Ramayana trailer hits Times Square as Hindi cut may run 3h 15m

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is going for the biggest stage available, and the latest proof is New York’s Times Square. A clip from the crossing shows the action-heavy preview lighting up the digital boards, with a crowd turning mid-walk, watching the whole thing and applauding as it ends.

Times Square stops for Ram and Ravana

The trailer’s closing beat lands on Ranbir Kapoor, playing Lord Ram, firing a flaming arrow. Yash gets a strong cut as Ravana in the same action-packed preview. It is a deliberate statement: the team is pitching Ramayana as a global spectacle, not just a domestic event.

Placing a Hindi trailer at one of the most expensive and visible outdoor media sites in the world is also a signal to overseas audiences. For years, Indian event films have used Times Square to declare scale; this one is doing it before the release date has even arrived.

Hindi and English versions may not be the same film

The other conversation is about running time. Reports suggest the Hindi version could run for approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. The English version, by contrast, is expected to be shorter, with some song sequences reportedly edited out of the final cut.

• Hindi cut: around 3 hours 15 minutes, as per reports.
• English cut: expected to be shorter, with songs possibly trimmed.
• Official word: still to come from the censor boards.

That difference matters because this is a musical epic by nature. Songs are not just breaks in this genre; they carry emotion and devotion. If an international cut drops them for pace, some viewers may prefer the longer version, and the filmmakers will need to make clear which version is being shown where.

This is a familiar tension for bilingual event films. A compact international version may be easier for unfamiliar audiences, but it also risks making the film feel like a highlight reel rather than the full experience. Until the certification arrives, “shorter” is the only detail we have, not an exact minute count.

The split-runtime approach, if confirmed, would matter most to families and repeat viewers. For the Hindi audience, a full-length cut preserves the musical and devotional arc; for newer international viewers, a shorter version can be a less intimidating entry point. The test is whether the trimmed version still feels whole.

A release built for the big screen

The cast is already designed for scale. Ranbir Kapoor leads as Ram, with Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Nitesh Tiwari directs. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026, with an IMAX release in the plan as well.

For the fan, there is a simple takeaway: keep the date free and choose the format carefully. IMAX heightens the battle and arrow moments; the runtime reports, however, remain unconfirmed until the certification is public. For now, the only locked number is the date.

Source: The Times of India