The one thing everyone agrees on


Ramayana Part 1 has split critics and fans on almost everything. The scale, the pacing, the music, Ranbir as Ram, all of it is argued about. But one verdict shows up in review after review, in post after post, without a single dissenting voice of note. Yash as Ravana is superb.
That agreement is rare for a film this argued over. If you watch Ramayana for one reason, the reviews say this is it. His Ravana is the performance that holds the screen, drives the first act, and gives the film its most memorable scenes.
Yash is also a co-producer through his Monster Mind Creations, alongside Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios. He bet on this role with his money as well as his career.

What the critics said about his Ravana


Outlook India put it plainly in its 2.5 out of 5 review. It said Yash's Ravana commands attention, and that if one performance consistently holds the screen, it is Yash as Ravana. The review praised the film's visual scale, but it was Yash who earned the strongest acting praise in the whole piece.
ScreenRant went deeper into why the performance works. It said Yash as the antagonistic Ravana actually gets a fascinating focus in the film's first act. It described him growing into a fearsome king whose dueling ideologies of revenge and restraint are embodied by avatars of himself within his mind. That is a real character arc, not just a villain posing for the camera. ScreenRant added that Ravana has the kind of clear personality that could have fleshed out the rest of the cast. In other words, Yash got the writing and the room that the other characters did not.
Even IGN, which gave the film just 4 out of 10 and called it a robotic adaptation, did not aim its harshest words at Yash. Its criticism was that the central pair feel less than human, while the Ravana material is where the first act finds its energy.

The Tandav scene has theatres cheering


If one scene defines Yash's Ravana, it is the Tandav. Mathrubhumi's live review blog called the high energy Tandav sequence the scene getting the biggest reactions in theatres. It is driven by heavy drums, loud chanting, and a booming score from A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, and it has audiences cheering out loud.
The blog said Yash's intense performance in the scene brings out Ravana's raw power and devotion, making it one of the most memorable parts of the entire film. That word, devotion, matters. Ravana in this telling is not a cartoon villain. He is a devotee, a king, and a man torn between revenge and restraint. The Tandav is where all of that comes together in one sequence, and it is the moment viewers keep naming when they talk about the film.
The Jatayu fight is the other scene that keeps getting named. Viewers have called the Jatayu versus Ravana sequence a major highlight, with one writing that it genuinely left them speechless and gave them goosebumps. The Outlook India X roundup also named Yash's episodes and the Jatayu sequence among the highlights.

What fans on X are saying


The audience reaction on X is even louder than the critics. One viewer wrote that Yash as Ravana is literally the only reason to sit through this mess, in a post that gave the film 1.5 out of 5 strictly for Yash. That is a harsh verdict on the film and a huge compliment to the actor, both in the same sentence.
Another viewer said Yash pulls off his role with an aura filled performance. A third wrote that Yash is absolute perfection as Ravana. The Daily Jagran roundup of X reviews said Yash's turn as Ravana emerged as an undisputed highlight, with audiences noting his magnetic screen presence and several reactions calling him an outright scene stealer.
Christopher Kanagaraj, posting on X on November 5, wrote that Yash as Ravana steals the show, that his sequences are terrific, and that the climax Jatayu sequence is wow. Even viewers who rated the film average kept Yash out of their criticism. One 3 out of 5 review praised the stunning visuals and the impressive CGI, then added that Yash shines as Ravana, before turning to the Ram and Sita scenes as the problem. The pattern is consistent. When viewers criticise the film, they praise Yash first.

Why Yash matters beyond the performance


Yash's Ravana matters for the box office too, and the trade knows it. Exhibitor Vishek Chauhan told Bollywood Hungama that Yash's mere presence, and the fact that he is playing such a strong character, will ensure a Rs 40 crore collection on day 1 in the southern states. That is a huge share of the predicted Rs 100 crore all India opening, and it rests entirely on Yash's pull in the South.
Trade analyst Ramesh Bala made the same point from the other side. He predicted an opening of around Rs 100 to 150 crore in India, and said Karnataka will be a major contributor after North India. Karnataka advance booking was reported at Rs 3 crore as of November 2, and Yash is the reason that number is as strong as it is.
There is also the look. Yash's Ravana arrives with long hair, a heavy beard, and a presence built for the big screen, and the film follows Ravana's rise alongside Ram's journey from the start. That structure puts Yash at the centre, and the reviews say he earns that place.
If Ramayana Part 1 has a single safe recommendation, it is this. Go for Yash. The critics say he is the best thing in the film, the fans say he is the reason to sit through it, and the trade says he is the reason the South will turn up in force.

What fans are saying on X


Christopher Kanagaraj (@Chrissuccess), November 5, 2026: "#Ramayana - Yash as Ravana steals the show. His sequences are terrific. Outstanding CG, visuals. That climax Jatayu sequence is wow. Ranbir-Sita episodes fail to bring emotion." Read the NDTV roundup.
X user quoted in NDTV roundup, November 5, 2026: "Man, the Jatayu Vs Ravana sequence in #Ramayana genuinely left me speechless! I was completely glued to the screen. The thrill, the emotions, the sheer scale... I got goosebumps! Watching this on IMAX made it even more special. What a scene!" Read the NDTV roundup.

Sources and reporting

  1. Outlook India — Nov 5, 2026 · Verifies the praise that Yash's Ravana commands attention and consistently holds the screen
  2. Mathrubhumi English — Nov 5, 2026 · Verifies the Tandav scene reactions, the Rahman and Zimmer score, and Yash stealing the show as Ravana
  3. Bollywood Hungama — Nov 4, 2026 · Verifies Vishek Chauhan's Rs 40 cr South prediction tied to Yash and the Rs 100 cr all India trade expectation