Ramayana premieres at LA's Academy Museum on October 27

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend will have its world premiere on October 27 at the David Geffen Theater in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles, reports suggest. It is an invite-only 3D screening for 945 guests, who have been asked to come in traditional Indian dress for a Diwali-themed red carpet.

A rare stage for an Indian film

The Academy Museum is run by the body behind the Oscars, and its David Geffen Theater is the museum's largest theatre. Indian productions rarely host their global launch at the venue, which makes this an unusual opening for the two-part epic.

Film: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend (Part 1)

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor (Rama), Sai Pallavi (Sita), Yash (Ravana), Sunny Deol (Hanuman)

Producers: Namit Malhotra (Prime Focus Studios), Yash (Monster Mind Creations)

Overseas distribution: Sony Pictures

World premiere: October 27, 2026, David Geffen Theater, Los Angeles (3D, invite-only)

Release: November 5, 2026, worldwide, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, including IMAX

Advance bookings: Open from October 20, 2026 (India), per the makers

Part 2: Diwali 2027

The Malayali link

For Malayali audiences, the most familiar face is Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita. Kerala first knew her as Malar, the college lecturer in Alphonse Puthren's Premam (2015).

The film already has a Malayalam trailer, in which Shobana appears as Kaikesi, Ravana's mother. Part 1 releases in Malayalam along with four other languages.

Yash on both sides of the camera

Yash plays Ravana and co-produces the film through Monster Mind Creations, alongside Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios. He recently explained the film's budget at an event in Bengaluru.

Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama and Sunny Deol plays Hanuman. Advance bookings in India open on October 20, per the makers. Part 2 is set for Diwali 2027.

Also read: Ramayana: Rise of a Legend gets Malayalam trailer, with Yash as Ravana and Shobana as his mother, before Nov 5