Ram Setu is a 2022 Hindi-language action-adventure film directed by Abhishek Sharma. The movie revolves around an archeologist, Dr. Aryan Kulshreshtra, who is assigned to investigate the Rama Setu or Adam's Bridge. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Satya Dev in lead roles.
Dr. Aryan Kulshreshtra is a staunch believer in science and does not believe in God. He has already led an international team from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Japan to discover the treasure of Raja Dahir and a reclining Buddha statue near the Buddhas of Bamyan in Afghanistan after their destruction by the Taliban.
In 2007, the government approaches Dr. Aryan Kulshreshtra to prepare a report for the Supreme Court of India to demolish Rama Setu for the construction of a canal. Initially, he rejects the offer as he has not studied the bridge himself. But after being promised a promotion, he submits a report questioning the existence of Rama and stating that Ramayana is an epic fiction, not history.
His report causes complete hostility towards him, and he gets temporarily suspended. Later, Aryan's son gets bullied in school, and Aryan witnesses the hostility shown by the bully's parents. Meanwhile, a rich businessman, Indrakant, approaches Aryan to join an archaeological exploration and research for the Rama Setu. Aryan accepts the mission to prove the truth.
Aryan meets fellow scientists Dr. Sandra Rebello and Dr. Gabrielle, who are assigned to work with him. Initial research shows that Rama Setu is much older than Rama himself. Aryan decides to bring another floating rock from Rama Setu and uses carbon dating to find its age. He also visits deep underwater and finds coral reefs, proving that Rama Setu is indeed man-made and could have been built by Rama.
Indrakant only wants the proof that Rama Setu is older than Rama, so that they can demolish the structure and save money and fuel for their project. He decides to have the trio killed. On a mission to extract more rocks from Rama Setu, the trio gets stuck in a submarine with low oxygen levels. They are rescued by a man on a boat, Anjaneyan Pushpakumaran 'AP,' who takes them to a remote island in Sri Lanka.
With AP's help, Aryan is able to stop the canal's construction and prove in court that the Rama Setu was indeed man-made and that Rama could have existed. Later, he also comes to the conclusion that Anjaneyan was not an ordinary human, but Lord Hanuman himself.
The film was announced in November 2020, and principal photography commenced in Mumbai on 30 March 2021. However, production suffered setbacks and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming resumed in October 2021 and wrapped in January 2022, taking place near Ooty, Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Maldives, and Mumbai.
Ram Setu was theatrically released on 25 October 2022, during the Diwali festivities. The film opened to negative reviews from critics and grossed ₹93 crore at the worldwide box office, failing to recoup its ₹150 crore budget.
In conclusion, Ram Setu is an action-adventure film that revolves around an archeologist, Dr. Aryan Kulshreshtra, who investigates the Rama Setu or Adam's Bridge. The film explores the theme of scientific facts versus mythology, questioning the existence of Rama and Ramayana. With a star-studded cast.
After proving the existence of Rama and the man-made nature of Rama Setu, Aryan realizes the importance of faith and the power of the story of Ramayana. He also learns to embrace his own cultural heritage and becomes a believer in the divine.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praising the performances of the actors, especially Akshay Kumar, and the visual effects, the film managed to gross ₹93 crore at the worldwide box office, but failed to recoup its ₹150 crore budget.
Overall, Ram Setu is a film that explores the intersection of science, faith, and history, and tries to bridge the gap between different beliefs and perspectives. While it may not have succeeded in its box office performance or critical reception, it has sparked important conversations about the role of myth and religion in contemporary society.