Ramayana: How Indian Cinema and Television Have Reimagined the Epic

Ramayana: Have you ever gotten attached to an on-screen depiction of an epic? Ramayana is indeed one of the stories that audiences have found themselves attached to for a long time. This is not a new phenomenon, which started with the story coming to the big screen. The modern Indian pop culture memory, going back to Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana with Arun Govil at the centre, or before, remains fresh in the larger audience’s recollection.

Different Interpretations of Ramayana

The Ramayana has travelled from television screens into the theatres, and with every adaptation, different makers have found different ways to approach an epic that generations have heard and watched while growing up. What makes these adaptations particularly interesting is that audiences rarely start the experience with zero expectations because there is already an emotional connection with the characters, a familiar understanding of the story and, for many, a preferred visual representation. So, how have cinema and television reimagined the Ramayana over the years?

Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana

Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, with actors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri at the centre, was a 1980s adaptation of the epic that aired on Doordarshan and reportedly gained a lot of popularity among the audience of the time; the actors at the centre also became popular. First Post mentions that in Gujarat’s Umbergaon, where the serial was shot, villagers from other places used to come and kneel before Govil as he played Lord Ram.

Govil’s appearance and portrayal became particularly inseparable from the character, creating an association that kept living in the memories of generations that grew up watching it. Perhaps that is what makes its legacy significant, as it did not just bring the epic to television; it shaped how an entire generation visualised Ram, making it difficult for newer portrayals to escape the comparison to this very template.

Siya Ke Ram

With Siya Ke Ram, starring Ashish Sharma and Madirakshi Mundle, television offered another perspective to experience the familiar epic. The shift was not that the central story had been completely changed, but that greater attention was given to Goddess Sita’s perspective. Thus, instead of approaching the epic through the familiar narrative surrounding Lord Ram, the television series explored the experiences and emotions of Goddess Sita, allowing audiences to revisit known events through her journey.

It became a reminder that reimagining an epic does not require rewriting its entire story, but changing the perspective can change the viewing experience altogether, sometimes. Interestingly, X user @DurgaAshtakam86 recently described Siya Ke Ram as a good adaptation that felt true to the texts, writing, “I watched Siya Ke Ram in TV where Madirakshi & Ashish Sharma was casted. That seemed very good and true to texts. Adipurush seemed a little off in costumes,dialogues & some parts of story but still watchable: unpopular opinion btw. But there was a connect with all these things”.

It highlights an amusing fact that there is no single way audiences discover an epic, and familiarity with the story does not mean every interpretation has to look the same for the audience to be invested in it.

Then the Epic Was Taken to the Big Screen

Over time, the Ramayana was taken to the big screen with a massive visual scale. Om Raut’s Adipurush, starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan, attempted to bring the epic to theatres with enormous production and a prominent cast. However, amidst the frenzy, the reception among the audience depicted a critical divide.

Reactions from 2023, the year when the movie was released, were examined. According to X user @taran_adarsh, the film disappointed them, expressing that the dream cast and massive budget had ultimately resulted in disappointing output, writing, “#Adipurush is an EPIC DISAPPOINTMENT… Just doesn’t meet the mammoth expectations… Director #OmRaut had a dream cast and a massive budget on hand, but creates a HUGE MESS.”

Another user, @NishitShawHere, appreciated the performances and screen presence of the actors but criticised the writing, direction, rushed storytelling and the ultra-dark treatment, writing, “There is so much that could have been done but the opportunity is missed… Full marks to actors, they had limited scope with such writing.Ensemble cast performance is poor. Film’s fate could’ve been change with that.Dialogues and the ultra dark theme are biggest drawbacks of Adipurush. STRICTLY a one time watch if you prefer big screen experiences along with dolby sound.Does not feed the humongous hype.”

The film had also reportedly received considerable backlash for its controversial dialogues, poor visual effects (VFX), and perceived misrepresentation of the epic.

Ramayana: Part 1: The Most Recent Representation

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, with Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash at the centre, has brought the epic back to the screen, bringing forth major cinematic conversation. Audiences’ reactions again reveal how different people approach an adaptation that they are familiar with.

For X user @dh33ra7, there were concerns regarding what they perceived as glorification of Ravana and arguing that the central conflict between “Dharma” and “Adharma” should remain essential to the narrative, writing, “Ramayana should be a tale of Dharma(Ram) v Adharma(Ravana). Apart from a few moments, movie feels more like a glorification of Ravana. which kinda takes away from its core essence.”

Meanwhile, user @Dr_Priyanka0 seemed to praise the VFX and Yash’s performance but questioned whether Ravana ended up stealing the show, writing, “The film’s VFX is so impressive that it rivals Hollywood’s. Yash’s role is truly powerful… But I could not understand one thing… Is the name of the film Ramayana or Ravanam? Because he stole the show! Should we call this Ramayana or Ravana?”

The response, however, has not been entirely critical, with viewers also celebrating the film. X user @Gaurav_5599 celebrated the film as one of the finest to come out of Indian and Hindi cinema, acknowledging the flaws while expressing pride, writing, “We as cinephiles should celebrate #Ramayana Yes, films have flaws but this is undoubtedly one of the finest films to come out of Indian and Hindi cinema. Seeing our stories reach the world on such a grand scale is a moment of immense pride. Beyond social media, audiences are experiencing and celebrating it.”

The contrast itself feels precisely more interesting, keeping the conversation going. An adaptation can impress some viewers while leaving others questioning different aspects of the craft itself. Both reactions can exist without cancelling each other.

Ramayana Is Bigger Than One Screen Adaptation

From Arun Govil becoming the face of Lord Ram for a generation to Siya Ke Ram exploring the epic through Sita’s perspective, and the gradual shift to a massive visual experience with the epic being retold through cinema, the Ramayana has continued to find new ways to reach audiences.

Perhaps it does not need one exclusive screen adaptation. Its ability to invite different interpretations is what keeps bringing it back to television and cinema. The faces may change, screens may be different and storytelling and directions may also find new ways, but the Ramayana remains a great Indian epic, one that generations will continue to discover and discuss.

Which is your favourite on-screen adaptation of Ramayana? Tell us in the comments.

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