'Not Making It To Appease Indians' Ramayana Producer - Page 4

He shouldn't have used a religious Epic to appease the west because they obviously will never understand the importance of it and unintentionally even disrespect the characters and the stories....For ex, the way Lord Rama sticks to his Dharma can frustrate the heck out of an average western audience and they can come down heavily upon Him...In fact, our own so called feminists criticize some of His decisions without understanding the importance of those decisions..... There are so many native Indian stories that he could've told to take India and Indian Cinema to the world stage, why Ramayana?

Originally posted by: LadyMacbeth

Is he deliberately trying to make the movie a flop?

Strangely, that's my feeling... it would make sense if indeed it is about money laundering, because:

Why a Flop Might Be "Good" for the Launderer

In many money laundering schemes, a movie "flopping" at the box office is actually a deliberate part of the strategy:

• Tax Write-offs and Losses: If a movie is a massive financial failure, the "loss" can be used to offset other taxable income. Launderers may inflate production costs (e.g., reporting $300 million in expenses for a $100 million film) to "wash" the difference while claiming a loss to avoid government scrutiny.
• Recouping Clean Capital: Even if a movie is poorly received, the production company can still recoup legitimate funds through long-term revenue streams like streaming rights, international distribution, and rentals, which effectively "cleans" the initial illicit investment over time.
• Hiding the Money Trail: Poor box office performance can provide a convenient excuse for why an investment "disappeared," making it harder for authorities to track where the original "dirty" money went once it has been integrated into the film's complex financial structure.

(overview summerized by AI)

Initially, it seemed that Tiwari's project wouldn't get producers/the needed money but then, quite suddenly (in my feeling) Namit Malhotra/Indian branch of DNEG stepped in... and Ramayana became a DNEG project now - allegedly - 'devouring' a 4000cr (= ca. $ 480 Mill.) budget.

Originally posted by: catchm-ifucan

He shouldn't have used a religious Epic to appease the west because they obviously will never understand the importance of it and unintentionally even disrespect the characters and the stories....For ex, the way Lord Rama sticks to his Dharma can frustrate the heck out of an average western audience and they can come down heavily upon Him...In fact, our own so called feminists criticize some of His decisions without understanding the importance of those decisions..... There are so many native Indian stories that he could've told to take India and Indian Cinema to the world stage, why Ramayana?

You have a point, cultural nuances would be lost on a western audience that would be only interested in the story and fight sequences, if at all anyone in the West cares to watch it. But I'm not sure why it is that you refer to those who criticise the abandonment of Sita in the Uttarakanda as ' the so called ' feminists. Maybe they are feminists and hence the criticism ? Even if you aren't a feminist and even if you take sex and gender out of the picture , it's reasonable to find that decision unjust .

Originally posted by: MsWhiskerson

'Not Making It To Appease Indians' Ramayana Producer Says It's Important That West Likes It

https://x.com/i/status/2040288095455826103

As if the quote in the tweet wasn’t enough..they had to elaborate it. That last line..What is he trying to say? Either his IQ is low or mine.

Its one epic..it doesn’t have to be different for different people. My grandparents watched the same version on TV, my parents did, I did , my kids did..over decades.

Ramanand directed Ramayan too well with brilliant cast. That's why all the problem for todays directors and producers who are trying to make it into a movie or TV Series. Nobody will ever match him.

How many westerns are going watch his movie Ramayan?

Originally posted by: MsWhiskerson

Ye kaisi movie bana rahe on Ramayana which is not for Indians?

Internalized Colonialism.......Trying to appease/seeking Western validation becz he believes in White Supremacy which is totally a sham

Originally posted by: optimisticsoul

Internalized Colonialism.......Trying to appease/seeking Western validation becz he believes in White Supremacy? Aaj bhi mentally enslaved hai kya

That's there

He should have chosen another project for it, perhaps inspired by Ramayana, story and emotions can be same but different characters

Christian conservatives and liberals who don't like religion aren't going to spend on a religious movie

Originally posted by: Luv_ShomaAnand

Ramanand directed Ramayan too well with brilliant cast. That's why all the problem for todays directors and producers who are trying to make it into a movie or TV Series. Nobody will ever match him.

How many westerns are going watch his movie Ramayan?

The problem is not only owing to Ramanand Sagar but because when you watch his show you feel his reverence for the subject, the story and most importantly Prabhu Ram and his journey. The music by Ravindra Jain, a man who couldn’t see is still the benchmark of what devotional songs should sound like.

Those people might have came together to make a show for money but their hearts were in the right place and you only have to watch the show to know that.

That’s what is missing from the others who are trying to recreate Ramayana.

Rajamouli claims he’s an atheist and not really a believer of Ram but even in his atheism he’s aware of the sentiments and sensibilities of his target audience. When he presented Ramcharan in RRR for that brief sequence dressed as Prabhu Ram nowhere does it seem like a mockery or something that is done to milk sentiments like a cash cow. Rather there’s a very awe inspiring moment that he created with no VFX or any special effects - it’s simply the staging of the shot, the lighting, Ramcharan’s getup and the way he made sure to incorporate Jr NTR’s shot with that BG.

The intent matters. Even in Varanasi’s teaser there’s a short clip of Treta Yug and we hear the BG with the simple word Ram in that. It is more goosebumps inducing than anything in the Ramayana trailer. That is not an accident, it’s understanding and genuine respect for the audience even if the director himself pronounces himself an atheist.