Shri Ramlila Mahasangh has sent a serious message to the makers of the extravagant film Ramayana that is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and features actors like Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash. The organization has urged the film makers to arrange a screening of the film for the members of the Mahasangh and said that the screening must be conducted before it is released to the audience during Diwali.

The demand has come in light of increased awareness regarding films based on Hindu epics especially in the context of the making of Adipurush. The president Shri Ramlila Mahasangh has addressed the director Nitesh Tiwari and the production house Shri Arjun Kumar in this regard making a demand for screening before the release of the film so that no element in the film hurts the sentiments of the viewers.

Arjun Kumar thinks that the Mahasangh's demand is necessary to stop any confusion and to present the holy tale of Lord Ram correctly. He said that one needs to realize that Ramayana is not only a mythical story but a serious religious text for many Hindus living on the planet and any film which is based on it needs to consider the sensitivities of people believing in this sacred text. 

In his letter, Arjun Kumar reminds the reader of the prior controversy related to the big-budget film Adipurush created by T-series and directed by Om Raut with Prabhas starring as Lord Ram and Saif Ali Khan as Ravana. He said that the film was attacked by the representatives of the Sanatan movement, religious scholars, and organizations dealing with Ramlila for its imaginative approach to the story and the way it has been filmed.

Among the objections lodged against Adipurush was the representation of Lanka as black instead of the traditionally noted golden city, and the portrayal and look of Ravana and his troops, which many audiences felt was a clear deviation from established beliefs in religions and culture. The dialogues utilized in the production also became a principle point of criticism subject to strong opposition from different quarters across the country.

As per the words of Arjun Kumar, the controversy related to Adipurush has led to the intension of people against the box office earnings of the movie since it has caused some trouble for the creators of the film. He mentioned that the reaction was a lesson for all the people trying to turn Hindu holy text into a movie since it showed that maintaining cultural and religious authenticity is important.  Arjun Kumar also mentioned that the Mahasangh realized that some scenes from the upcoming Ramayana might offend feelings of Hindus both in India and abroad. Even though the letter does not specify the scenes concerned, the organization believes that a pre-release screening might help detect and eliminate controversies before the film is released.

Accordingly, the organization has suggested that filmmakers should conduct special screenings to a specific delegation. The aim of this screening is to judge the film by the organization’s delegates and provide them with assistance to recognize the religious and/ or cultural problems concerning the content in the form of scenes, dialogues, costumes, heroes, pictures used, etc.

The goal is not to interfere with creative work but to ensure that the film is approved by devotees and does not repeat the past mistakes made while producing mythological films.

Moreover, the organization has given strict warning regarding what might happen if the filmmakers ignore the request. Arjun Kumar said that if the filmmakers do not organize the screening or do not pay attention to the comments made by the Mahasangh, the organization will actively participate in demonstrations and protests arranged by several Hindu organizations outside the cinema halls in Delhi and other states immediately after the movie is released.

Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana happens to be a massive and costly Indian movie currently being developed. The project has sparked curiosity among the spectators because of the halls filled with stars and excellent special effects, and it promises to reveal this classic story in a new amazing format. Ranbir Kapoor is believed to be cast as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi is supposed to play Sita, while Yash will portray the role of Ravana.

Already, won the title of one of the most expected movies in India, the film is eagerly anticipated and awaited by fans. However, the most recent letter from Shri Ramlila Mahasangh draws attention to the difficulties filmmakers may encounter when adapting the sacred texts that have a spiritual meaning for millions of people around the world.

This matter also indicates the larger conversation of artistic liberty and religious sensitivity in Indian cinema. While filmmakers generally look at ancient epics in a modern manner, religious groups maintain that the adaptations must hold true to the old formats and must steer clear of unnecessary creativity that can hurt the sentiments of the religious people.

As the release of Ramayana approaches, everyone is waiting to see the response of the filmmakers in the matter of the request from the Mahasangh. It is yet to be known whether the film team will agree to conduct some kind of private screening before the film comes to theatres on the occasion of Diwali.