Ramayana Part 1 Declared Tax-Free in West Bengal Ahead of November 5 Release

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the decision during Dussehra celebrations in Kolkata, where members of the film’s team were also present.

Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayana: Part 1 has been announced as tax-free in West Bengal, giving the Nitesh Tiwari-directed mythological epic a fresh development ahead of its scheduled theatrical release on November 5, 2026.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari made the announcement while speaking to ANI during Dussehra celebrations in Kolkata on October 20. The event was attended by members of the film’s team, including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra, according to media coverage.

Adhikari said the film would receive tax-free status in the state. He also referred to The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files while discussing the decision, and spoke about the possibility of more films based on Indian epics reaching cinemas.

What the tax-free announcement means for Ramayana?

A tax-free announcement can be intended to make a film more accessible to local audiences. However, the precise impact on ticket prices depends on the government’s applicable policy and implementation.

As of this report, the public announcement has been reported by multiple news organisations, but the specific government order and details of how the exemption will be implemented were not independently verified for this article. It would therefore be premature to claim a particular reduction in ticket prices or to calculate the financial benefit for moviegoers.

The announcement applies to West Bengal; it does not establish tax-free status in other states.

Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled for November 5

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana: Part 1 is a large-scale adaptation of the Indian epic. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi portrays Sita, and Yash appears as Ravana. Sunny Deol and Ravie Dubey are also part of the cast, playing Hanuman and Lakshman respectively.

The film is planned as the first instalment of a two-part story. Its November 5 release places it among the major theatrical releases scheduled for the 2026 festive season.

The film’s scale, prominent cast and treatment of a widely known epic have made its release a significant event for Indian cinema. The West Bengal announcement adds a state-level policy development to the film’s pre-release story, although its practical effect on attendance and ticket pricing remains to be established.

The Chief Minister also spoke about future mythological films

During the same interaction, Adhikari expressed hope that more films based on figures and stories from Indian mythology-including Shri Krishna, Arjuna and the Mahabharata-would be made in the coming years.

Those remarks reflect his stated interest in mythological storytelling on screen. They should not, however, be interpreted as confirmation that specific new productions have been commissioned or approved.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The tax-free announcement gives Ramayana: Part 1 an additional talking point before its theatrical debut. But the key question for audiences in West Bengal is how the decision will be implemented and whether it will translate into lower ticket prices.

Until the formal details are available, the announcement is best understood as a declared state-level exemption rather than a verified price cut. The film’s opening performance and the eventual ticketing arrangements in West Bengal will provide a clearer picture of its practical impact.

Sources & Verification

This report was prepared using the Chief Minister’s remarks as carried by ANI and cross-checked against coverage by established news organisations. The announcement is widely reported; the formal government order and the precise mechanism of the tax exemption were not independently verified for this article.