Of all the misfortunes bestowed upon humanity,
there is none greater nor as terrible as the rakshasas.
Cursed creatures, they have been born out of the darkest dreams of the asuras.
The legendary foes of the gods.
And their day has finally come.
Once they haunted only the most remote locations,
far from the cities of mankind.
Dark forests, dank swamps and cold caves were their domains,
for these dark places suited their violent, solitary nature.
For when there is no other prey,
demon will prey upon demon.
For the rakshas, death is the way of life.
Yet one has risen
who has taken hold of the ferocity of the demon race
and moulded it into a single, deadly purpose.
The conquest of the three realms.
A rakshas greater than any that has come before him.
A destroyer, unmatched in power and cunning.
The demon King,
Ravan.
It's been a while, Jambhvan.
And yet there's no sign of Hanuman.
Be patient, Angad.
Lanka is a long distance away. Give Hanuman time.
This delay is making me more anxious, Jambhvan.
What horrors will he face when he reaches Lanka?
A city of rakshasas. The city of Ravan.
My blood runs cold just thinking of it.
How will he survive such a place?
Do you think only horrors dwell there?
It's the capital of Ravan's kingdom. What else could it be?
Perhaps. Hanuman must tread carefully.
There will be dangers aplenty, I fear.
So, this is Lanka.
Where are you, Princess Sita?
It's beautiful.
So, this is Lanka!
A city of wonders.
Prince Ram!
Let me carry these for you.
You're royalty. This work is beneath you.
Let it be, Hanuman.
Sugreev has been generous to take me and my brother in.
I am a guest of your king, but I don't want to be a burden.
I will do my fair share of the chores.
King Sugreev has given you a home in the heart of his kingdom, Lord Ram.
You could be resting on a soft bed
and dining well from silver plates, as befitting a prince.
Yet, you choose to stay here, in a cold, barren cave. Why, my Lord?
How could I rest on any bed of comfort,
knowing that my love, Sita, may be sleeping on a bed of thorns?
Besides, I have all the treasures I need.
Look around you. Isn't this magnificent?
I don't understand.
There are just trees and rocks as far as the eye can see.
Look again more closely.
What marble palace or golden fountains will ever compare to this?
How can the labour of men compare to the infinite art of the Creator?
But don't you miss the beauty of Ayodhya?
No, Hanuman.
Leaving Ayodhya taught me what was truly precious,
and it's not the wonder of palaces.
Ravan must be keeping Princess Sita in his palace.
Now where would I live if I were a demon King?
That was easy.
Princess Sita! It must be her!
What do you think, Nethra? Will he like it, Nethra?
Nethra? Nethra!
Yes, my Lady?
Where is my Lord Ravan?
"My Lord Ravan"? She is not Princess Sita, but who then?
Queen Mandodari, the King... I mean he is... he is at...
Sita. He is with Princess Sita.
Did he get my message?
He did, my Queen. He just... gave no reply.
Tell me, is she so beautiful?
So captivating that he forgets his own wife?
Get rid of these. I have no need for them.
What shall I do with them?
Give them to your daughter for her wedding.
I hope she wears them for someone who looks at her with love.
You... you are far too kind, my Queen.
We will cherish this gift.
Whenever my King returns...
He has. In his throne room. He has summoned his councillors.
I saw your youngest son arrive earlier today.
Akshay? Give this to him...
and tell him his mother misses him.
At least, he still remembers me.
Prince Akshay!
Your mother asked me to deliver this to you.
She misses her son.
Thank my mother for this gift, and tell her I will visit her.
After I visit my father.
Ravan.
Father.
Akshay. Rise, my son.
Embrace your father.
How is your brother, Indrajit?
Indrajit is as sour and cynical as always, Father.
But he sends you his greetings and his respect.
There is no one that loves you more than your first-born son, Father.
That's not entirely true, because you too...
What now?
My Liege, I have urgent news of the battle.
I must report that...
That we won?
That we have another kingdom under our feet?
That we have more kings and princes in chains?
Again and again. Again and again the same reports.
Can you see, Akshay? Their pride at their little victories?
What counts as a triumph today?
The conquest of some mortals and their hovel-like homes?
Such petty glories are all that is left to us,
when once we've ravaged the very heavens themselves.
Is that what you must so urgently report, General? Another victory?
My King, it is all as you say, but...
But what? What was the butcher's bill?
How many rakshasas did you lose?
Frontal assaults are costly, my King.
These mortals were defiant till the last.
How many, General?
Four of our battalions.
Yet that pales in front of what we did to them.
The neighbouring kingdoms will think twice before challenging us.
Their city and its people were burnt to cinders!
So, what have you really won for me?
A kingdom of ash?
Of the dead? Tell me, General, how is this a victory?
Take your men. All of them.
Leave your weapons at the gates and take shovels.
I want you to rebuild all that you have so thoughtlessly destroyed.
I want the fields repaired, the houses reconstructed,
and I want every orphan, every widow housed and fed.
And until they are fed, you do not eat even a grain.
Until the fields are ripe with wheat, you do not sip even from a stream.
My King, I--
Do you understand me, General?
I... I understand.
Good.
Do not return until this city you have destroyed
has been returned to its glory.
If he pauses to drink or eat,
cut off his head.
I will make sure the General obeys your command, great King.
No, Captain. You are the General now. He works for you.
Go now. Don't disappoint me.
Glory to King Ravan!
You seem confused, my son?
Wasn't the General just following your orders, Father?
You wanted that city conquered.
Conquered, not destroyed.
Lanka relies on the wealth flowing from the lands we rule, Akshay.
What use are barren fields or a starving population to our people?
My demands are little, yet my gifts are endless.
These mortals will find me a generous, benevolent ruler.
They will never want, never suffer.
All I ask in return is respect, trust and obedience.
Obedience is not freedom, Father.
Ask that to a starving child, Akshay.
Would you rather starve on the streets with freedom,
or have food in your belly under a rule of law?
Freedom means nothing to the dying.
So, the good of the many over the good of the few?
Akshay, one day this kingdom may all be yours.
You would rule differently than your brother.
But, unfortunately, the outcome will be the same.
How so?
He would rule in fear. You would rule with love.
Both will get you killed.
He will be killed by the oppressed.
And you will be killed by one of your own.
You can have either freedom or peace. Never both.
They must give you their freedom to be led by you, son.
Do you understand?
Or do you have more questions?
No, Father. But how can--
-We are not alone. -What?
Why lurk in the shadows? You have come here for a reason.
And I can guess what that is.
You're here for Princess Sita.
Go ahead. Show yourself.