West Bengal has made Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana tax-free ahead of its November 5, 2026 release, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Dussehra. The decision arrives just as the two-part epic is preparing for a Diwali opening with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita.
What West Bengal announced
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Adhikari said the film has been made tax-free, and placed it alongside earlier state exemptions for The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files. ‘The Ramayana film has been made tax-free,’ he said.
For audiences, the practical effect is simple: lower ticket prices in the state. A tax-free status removes a portion of the tax that would otherwise be added to the cost of a movie ticket.
Why the timing matters
The exemption lands before a November 5 release that is timed to Diwali, one of the biggest moviegoing windows in India. A tax cut can widen the audience for a family epic at a moment when theatres are competing for holiday footfall.
In simple terms, a tax-free label means the state gives up a portion of the tax it would otherwise collect on ticket sales, allowing cinemas to offer a lower price to audiences. That support often lands on films with a cultural or religious theme.
The film carries a reported ₹4,000 crore budget for its two parts. Backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, Yash’s Monster Mind Creations and DNEG, it is being positioned as a global-scale adaptation of the Indian epic. Distribution plans point to Dil Raju in the Telugu-speaking states, Karan Johar in the Hindi market and Sony Pictures for international release.
From first look to festival release
The first look featuring Ranbir Kapoor drew mixed reactions online, with some viewers questioning the casting and others criticising the visual effects. The subsequent trailer was received more warmly, with many noting that the team had responded to audience feedback.
At a pre-release event in Hyderabad, Yash asked fans not to hunt for small flaws in the VFX and to ‘see the film with an open mind.’ He argued that the makers have gambled their reputation and money to put the project on a global platform.
What the film brings to Diwali
- Release date: November 5, 2026, during Diwali.
- Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Sunny Deol and others.
- Scale: A two-part adaptation with a reported ₹4,000 crore budget.
- Tax break: West Bengal has made it tax-free, joining the state’s list of exempted films.
The announcement came as the Chief Minister also expressed grief over the stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata’s Chorbagan area, and offered prayers for those affected.
For fans, the Diwali question is now straightforward: the film is cheaper to watch in West Bengal, the trailer has built goodwill after a shaky first look, and Yash is asking for a fair viewing. The opening will show whether the tax-free push turns goodwill into a wider audience.
Source: Hindustan Times
Comments