No, Ram Setu is not based on a real story or events. Ram Setu is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language action adventure film written and directed by Abhishek Sharma. Produced by Amazon Prime Video, Cape of Good Films and multiple other production houses, the movie stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role, alongside Jacqueline Fernandez, Nusshrratt Bharuccha and Satyadev in supporting roles.
Ram Setu’s plot is a work of fiction but it draws inspiration from the Indian epic Ramayana and the controversies surrounding the Sethusamudran project. The film is specifically centred on Ram Setu, a bridge built by Lord Ram reach Lanka in order to rescue his wife, Goddess Sita, as per the epic. Ram Setu fictionalises the ongoing efforts to prove that Ram Setu is a man-made structure.
Plot Summary
Aryan Kulshrestha is a renowned Indian archaeologist who is an atheist. He is assigned by the government to lead a team which is tasked to prove within 3 days that Ram Setu is a natural formation. The goal is to clear the way for a shipping canal project that would demolish parts of the bridge.
During his underwater exploration of Ram Setu, Aryan discovers ancient artifacts and evidence that challenge his atheistic beliefs. He begins realising that Ram Setu is indeed a man-made structure and holds immense historical and spiritual significance. Meanwhile, a powerful Japanese businessman, backed by corrupt officials, wants to destroy the Ram Setu because he believes that the structure hides a priceless ancient gem from the Ramayana era called Indra’s Tear.
Aryan turns into a believer in Indian faith and heritage as he races against time to save Ram Setu. The story culminates in intense action sequences on land and underwater, with Aryan striving hard to expose the conspiracy and save the structure.
Real-Life Elements
Ram Setu is claimed to be a natural chain of limestone shoals connecting India and Sri Lanka. However, such claims have been questioned in the recent years with many evidences pointing to the contrary. The movie touches upon those pieces of evidence and adds certain fictional elements for entertainment.
The conspiracy to break Ram Setu, as depicted in the movie, draws inspiration from the Sethusamudran project. It was a shipping canal project approved by the Government of India in 2006. The project involved dredging near or through Ram Setu, leading to protests by Hindu religious groups and environmental activists. The project was stopped by the Supreme Court in 2007 and subsequently shelved.