JioHotstar Sets Pay-Per-View Debut for Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ramayana: Part One'

JioHotstar will sell "Ramayana: Part One" as a standalone pay-per-view purchase after the film's theatrical run, a first-of-its-kind offering on the Indian platform, the companies said. The deal, struck between JioHotstar and Prime Focus Studios, makes Nitesh Tiwari's epic — starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi — available to buy on demand in the best quality each supported device can handle.

When and where does the film open?

"Ramayana: Part One" opens worldwide on Nov. 5, timed to the Diwali festival holiday. It releases in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English. Imax 3D is among its formats. Sony Pictures Entertainment is handling the global release; Karan Johar's Dharma Productions will distribute in India.

The film follows exiled prince Rama (Kapoor) and his consort Sita (Pallavi) through exile into catastrophe, as Sita's abduction by Ravana (Yash) triggers a war between righteousness and evil. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman and Ravie Dubey plays Lakshman. Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and Kajal Aggarwal complete the cast.

What does the pay-per-view deal change?

The companies position the arrangement as an answer to India's uneven cinema infrastructure. Producer and DNEG founder-CEO Namit Malhotra said he believes the film should be watched on the largest screen available, in Imax 3D.

"But our country's cinema infrastructure cannot reach everyone who holds this epic close," Malhotra said. "'Ramayana' belongs to every Indian, and our ambition must reflect that. JioHotstar has time and again shown how technology can bring a nation together through its sports and entertainment offering. That made them a natural partner to take Ramayana into people's hands and living rooms, after its theatrical run."

The claim that the purchase model is unprecedented on JioHotstar rests entirely on the companies' own description. Neither side disclosed a price for the on-demand purchase, nor a date when the title will become available after the theatrical window.

Nita M. Ambani, chair of JioStar, framed the deal in civilizational terms. "'Ramayana' is one of India's greatest civilizational treasures – a story that has shaped our conscience, inspired our imagination, and guided the way we live for centuries," she said. "As India enters a new era of storytelling, we have an extraordinary opportunity to carry our cultural legacy forward. At JioHotstar, our vision is to use technology to bring the finest stories within reach of every Indian. It is our privilege to present this grand cinematic vision of 'Ramayana' to families across the country, and introduce a new generation to its eternal values of duty, love, courage, and goodness."

Who is behind the production?

Prime Focus Studios produces alongside DNEG, the visual effects and production company that has won eight Oscars, and Yash's Monster Mind Creations. "Ramayana" is a live-action project in two parts, with Shridhar Raghavan adapting Valmiki's epic for the screen.

Oscar winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman composed the score. Ravi Bansal and Ramsey Avery handled production design; Terry Notary and Guy Norris oversaw the action. The production was designed with Imax and other premium large formats in mind, mixing Indian and international talent.

For JioHotstar, the film doubles as a test case: whether a premium theatrical title can sell as a single purchase at scale in a market built on subscription streaming. The Nov. 5 box office will set the baseline; the undisclosed price will decide what follows.