The audience, ranging from 18 to 60 years old, responded positively, particularly praising the film’s scale, visual effects, and storytelling.

This initial screening was intended as a test, allowing the filmmakers to gather feedback and make necessary edits before the final release. Ramayana: Part I is being developed as a two-part series, with the second instalment slated for release next Diwali. Producer Namit Malhotra, who has invested approximately Rs 4,000 crore into the project, discussed the challenges of creating such a massive film and emphasized that the production has not compromised on any aspect.

The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Ravi Dubey as Laxman, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Yash as Ravan. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the grand epic is shaping up to be a significant cinematic event, with its official character launch event scheduled for April during Ram Navami in Mumbai. The film’s first part is set to release this November, just in time for the Diwali festivities.