New Ramayana lacks 'divinity & devotion', says original 'Laxman' Sunil Lahri; calls Sita Ji's way of addressing Lord Ram inappropriate

Sunil Lahri, who became a household name for playing Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar's television series 'Ramayan', has shared his reaction to Nitesh Tiwari's recently released film 'Ramayana'. While the actor praised its impressive visuals, cinematography and performances, he felt the film missed the devotional sentiment and divine essence associated with the epic. In a video shared on social media, Lahri described watching the film as a bittersweet experience. He appreciated the scale of the production and its visual effects but pointed out that several important scenes were missing and some emotional moments and dialogues could have been handled better.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sunil Lahri (@sunil_lahri)

Sunil Lahri praises 'Ramayana' visuals but says emotional scenes could be better

Speaking about the film, Lahri acknowledged the effort that went into bringing the epic to the big screen. He praised the visual effects, cinematography and performances of the cast, while also pointing out areas where he felt the storytelling could have been stronger.

"I recently got the opportunity to watch the newly released film 'Ramayana.' It is a grand spectacle made on a massive budget, and its visual effects are truly world-class. The cinematography is exceptionally beautiful and visually appealing. All the actors have performed their respective roles remarkably well and portrayed their characters with great sincerity and dedication. There are several outstanding scenes in the film," he said.


However, the actor felt that some emotional sequences and important dialogues did not receive the attention they deserved.

"However, in my opinion, certain sequences, particularly the emotional scenes, could have been handled better. I feel that not enough attention has been paid to some of the dialogues and important moments, while a few significant scenes are missing altogether," he added.

Ahalya episode missing, Parashurama sequence disappoints Sunil Lahri

Lahri also identified specific moments that did not work for him. He mentioned the absence of the Ahalya episode and said he found the Parashurama sequence weak. He also questioned the way certain characters address Lord Ram in the film.

"For instance, I found the Parashurama sequence rather weak. The Ahalya episode is missing entirely. Similarly, I did not like the way Shurpanakha addresses Lord Ram during their conversation. The way Sita Ji addresses Lord Ram also did not feel appropriate to me. There are several other sequences that I felt were weak and lacked the devotional sentiment and divine essence that are integral to the story of the Ramayana," the actor said.

He further explained that the film's emphasis on grandeur and power came at the cost of the devotional aspect of the epic.

"In my opinion, the film focuses more on grandeur and power than on devotion. It is more Shakti Pradhan (centred on power) than Bhakti Pradhan (centred on devotion)," Lahri said.

Despite his criticism, the actor encouraged audiences to watch the film and form their own opinions.

What Sunil Lahri said about 'Ramayana' in his social media post

Alongside the video, Lahri shared his thoughts in the caption, describing his experience as mixed and expressing disappointment over the film's treatment of certain scenes and dialogues.

"Watched the new Ramayan. It was a bittersweet experience. There was no sense of divinity or devotion. Several important scenes are missing, and the dialogue in many scenes lacks the dignity that should be present in a film like this. Ravana has been glorified quite a lot. Saw new Ramayan, it was a mixed experience, divinity was not visible," he wrote.

The actor also referred to Bhai Dooj in his video, wishing viewers on the festival and describing it as an occasion when sisters pray for their brothers' long lives, happiness, prosperity and good health.

Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana'

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, 'Ramayana' features Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta and others. The film was released in theatres on November 5.

Sunil Lahri is widely remembered for his portrayal of Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar's television adaptation of the Hindu epic, 'Ramayan'.