At the heart of the controversy is the film's staggering ₹4,000 crore budget and whether the visuals produced by the Oscar-winning studio DNEG live up to the "global standard" promised to the Indian audience.
The Criticism: The "Hyper-Polished" Problem 🎮
A significant section of the audience on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit has expressed "VFX fatigue," with several clips from the teaser going viral for the wrong reasons:
"Video Game" Aesthetic: Critics argue that the environments—particularly the aerial shots of Ayodhya and the Pushpak Viman—look "too perfect," lacking the grit and texture of real-world locations. Comparisons to "PS5 cutscenes" or "high-end mobile games" have become the primary line of attack.
Weightless Action: One specific shot of Ranbir as Rama swinging a massive tree has been flagged for "broken physics," with users claiming the CGI assets feel weightless against the background.
The "AI" Accusation: Due to the hyper-saturated colors and smooth skin textures, some netizens have even accused the makers of using Generative AI to "shortcut" the animation process—a claim that VFX experts have strongly debunked, noting that DNEG’s process is far more complex than simple AI prompts.
The Defense: Hrithik Roshan Steps In 🛡️
In a rare move, superstar Hrithik Roshan (who recently faced similar VFX scrutiny for War 2) posted a 600-word defense of the film on Instagram, urging for "mindful criticism":
"Style vs. Realism": Hrithik argued that not every film aims for "photorealism." He compared the debate to choosing between Anime and Spider-Verse styles. "You can't criticize the maker just because he has chosen one style while you prefer another. Maybe it's just a style you didn't expect," he wrote.
The "Guts" Factor: He hailed Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra as "heroes" for having the "guts and vision" to attempt something of this scale for Indian cinema.
Fact Check: "I'm Not AI" 👳♂️
The "glitch" debate reached a peak when fans spotted a citizen in Ayodhya whose turban seemingly changed color from blue to purple.
The Resolution: Actor Saket Patel (the man in the frame) released a video confirming he is a real person, not a digital asset. The color shift was attributed to dynamic lighting on the physical set rather than a CGI error. This revelation has helped quiet some of the "entirely fake" narratives.
The 'Ramayana' Report Card (Post-Teaser)
The "Divine" Hits ✅ The "Digital" Misses ❌ Ranbir Kapoor: Serene, soulful, and "perfectly cast" as Rama. VFX Texture: Criticized for looking "saturated" and "plastic." Yash as Ravana: The silhouette and "Pushpak Viman" design were hailed. Missing Hanuman: Fans were upset by the absence of Sunny Deol on Hanuman Jayanti. Hans Zimmer/Rahman Score: The BGM is universally loved as "goosebomb-inducing." Plagiarism Claims: Some battle shots were compared to Game of Thrones and Dune.
SantaBanta Verdict:
Nitesh Tiwari is walking an incredibly fine line between traditional reverence and modern spectacle. While the "video game" label is a tough one to shake, the makers have six months before the Diwali 2026 release to polish the "work-in-progress" shots. As one industry insider put it: "It’s better to have a 'style debate' now than a 'disaster debate' at the box office."
