Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ has grabbed attention for its elaborate visual effects, ambitious action sequences and technical execution. Among the film’s prominent moments are Yash’s portrayal of the ten-headed Ravana and the aerial sequence featuring Jatayu. Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar has now discussed the challenges involved in filming these visually demanding portions. He identified the Dashanan sequence as the most complicated part of the production from a visual effects perspective. The cinematographer also revealed that audiences have seen only half of the Ravana Tandav sequence featuring Yash.
Yash’s ten-headed Ravana sequence was the toughest to execute
Speaking to Variety, Pankaj Kumar explained that creating the sequence featuring ten versions of Ravana required extensive technical preparation. Yash had to appear multiple times within the same frame, with every version interacting with the others. The crew used motion-control camera technology to ensure consistency across the different shots. Planning the positioning and movements of each appearance also required considerable attention.“I think the 10-headed Ravana sequence was the toughest from the VFX point of view. The VFX artists have done a fabulous job on it. The sequence when Ravana is fighting his own demons inside his head, where you see 10 Ravanas interacting with each other, was a very long sequence to plan because Yash was going to appear in 10 avatars. It took us a while to plan the motion-control camera and decide where we were going to place each of them.”
Pankaj Kumar explains why the shoot took several days
The cinematographer revealed that the production could not complete the sequence in a single day. Yash had to perform the same actions repeatedly while switching between different versions of Ravana. The technical crew then had to combine these performances into a seamless visual presentation. This made the planning and execution particularly demanding.“The sequence was going to be shot over multiple days. We couldn’t finish it in one day because Yash had to get into 10 different avatars, and we had to repeat the same action and movements again and again. That was a complicated planning process to execute. So, yes, I remember that sequence taking us the longest to execute,” he said.
Yash and Nitesh Tiwari receive praise for Dashanan’s portrayal
Pankaj Kumar also highlighted Yash’s contribution to the sequence. He credited the actor for bringing distinct qualities to the different manifestations of Ravana. The cinematographer also praised director Nitesh Tiwari for choosing an unconventional interpretation of Dashanan. Rather than presenting the ten heads through a familiar physical representation, the filmmaker explored the character’s internal conflicts through a metaphysical approach.“The Dashanan sequence also deserves a lot of credit to Yash. He brought a lot of intensity to the performance and worked very hard to bring variety to the different characters in that sequence. A lot of credit also goes to Nitesh for coming up with the idea of not portraying the 10 heads in the conventional way we have imagined them. Instead, he chose a very metaphysical interpretation of the 10 heads, which I thought was brilliant.”
Only half of Yash’s Ravana Tandav sequence appears in the film
Another portion that left a strong impression on Pankaj Kumar was the Tandav sequence, choreographed by Shiamak Davar. However, the version included in the final cut is considerably shorter than the original footage. The cinematographer explained that the makers reduced several portions because of the film’s lengthy runtime.“One of the other sequences I actually loved shooting was the Tandav sequence, with Shiamak Davar’s choreography. What you see in the film is only half of what we shot. I think the film is already too long, so a lot of sequences have been shortened quite a bit,” he revealed.
Pankaj Kumar recalls the three-day Tandav shoot
The cinematographer further described the original choreography as an energetic visual experience. He particularly enjoyed moving the camera rapidly around Yash to capture the dynamism of the performance. The sequence required three days of filming, allowing the crew to capture its elaborate movements.“The Tandav sequence, in its full extent, was remarkable. There was a lot of energy in the choreography. The Tandav choreography was fabulous, and I had a ball moving the camera around very fast, sweeping it around with high energy. There was a lot of dynamism, which I loved capturing. I think we shot the sequence over a period of three days, and I had a great time.”Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ follows Prince Rama’s early life and struggles. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi. With a runtime of three hours and 15 minutes, it received a U certificate. The second instalment is scheduled for a Diwali 2028 release.
