While fans are eager to catch the Ranbir Kapoor-led ‘Ramayana’, not everyone will see the same version of Nitesh Tiwari’s directorial venture. Reportedly, the China edit will be 33 minutes shorter than the Indian version. The report follows a listing in China that pegs the mythological epic at 166 minutes (Two hours, 46 minutes).
Sources claim that the film, titled ‘Ramayana: The Legend of the Prince’ in China, is following the country’s content regulations. “China’s Film Industry Promotion Law prohibits content that seeks to undermine the state’s religious policies or promotes heresay or superstition. The country’s censorship system [also needs to give] its approval before release. Given that ‘Ramayana’ is an adaptation of the ancient Indian epic, it could have a bearing on how devotional elements are presented in the Chinese version,” explains the source.
Starring Sai Pallavi and Yash alongside Kapoor, the film could “renew interest in Indian films making their way into the Chinese market”, especially after the prolonged freeze in India-China relations following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. “This was a setback for Hindi cinema, which had earlier found a lucrative audience there with films like ‘PK’ [2014], ‘Dangal’ [2016], ‘Secret Superstar’ [2017], and ‘Andhadhun’ [2018],” informs the source.
However, the makers have not officially confirmed the 33-minute difference or revealed which portions have been removed.