The much-awaited first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, unveiled on Hanuman Jayanti, has triggered a fascinating mix of celebration and criticism across social media platforms. While the makers positioned Rama as "the greatest of all time because he lived a life where the choices he made were always in the benefit of the greater good", the audience response reveals the immense pressure facing mythological adaptations in post-Adipurush India. Alia Bhatt's enthusiastic endorsement of her husband's performance as "beautiful" and "out of this world" has gone viral, showcasing the film industry's rallying behind the project. Yet this support hasn't shielded the teaser from harsh scrutiny over its visual effects, with viewers pointing out artificial-looking sequences and drawing unfavorable comparisons to the disastrous Prabhas-starrer Adipurush. The criticism highlights a troubling pattern. After Baahubali, audiences felt Prabhas was "a misfit to be Lord Ram" in Adipurush, and now Ranbir faces similar VFX-related trolling despite generally positive reactions to his look. This suggests Indian audiences have developed zero tolerance for subpar execution in mythological films, especially when budgets reach astronomical levels. What makes this response particularly intriguing is how it reflects the current landscape of mythological storytelling. The teaser's visual similarities to Baahubali — from palace departure scenes to snow-capped mountains — aren't accidental. Rajamouli's epic drew heavily from Ramayana for inspiration, creating an ironic situation where audiences now see the original epic as derivative of its modern adaptation. With Ramayana Part 1 scheduled for Diwali 2026 and Part 2 for Diwali 2027, the filmmakers have time to address concerns. The stellar cast — including Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman — and the involvement of Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman for music suggest serious intent. However, the early reactions serve as a warning. Post-Adipurush, Indian audiences won't accept mediocrity in mythological cinema, regardless of star power or budget. The success of this ambitious project will ultimately depend on whether it can deliver the visual spectacle and emotional depth that modern audiences demand when their most sacred stories reach the big screen.