India is set to release what is being described as the most expensive Bollywood film ever made: a two-part adaptation of the 2,000-year-old Sanskrit epic poem, the Ramayana. Scheduled to premiere next month, the project has a reported budget of between $450 million and $500 million, including marketing costs.

The first installment, titled "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend," showcases a visually lavish production featuring grandiose sets such as gold palaces, towering chariots, fantastical landscapes inhabited by mythical creatures, and large-scale crowd scenes. Central characters Rama and Ravana appear as imposing crowned figures, reflecting the scale of the storytelling. The film’s special effects were created by DNEG, a company recognized with eight Academy Awards for visual effects work on high-profile films including "Inception," "Interstellar," and "Dune."

Produced by Namit Malhotra and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the adaptation seeks to present the Ramayana narrative on a cinematic scale that, according to Malhotra, has not been achieved before despite numerous television adaptations. The Ramayana, a foundational text in Hindu culture, tells the story of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, who is exiled along with his wife Sita and brother. The demon king Ravana abducts Sita, leading to a war that culminates in her rescue and Rama’s eventual return to Ayodhya to assume the throne. Rama, regarded by many Hindus as a deity symbolizing virtue, continues to influence cultural and religious life, with his name often used as a greeting in parts of India.

The Hindi version of the film reportedly runs over three hours, while an international edition is trimmed by approximately 30 minutes, with reduced song-and-dance sequences to cater to broader audiences. The film features prominent actor Ranbir Kapoor in the role of Rama and includes a musical score by Indian composer AR Rahman alongside Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer, known for his work on "The Lion King," "Interstellar," and "Dune."

The Ramayana has a rich tradition of screen adaptations, most notably the television series produced by Ramanand Sagar, which aired on state television in 1987. That series reportedly drew between 80 million and 100 million viewers per episode at its peak, reflecting the epic’s enduring popularity.

In developing the script, the filmmakers consulted with scholars and priests to remain faithful to the original poem. The cast, drawn from various regions of India, is intended to appeal to a diverse national audience. With its upcoming release, this lavish retelling of the Ramayana aims to deliver a new landmark in Indian cinema by marrying deep cultural significance with cutting-edge production values.