The casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious film Ramayana has generated considerable discussion among audiences. While the film has attracted attention for its scale, performances and visual presentation, the casting choices have also faced criticism on social media. Now, Malayalam actor and dubbing artist Sarath Das has shared his perspective, defending the actors and explaining why he believes they are suitable for their respective roles.
Sarath Das has an important connection with the film. He has provided the Malayalam voice for Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama in the Malayalam version of Ramayana. In an interview, the actor spoke about the debate surrounding the casting and offered his thoughts on how audiences understand characters from the epic.
His comments come at a time when the film's performances and casting continue to generate conversations among viewers.
Sarath Das Says Anyone Can Portray Rama and Sita
Speaking about the criticism surrounding the casting of Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, Sarath Das expressed the view that there is no single physical appearance that should define who can portray Lord Rama or Goddess Sita.
He explained that every individual has different qualities within them, including both positive and negative characteristics. Referring to the characters of Rama, Ravana, Sita and Mandodari, he suggested that these qualities can be found in different forms within human beings.
Sarath also pointed out that people today have not personally seen Lord Rama or Goddess Sita. Their understanding of these figures comes through religious texts, particularly the Ramayana attributed to Valmiki, and the interpretations passed down through generations.
He said that, based on what he had seen in the film, Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi were appropriate choices for their characters. He also appreciated the performances of the other actors in the project.
His comments offer a different perspective on the casting debate, shifting attention from the physical appearance of the performers to their interpretation of the characters.
Sarath Das Supports Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
Ranbir Kapoor's selection as Lord Rama has been one of the most discussed aspects of the film since the casting announcement. The actor, known for films such as Sanju, Barfi! and Animal, is taking on a role associated with deep cultural and religious significance.
Sarath Das, who has experienced Ranbir's performance closely while dubbing the Malayalam version, believes the actor is suited to the character.
The discussion around the casting also highlights the expectations audiences have from actors portraying figures from Indian epics. Such characters carry different interpretations across regions, communities and generations. Consequently, filmmakers often face considerable scrutiny when adapting them for the screen.
Sarath's response suggests that he believes performers should be judged by their work in the film rather than by assumptions about how a mythological character should look.
Sai Pallavi's Casting as Sita Also Faces Debate
Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita has also attracted criticism on social media. Since the announcement, sections of the audience have questioned whether the actress fits their expectations of the character.
Sarath Das, however, supported her selection. According to him, the characters of Rama and Sita cannot be restricted to a particular appearance or a fixed image.
He maintained that both Ranbir and Sai Pallavi appeared suitable for their roles based on what he had seen. He also praised the performances across the film's cast.
The actress is known for performances in films such as Premam, Fidaa, Love Story and Gargi. Her portrayal of Sita marks an important role in a large-scale adaptation of one of India's most widely known epics.
Five Rounds of Auditions Before Sarath Was Selected
Sarath Das's contribution to Ramayana is significant because he was selected after a multi-stage audition process for the Malayalam version.
In an earlier account of the dubbing experience, Sarath explained that the selection involved five stages of testing. Initially, he performed the dialogues to demonstrate his acting ability. He was then asked to record the dialogues and present his dubbing performance.
The subsequent rounds involved dubbing tests at the production team's Malayalam studio. After multiple evaluations, he was finally selected to provide the voice for Ranbir Kapoor's Lord Rama.
The process highlights the importance the production team placed on finding a voice that could match the character's expressions and emotional range.
Dubbing a lead character in a film of this scale requires more than simply translating dialogue. The voice artist must match the original actor's expressions, pauses, emotions and delivery while ensuring that the performance feels natural in the target language.
For Sarath, the responsibility was particularly important because Lord Rama is a character familiar to audiences across generations.
Sarath Das Has an Established Career in Acting and Dubbing
Sarath Das is a familiar name among Malayalam television and cinema audiences. Apart from acting, he has also established himself as a dubbing artist.
He received recognition for dubbing for actor Narain in the Malayalam film Achuvinte Amma, for which he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist. His experience in both acting and voice performance has helped him work across different forms of entertainment.
He is also remembered by television audiences for portraying Lord Krishna, a role that contributed to his popularity.
His selection for Ranbir Kapoor's Malayalam voice in Ramayana therefore brings together his experience as an actor and a dubbing professional.
Ramayana's Malayalam Version Brings Local Artists into Focus
The multilingual release of Ramayana has created opportunities for voice artists from different language industries. While the lead actors perform the characters on screen, dubbing artists help audiences experience those performances in their own languages.
Director Nitesh Tiwari has previously clarified that artificial intelligence is being used for lip synchronisation, while the voices are recorded by human artists. This distinction highlights the importance of voice performers in the film's multilingual presentation.
Sarath Das's work is an example of the talent involved in making a large-scale Indian production accessible to regional audiences.
About Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part One features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The cast also includes Ravi Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, alongside several other prominent actors.
The film is produced by Namit Malhotra and features music by A. R. Rahman, with Hans Zimmer contributing to the original background score.
With its multilingual release and large-scale production, the film has generated considerable interest across India. Sarath Das's comments have added another dimension to the ongoing conversation, drawing attention not only to the actors on screen but also to the artists whose voices help bring the story to audiences in different languages.
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