India, Nov. 9 -- Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has praised Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, describing it as "a devotional force" rather than a devotional film. He also urged the film's team to treat its negative critics as "barking street dogs".

In a lengthy post on X on Monday, the Satya and Rangeela director shared his interpretation of the film and praised its portrayal of Lord Rama, Ravana and Jatayu.

"The #Ramayana is not a devotional film. It is a devotional force. The hero is not a blue god floating above the story. He is a man who has already seen the end of the world and still willfully chooses to walk into it. The rise is not of a kingdom. It is of a mind that challenges weakness," Varma wrote.

He particularly praised Ranbir Kapoor's p...