SS Rajamouli Praises James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash

Post by : Saif Nasser

SS Rajamouli, the acclaimed Indian filmmaker behind blockbuster hits, has shared his first review of James Cameron’s latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash. In a virtual interaction with Cameron to promote the movie, Rajamouli revealed that he was the first person in India to watch the third installment of the Avatar franchise, a privilege he described as “very special.”

Rajamouli expressed his admiration for Cameron’s work, praising the film’s visuals, complex sequences, and characters. “Watching Fire and Ash was an absolute pleasure. Hats off to you for creating those complex sequences, visuals, and characters. I was like a child in the theatre watching the Wind Traders, the Ash People, and the new characters. Varang was absolutely stunning,” he said.

The filmmaker also highlighted the emotional and moral depth of the story, particularly through the character of Jake Sully, the former human now fully integrated with Pandora. Rajamouli said Jake’s moral dilemmas kept him deeply engaged, noting, “I thought the first Avatar had it; it was so strong. I thought, can he ever beat it? But in this, it is much stronger.”

He also teased some of the key conflicts in the film, including those between Jake Sully and the former human military commander Miles Quaritch, as well as the tensions between Varang and Neytiri. “Two of the beautiful conflicts in the film were between Miles and Jake, and also, of course, between Neytiri and Varang. In the first film, I clearly hated Miles. But in Fire and Ash, I want to hate him, but I can’t. I want to side with him, I want to love him, but I can’t. The conversations between Jake and Miles were beautifully written; there was a lot of angst to them,” he said.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third installment in the franchise, following Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). The film premiered at the Dolby Theatre on December 1, 2025, and is scheduled for release in theatres on December 19. Rajamouli’s praise adds to the anticipation among fans in India and around the world, as audiences prepare to revisit the visually breathtaking and emotionally charged world of Pandora.