‘Jai Jai Ram’ launches Ramayana’s music campaign with Ranbir Kapoor and Yash in focus

The first song from Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious Hindi-language Ramayana has arrived, giving audiences a fuller look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama while positioning Yash’s Ravana as one of the film’s central dramatic forces. Titled “Jai Jai Ram,” the devotional track was released on September 14, 2026, during Ganesh Chaturthi. [1][2]

Composed by A.R. Rahman, with vocals from Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal and lyrics by Kumar Vishwas, the song marks the beginning of the film’s music campaign. Its video follows key moments in Rama and Sita’s early story, including their meeting, Sita’s swayamvar, the breaking of Shiva’s bow, their wedding and the turn toward exile. [1][3]

The track is also the clearest musical presentation yet of the film’s intended tone. Rather than functioning solely as a character introduction, “Jai Jai Ram” is framed as a large-scale devotional piece, combining a familiar religious idiom with orchestral film production. The result places the emotional bond between Rama and Sita at the centre of the first promotional song, while leaving the film’s major conflict largely for later campaign material. [2][3]

What the song reveals about the cast

Kapoor is shown in the role of Rama, while Sai Pallavi plays Sita. The video also offers glimpses of several supporting characters, including Lakshmana, Bharat, Shatrughna, Urmila and Mandavi. Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana, while Adinath Kothare appears as Shatrughna, according to reporting on the newly released footage. [1]

Yash, who plays Ravana, is part of the song’s headline cast but receives more limited emphasis in this particular video. His presence remains important to the project’s positioning: the film is being sold not only as a retelling of Rama’s journey, but also as a major screen confrontation between two of Indian cinema’s most recognisable contemporary stars. The ensemble further includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman, with other established performers attached to key roles. [2][4]

That balance appears deliberate. “Jai Jai Ram” introduces the spiritual and romantic foundation of the narrative before the marketing campaign moves more directly toward Ravana, Lanka and the eventual conflict. Fan discussion has already focused on the contrast between Kapoor’s restrained presentation as Rama and Yash’s expected transformation as Ravana, although the latter’s full look and performance remain to be explored in subsequent material. [2][5]

A major production still in progress

The release also arrives amid continuing attention on the film’s visual effects. Several entertainment outlets reported that viewers praised the new footage for showing an apparent improvement in the film’s computer-generated imagery compared with earlier promotional material. Those reactions are audience responses rather than an independent assessment of the finished film, and the final visual presentation cannot yet be judged because the movie is not complete. [2][5]

That distinction matters for an effects-heavy production of this scale. Ramayana is planned as a two-part cinematic project, with the first instalment scheduled for a Diwali 2026 theatrical release. Reports have cited November release dates, but the available coverage is not completely consistent on whether the relevant date is a worldwide opening, an India release or a market-specific schedule. The film should therefore be treated as scheduled for Diwali 2026, rather than as already released or carrying a universally confirmed Australian date. [4][6]

For Australian audiences, the song’s immediate significance is its online availability rather than a confirmed local cinema timetable. The official music video can be viewed internationally on YouTube, while Australian theatrical details may depend on local distributors and later booking announcements. No Australian release information was confirmed in the sources reviewed for this draft. [1][4]

Why “Jai Jai Ram” matters

The song gives the project a first opportunity to connect its star power with the religious and cultural familiarity of the Ramayana. Rahman’s involvement, together with the pairing of Singh and Ghoshal, also gives the film a strong mainstream music identity before its theatrical launch. [1][3]

At the same time, the early response shows the challenge facing the production. The film must satisfy audiences approaching it as a devotional story, a major Hindi-language event film and a modern visual-effects spectacle. “Jai Jai Ram” leans into the first two priorities, presenting Rama and Sita with reverence while using the scale expected from contemporary Indian cinema.

The song is not a full test of the eventual film, nor does it establish how the production will handle the war narrative and Ravana’s character. It is, however, a significant first step in the promotional build-up. With the film still scheduled for Diwali 2026, the next phase of the campaign will likely determine whether Ramayana can convert early curiosity around Kapoor, Pallavi and Yash into sustained international theatrical interest.