Sony Pictures has signed on as the international distributor for the two-part Indian mythological epic Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, covering all territories outside India.
The film will be distributed in India by media personality Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.
The story is about the exiled prince Rama and his wife Sita whose abduction by the demon king Ravana begins an epic war between the forces of good and evil.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. It is designed for audiences of different cultures and will be released in multiple languages, including an English version.
The music will be composed by Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. The production also features action choreography by Terry Notary and Guy Norris, and production design by Ramsey Avery and Ravi Bansal.
Visual effects are provided by DNEG, an eight-time Academy Award-winning studio that is also headed by Malhotra. DNEG’s credits include the “Dune” trilogy, “Blade Runner 2049,” “Interstellar,” “Inception” and “The Odyssey.”
Prime Focus Studios previously co-produced “The Garfield Movie” with Alcon Entertainment for Sony Pictures, a title that grossed more than $257 million worldwide.
“Through DNEG, the Ramayana has inspired people through its timeless humanity and enduring values. Our goal has always been to pay homage to that legacy while creating a rewarding cinematic experience for audiences everywhere. We’ve spent decades helping bring the world’s most ambitious cinematic visions to life. Now, with Prime Focus Studios, we’re bringing that same commitment to storytelling to one of the world’s greatest epics. ‘Ramayana’ is a great opportunity to connect with audiences around the world and introduce this timeless story to film fans around the world,” said director Malhotra.
The film is scheduled to be released in November during Diwali festival.
Prime Focus Studios is also currently producing the live-action/animation hybrid Animal Friends with Legendary Entertainment and Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort production company, as well as Paramount Pictures’ Angry Birds Movie 3.
