Devendra Fadnavis roots for 'Ramayana' winning an Oscar

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has thrown his weight behind Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming epic 'Ramayana', saying he would be disappointed if the film doesn't bag an Oscar. He made the comment on August 6 at the inauguration of Prime Focus Studio, backed by producer Namit Malhotra, ahead of the release of the mythological drama starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi.Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis hails 'Ramayana'Speaking about the Nitesh Tiwari directorial, Devendra Fadnavis said, "I'd be very disappointed with the jury of the Academy Awards if 'Ramayana' doesn't get an Oscar. It's not a film of a decade; it's a film of a millennium."Maha CM had praised the film's scale earlier tooThis isn't the first time Devendra Fadnavis has spoken highly of the project. At the four-day Waves Summit 2025 held in Mumbai, he had told Namit Malhotra that India has long been home to some of the world's oldest storytelling traditions. He said, "Our art, drama, and music are very old, and we only wanted to couple it with the latest technology – and I think that's what you are doing."He also recalled being "amazed" after touring the pavilion with the Prime Minister and witnessing the production quality of 'Ramayana' firsthand. He added, "I think this is the way we need to tell our stories to the new generation, and I believe what you are setting up will be the best on the globe."'Ramayana' release dateDirected by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the first part of 'Ramayana' is scheduled to hit theatres on November 6, 2026, just two days ahead of Diwali. The second instalment is expected to arrive around Diwali 2027, though an official date is yet to be confirmed.Sony Pictures confirmed the release date on its official X handle on Wednesday, describing the film as "an epic journey unlike anything seen before" ahead of its worldwide theatrical release.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!