Ranbir Kapoor takes dig at 'CG critics' bashing Ramayana trailer

Ranbir Kapoor, the Bollywood actor, has publicly responded to criticism of the visual effects in the trailer for his upcoming film Ramayana, calling detractors "CG critics" and suggesting they lack understanding of the complexities behind computer-generated imagery. His comments came after the film’s teaser and trailer faced backlash online, particularly regarding the quality of its visuals. Kapoor, 43, emphasized that the project involves extensive work by artists and that the visual effects are far from complete. His remarks were supported by producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari, who defended the film’s technical aspects and highlighted the challenges of creating such a large-scale production. The controversy began with the release of the Ramayana trailer, which featured elaborate visual effects aimed at bringing the ancient epic to life. However, many viewers took to social media to criticize the CGI, arguing that the visuals appeared crude or poorly executed. This prompted Kapoor to address the situation directly, noting that people often assume visual effects can be created quickly using artificial intelligence. He pointed out that the process requires years of meticulous work by teams of artists and technicians. Kapoor spoke to Collider about the misunderstanding surrounding the film’s visual effects. He noted that it was amusing to see individuals claim that visual effects could be produced instantaneously through AI, without recognizing the amount of labor and time required. He praised the efforts of director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra, who had spent considerable time refining the visuals. Kapoor mentioned that even minor adjustments, such as the color of the sky, had required extensive discussions during VFX sessions. He stressed the difficulty of meeting audience expectations while ensuring authenticity in the use of computer-generated imagery. Namit Malhotra, the producer of Ramayana, addressed the criticisms by pointing out that many viewers were judging the film under suboptimal conditions. He explained that the visual effects were designed to be viewed on large screens, such as IMAX 3D, and that the feedback received on smaller devices with poor internet connections did not reflect the true quality of the work. Malhotra argued that the team had invested heavily in creating a cinematic experience meant for theaters and that the critiques were based on incomplete information. He referenced Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey as an example of a film intended for large-format screenings and suggested that similar standards should apply to Ramayana. Nitesh Tiwari, the director, acknowledged the challenges of producing such a technically ambitious film. He revealed that some of the visual effects sequences had taken two-and-a-half to three years to complete, emphasizing the immense workload involved. Tiwari expressed frustration with critics who focused on minor flaws rather than appreciating the overall effort. He noted that when audiences are overly critical, even the best work can be overlooked, and small mistakes can be exaggerated. Malhotra further elaborated on the scale of the project, stating that Ramayana was one of the most complex and demanding productions undertaken by DNEG, the British visual effects company responsible for the film’s CGI. DNEG, known for winning multiple Academy Awards, including for Inception, Interstellar, Tenet, and Blade Runner 2049, has previously handled high-profile and technically challenging projects. Malhotra confirmed that the visual effects were still in progress and that it was standard practice to release trailers several months before the film’s debut. He assured fans that the final product would meet the high standards set by the team.