Mumbai: Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated ‘Ramayana’ is making waves beyond India, drawing an encouraging response across several international markets.
The film has reportedly set new box-office records in Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal, countries where the ancient epic holds deep cultural and historical significance.
Originating in India, the ‘Ramayana’ is one of the country’s most celebrated epics.
The version attributed to Valmiki is among the earliest written renditions of the story, which traces its roots to ancient oral traditions.
Over the centuries, the epic has travelled far beyond India’s borders. It is believed to have more than 300 retellings worldwide, including several regional adaptations across Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.
In Nepal, both Valmiki’s ‘Ramayana’ and Tulsidas’ ‘Ramcharitmanas’ enjoy considerable popularity.
Against this cultural backdrop, the latest cinematic adaptation has registered impressive openings across several international markets.
Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, the film premiered in Indonesia on November 11, six days after its worldwide release.
According to local box-office trackers, it earned $100,000 (nearly ₹1 crore) from its premiere, marking the biggest opening for an Indian film in the country.
The ‘Ramayana’ has a history spanning more than 1,900 years in Indonesia, where the epic has been retold through several indigenous adaptations.
These include the centuries-old Kakawin Ramayana, the Balinese Ramakavaca and the Hikayat Seri Rama.
Thailand, too, shares a longstanding cultural connection with the epic, which is widely known there as the Ramakien. This local adaptation was compiled under the patronage of King Rama I.
Nitesh Tiwari’s film has also registered a strong performance in the country, collecting nearly $1 million (approximately ₹9 crore) within its first week. This reportedly ranks among the strongest box-office performances by an Indian film in the Thai market.
Cambodia is another country with deep-rooted ties to the epic, known locally as the Reamker, which also forms part of the school curriculum.
The country is home to Angkor Wat, widely recognised as the world’s largest religious monument and originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
The film’s cultural resonance appears to have translated into box-office numbers, with ‘Ramayana’ recording a $150,000 opening weekend in Cambodia, reportedly the biggest for an Indian film in the country.
In neighbouring Malaysia, ‘Ramayana: Part One’ has also enjoyed a successful theatrical run. The film has collected $900,000 (approximately ₹8 crore) in less than a week, adding to its growing overseas tally.
While these markets have traditionally been receptive to Indian cinema, the film’s performance in Vietnam has been particularly noteworthy.
The country is not considered a major overseas market for Indian films, with most releases struggling to cross $20,000 (approximately ₹15–18 lakh) at the box office.
However, ‘Ramayana’ has surpassed that benchmark on its opening day itself. The film has already amassed $350,000 (nearly ₹3 crore) in the Vietnamese market.
Vietnam’s cultural history also has longstanding links to Hinduism. The country was once ruled by the Champa dynasty for nearly 1,500 years, during which Hinduism and Buddhism flourished, leaving behind several temples and cultural influences.
Among the country’s historical sites is a temple believed to be around 1,300 years old and dedicated to sage Valmiki, traditionally regarded as the author of the ‘Ramayana’.
The epic is also included in the world literature curriculum at high schools and universities in Vietnam, where it is studied as a literary work rather than a religious text.
Nepal, meanwhile, has traditionally been a strong market for Indian cinema. Major Bollywood releases have consistently performed well in the country, often surpassing the box-office collections of local films.
However, ‘Ramayana’ has taken this success a step further with an impressive opening-week performance.
The film has collected NPR 12.80 crore (approximately ₹8 crore) during its extended opening week.
With this, it has already become the sixth-highest-grossing Indian film in Nepal, surpassing the lifetime collections of blockbusters such as ‘RRR’, ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’.
At its current pace, ‘Ramayana’ is expected to challenge the all-time record held by ‘Baahubali 2’, which earned NPR 25.20 crore, potentially surpassing it in the coming week.
‘Ramayana’ is the first instalment of a two-part cinematic saga and is reportedly the most expensive Indian film ever made.
Within eight days of its release, the film has collected ₹564 crore net at the domestic box office, while its overseas earnings have crossed $38 million.
The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The second instalment of the epic saga is scheduled to hit theatres during Diwali 2028.
View this post on Instagram
