Nitesh Tiwari Says Homer May Have Drawn on the Ramayana

Director Nitesh Tiwari believes Homer may have been inspired by the Ramayana when writing parts of The Odyssey.

The discussion involves the Indian epic Ramayana and the Greek poet Homer's Odyssey, as well as Tiwari and actor Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Rama.

In The Odyssey, Penelope tests suitors by asking them to string her husband's bow and shoot an arrow through 12 axe heads.

In the Ramayana, Rama wins Sita's hand by lifting and stringing the Shivadhanush, a bow in the story of her swayamvar in Mithila.

Kapoor called the resemblance a sweet coincidence, while saying he felt deeply moved performing the bow scene.

The comparison matters because Tiwari sees it as a way for audiences in the West to connect with the Ramayana; no further plans were stated.