This Rama Navami, celebrate the spirit of Lord Rama with these epic films and shows that bring the Ramayana to life.
Rama Navami is a significant Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, who is revered as the epitome of an ideal king and human being, celebrated for his righteousness, virtuous character, and noble conduct. Observed on the ninth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Chaitra (March–April), which marks the beginning of the Hindu lunar calendar, Rama Navami coincides with the Chaitra Navaratri festival. On this sacred occasion, let us remember the legacy and values of Lord Rama through these epic films and shows that bring to life the timeless tale of the Ramayana.
Even today, when one thinks of a show based on the Ramayana, Ramanand Sagar’s iconic ‘Ramayana’ instantly comes to mind. Originally broadcast between 1987 and 1988 on DD National, the series was narrated by Ashok Kumar alongside its visionary director, Ramanand Sagar. During its original run, it became the most-watched television series in the world, achieving a staggering viewership of 82 percent. Its enduring popularity led to repeat telecasts across 20 channels in 17 countries spanning five continents. The legendary cast included Arun Govil as Lord Rama, Deepika Chikhalia as Sita, Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, Arvind Trivedi as Ravana, and Dara Singh as Hanuman, among many others.
This 1993 anime film, a collaborative production between Japan and India, was co-directed by Koichi Sasaki and Ram Mohan. Widely regarded as one of the finest animated adaptations of the Ramayana, the film continues to impress with its striking visual effects even today. A Hindi-dubbed version was released in the late 1990s, but on January 24, 2025, the film made a return to theatres in a remastered 4K format, featuring its original English dub along with newly recorded Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs.
‘Adipurush’ is a mythological action film inspired by the Ramayana, directed and co-written by Om Raut. The film features an ensemble cast including Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, Sunny Singh, and Devdutta Nage. Produced in Bollywood, it was simultaneously shot in both Hindi and Telugu. With a massive budget ranging between Rs.500–700 crore, ‘Adipurush’ ranks among the most expensive Indian films ever made. However, despite its grand scale, the film faced widespread criticism from both critics and audiences.
The 1997 film ‘Lav Kush’ draws its narrative from Valmiki’s ‘Uttar Ramayan,’ a later section of the Ramayana. The film features Jeetendra as Lord Rama, Jaya Prada as Sita, Arun Govil—renowned for his portrayal of Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’—as Lakshmana, Dara Singh as Hanuman, and Pran as Valmiki. Despite its star-studded cast and mythological significance, the film failed to resonate with audiences and proved to be a box office disappointment, earning only ₹43 lakh.
This Indian television series brings the epic Ramayana to life, as its title suggests, through the eyes of Goddess Sita. The show stars Madirakshi Mundle as Sita, Ashish Sharma as Lord Rama, and Karthik Jayaram as Raavan. Praised by critics for offering a fresh and unique perspective, the series stood out for its grand production scale, costumes, and a cinematic feel that added to the epic narrative. Its meticulous attention to detail, and thorough research were also widely appreciated.
