The much-awaited Ramayana: Part 1 is taking Indian cinema onto a new global stage. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, the ambitious retelling of the Indian epic is set to become the first Indian film to debut worldwide in the ScreenX format.
The makers have entered into a global partnership with CJ 4DPLEX, allowing audiences to experience the film in both ScreenX and 4DX. With a reported global rollout across more than 1,200 ScreenX and 4DX auditoriums, the project is positioning itself not merely as a movie release but as a major international theatrical event.
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles, Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to arrive during the Diwali 2026 release period.
Ramayana Part 1 to Release in ScreenX Worldwide
The partnership between Prime Focus Studios and CJ 4DPLEX is expected to give Ramayana: Part 1 an unprecedented theatrical presentation.
ScreenX is designed to expand the movie beyond the conventional cinema screen. Instead of limiting the visuals to the central display, the format extends selected scenes onto the side walls of the auditorium, creating a 270-degree panoramic viewing experience.
For a film based on an epic story filled with enormous landscapes, battles, kingdoms and mythological settings, the format could offer audiences a substantially more immersive way to experience the visuals.
The decision also makes Ramayana: Part 1 the first Indian movie to make its worldwide debut in ScreenX, marking an important milestone for the country’s film industry.
Ramayana Part 1 and 4DX Experience
Alongside ScreenX, the movie will also be available in 4DX, another premium theatrical format from CJ 4DPLEX.
4DX combines the movie with physical effects inside the auditorium. Depending on the sequence, audiences can experience moving seats and environmental effects such as wind, water and other sensory elements.
For an epic like Ramayana, the combination of ScreenX’s panoramic visuals and 4DX’s physical effects could make major action and spectacle sequences feel considerably more immersive.
The filmmakers’ decision to embrace both technologies reflects the scale of the project and its ambition to deliver a theatrical experience that goes beyond conventional cinema.
Namit Malhotra’s Vision for Ramayana
Prime Focus Studios founder Namit Malhotra has emphasized that the project was conceived with a large-scale cinematic experience in mind.
Rather than treating technology as an additional feature, the team has reportedly considered the visual and technical aspects of Ramayana from the beginning of the production process.
The partnership with CJ 4DPLEX therefore represents an extension of the film’s broader vision: to combine the timeless story of the Ramayana with modern filmmaking technology and present it to audiences around the world.
This approach is particularly significant because Indian cinema has increasingly been experimenting with premium formats to attract audiences to theaters and create experiences that cannot easily be replicated at home.
More Than 1,200 Premium Auditoriums Worldwide
One of the biggest aspects of the announcement is the reported scale of the international theatrical rollout.
According to the information provided, Ramayana: Part 1 is expected to release across more than 1,200 ScreenX and 4DX auditoriums globally.
Such a release strategy underlines the international ambitions of the production. Rather than being marketed solely as an Indian-language epic, the film is being positioned as a global cinematic spectacle.
The worldwide premium-format release could also help introduce the story to viewers who may be unfamiliar with the Indian epic tradition while giving overseas Indian audiences an opportunity to experience the film on a large scale.
Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita
The film’s casting has already generated considerable interest.
Ranbir Kapoor will portray Ram, while Yash will play Ravana. Sai Pallavi has been cast as Sita.
The principal cast also includes Sunny Deol and Ravie Dubey in important roles.
The combination of major stars from Hindi and South Indian cinema is another indication of the film’s pan-Indian and international strategy.
Ranbir Kapoor brings a major Hindi-film presence to the central role, while Yash’s popularity across India and international markets adds further weight to the project. Sai Pallavi’s casting as Sita has also attracted significant attention among audiences.
Nitesh Tiwari Directs the Epic Retelling
Ramayana: Part 1 is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, known for films including Dangal and Chhichhore.
Taking on the Ramayana is an enormous creative challenge because the story is deeply familiar to generations of Indian audiences. The filmmakers therefore face the task of presenting a traditional epic through a contemporary cinematic language while maintaining the emotional and cultural significance of the source material.
The project’s extensive visual effects and large-scale production are expected to play a major role in bringing its world to the big screen.
Global Distribution Strategy
The international ambitions of Ramayana: Part 1 are also reflected in its distribution plans.
According to the supplied information, Dharma Productions will handle the theatrical release across North India, while Sony Pictures International will distribute the movie internationally.
This combination could provide the film with a significant global theatrical footprint.
The goal is to make Ramayana: Part 1 accessible to audiences across multiple international markets around its Diwali 2026 release.
Why the ScreenX Debut Matters for Indian Cinema
The ScreenX announcement is significant beyond the film itself.
Indian cinema has produced several large-scale spectacles, but the decision to launch an Indian movie globally in ScreenX represents another step toward integrating Indian productions with premium international theatrical technologies.
Historically, premium large-format experiences have been dominated by major Hollywood releases. An Indian epic receiving a global ScreenX rollout demonstrates the increasing confidence studios and exhibitors have in the international potential of Indian content.
It could also encourage other Indian filmmakers to consider premium formats during the planning stages of future large-scale productions.
Ramayana Part 1 Release Date and Part 2 Plans
The first installment is scheduled for Diwali 2026, positioning it as one of the major theatrical releases of the year.
The second part is reportedly already in production and is planned for a 2027 release.
The two-part structure gives the filmmakers greater room to explore the characters, relationships, mythology and major events of the epic rather than attempting to compress the entire narrative into a single film.
The scale of the production, combined with the involvement of internationally recognized technical and distribution partners, suggests that the team is aiming to establish Ramayana as a major cinematic franchise.
Ramayana Part 1: A New Benchmark for Indian Cinema?
The partnership with CJ 4DPLEX could ultimately become one of the defining aspects of Ramayana: Part 1‘s theatrical release.
With ScreenX’s 270-degree panoramic presentation, 4DX’s multisensory experience, a major star cast and an international distribution strategy, the film is being positioned as an event designed specifically for the big screen.
Its Diwali 2026 release will therefore be closely watched not only by Indian moviegoers but also by the global film industry.
If the movie successfully combines its storytelling, performances, visual effects and premium-format presentation, Ramayana: Part 1 could establish a new benchmark for how Indian epic cinema is presented internationally.
With Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita, Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious Indian theatrical projects yet. Its historic ScreenX debut could make the Diwali 2026 release an important moment for Indian cinema’s global expansion.