Hyderabad, Nov. 6 -- Some films arrive with expectations. Ramayana arrives with generations of memories. For many viewers, Ram is still inseparable from Arun Govil's gentle smile, while Ramanand Sagar's television adaptation remains the benchmark for bringing this epic to life. Any new version has to contend with that emotional connection before it can establish its own identity.

Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana takes on that challenge through sheer cinematic scale. This first instalment offers imposing worlds, spectacular battles and moments that demand a theatrical viewing. What it does not always offer is enough time to sit with its characters and feel the relationships that make their journeys matter.

I came away impressed by its ambition a...