Exploring Youth Reception of Distinct Ramayana Film Adaptations: "Legend of Prince Rama" and "Adipurush"

Abstract

In creative filmmaking, Ramayana has evolved as a captivating subject explored through various cinematic adaptations. However, navigating the delicate balance between innovation and reverence poses a challenge, as audiences swiftly embrace or dismiss films based on their adherence to expectations, which often hold cultural and sentimental values. A comparative analysis was conducted on two Ramayana-themed films, Japanese producer Yugo Sako's "Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama" (1991) and Om Raut's adaptation "Adipurush" (2024) by applying the "Diffusion of Innovation theory" of E.M. Rogers to examine the factors influencing the reception of two distinct film adaptations of Ramayana among young audiences. Subjective interviews were conducted with young adult audiences who watched both movies to explore the impact of cultural influences and nostalgia on their decision-making processes. Additionally, the study categorized respondents into the five adopter stages of innovation to derive comprehensive conclusions regarding audience perceptions and preferences regarding cinematic adaptations of the Ramayana. The research concludes that audience perception of sensitive themes is prejudiced, and fixated on childhood nostalgia, thus any bold contemporary experimentation results in cultural shock, filmmakers should understand the audience's pulse associated with mythological epics to avoid commercial failure in the moviemaking business.

Keywords: Ramayana, Cultural influence, Adipurush, Legend of Prince Rama, Cinema, Innovation