‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’ Ending Explained: The Cliffhanger, the Hanuman Tease and What Comes Next

Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’ is scheduled to open in theatres on November 5 during the Diwali weekend, with a second instalment set to follow. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, with a score from Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Early screenings in Los Angeles have already pushed the final stretch of the film to the center of the conversation.

The ‘Ramayana’ ending explained comes down to one deliberate choice, which is to stop partway through a story most viewers already know. One attendee said the cliffhanger is something people cannot stop talking about. What follows looks at where the film actually stops, what its end credits reportedly tease, and how early reaction has treated the decision.

Where the Film Stops and Why It Ends on a Cliffhanger

The movie is the first part of a two part release and it ends on a cliffhanger. One review argues that dividing the epic in two leaves the story in suspended animation, because it concludes just as Rama’s effort to free Sita from Ravana truly gets going.

Hindi language reporting says Tiwari explained why the film closes on suspense, with the structure likened to that of ‘Baahubali’. That context helps explain why the ending feels less like a resolution and more like a pause.

The same review describes the experience as episodic, with the hero and villain only vaguely aware of each other. It does single out a climactic mid air battle as a sequence that captures the imagination.

One early viewer felt the second half drags in places because of where the first part chooses to end. The Hindi version runs 195 minutes, while the English version runs 165 minutes.

The Post Credit Scene and the Hanuman Tease

After the Los Angeles premiere, entertainment journalist Rama’s Screen claimed the film features an end credits scene that teases an iconic character audiences have been waiting to see. The post did not name the character.

Another viewer answered a question about the scene by saying it is an introduction of Hanuman. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman in the film. His appearance in the scene has not been officially confirmed.

At a trailer launch event in Delhi in July, Deol said he had completed only a small portion of his work and still had a long way to go. India TV placed that remark alongside its discussion of why the actor has such a limited presence in the first film.

What the Ending Sets Up for the Sequel

One fan theory from Reddit suggests the film closes with Sugriva telling Hanuman he found jewellery that fell from the sky, which would point toward Sita’s abduction. That remains a theory and nothing in the reporting confirms it. It does show how viewers are trying to read the closing moments against the familiar shape of the epic.

Reports differ on when the next chapter arrives. India TV lists the second part for Diwali 2027. One cinema account on X posted that it is coming on Diwali 2028. Another review says details on the title and release date of the second part are still to be announced.

Kapoor has also hinted that there might be a third film in the series. One viewer review says the tease at the end makes them excited to see Kapoor in the sequel, though they wanted more from the first film itself.

How Critics and Early Viewers Reacted to the Ending

Early reactions have praised the scale and visual spectacle, with one viewer comparing the film to ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Another reviewer felt the film leans more on spectacle and action than on drama and emotion.

Screen Rant gave the film seven out of ten and called it a great looking epic worth seeing on the biggest screen possible. The review suggests the ‘Baahubali’ films delivered better character depth and hopes the sequel can refine its characters without losing scope.

Critic Siddhant Adlakha compares the film to a Marvel movie and finds the fantasy fights lack physical and emotional weight. Another review criticises wooden acting and bland dialogue. The split in response mostly tracks one question, which is whether an ending that stops at the start of the main conflict feels like a promise or a postponement.

Viewers who stayed for the credits were reportedly given a reason to return, while others felt the first film needed more on its own. If the Hanuman introduction does land as described, do you think it justifies waiting for the ‘Ramayana’ sequel, or should the story have carried further into Rama’s search for Sita before the screen went dark?