Why is Industrialist Nikhil Chitale Questioning Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana Title?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nikhil Chitale questions the title of the film 'Ramayana.'
- He advocates for cultural preservation by rejecting anglicization.
- Netizens express mixed reactions, highlighting diverse linguistic perspectives.
- The film is set to release during Diwali 2026.
- It features a star-studded cast and renowned composers.
Mumbai, July 5 (NationPress) - As the creators of the much-anticipated film featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi titled "Ramayana" unveiled the first look of the epic on Thursday, Nikhil Chitale, an industrialist and a prominent member of the Chitale group, has expressed concerns regarding the film's title.
He pointed out that it should be "Ramayan" instead of "Ramayana".
Voicing his dissatisfaction, Nikhil urged everyone to cease the anglicization of terms such as Ramayan and Ram.
He emphasized that our valuable heritage does not demand a colonial touch, stating on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "It’s Ramayan, not Ramayana. It’s Ram, not Rama. We need to avoid the anglicization of our words. Our heritage doesn’t need a colonial accent. It’s written by Valmiki, FYI."
Several netizens supported his argument, remarking, "That's an important point about preserving the authenticity of our heritage." and "Correct! Similarly, it's Mahabharat not Mahabharata; Yog not Yoga; Dharm not Dharma, Itihaas not Itihaasa, and so on..." Conversely, others disagreed with his viewpoint.
One user commented, "That's not anglicization. Kannada adds an 'a' at the end of almost every word and that's not influenced by English. For Kannadigas, it is always 'Ramayana', 'Rama', 'Mahabharatha', 'Ganesha', 'Arjuna', 'Bheema'."
Another pointed out, "The pronunciations are Rama and Ramayana in Sanskrit. If the movie is made in Hindi, then they should've kept the Hindi pronunciation spellings."
The first glimpse of this upcoming mythological drama, released in various Indian cities on Thursday, has been positively received by audiences, heightening anticipation for the film's release during Diwali 2026.
Produced by eight-time Oscar winner Namit Malhotra, "Ramayana" will feature Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Mata Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
The musical score for the drama is being crafted by not just one but two Oscar-winning composers - Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. The action sequences are choreographed by Guy Norris, known for his work on Mad Max: Fury Road, alongside Terry Notary, famed for his contributions to Avengers and Planet of the Apes.