In its 78 episodes, writer-director Sagar traces the life of Lord Ram, Dasharatha’s favourite son who must save his kidnapped wife Sita from demon Ravana and along the way, teach us mere mortals important morals and life wisdoms. Part of the show’s appeal lies in its fresh casting and the way Sagar presented the mythological epic in a folkloric style.
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all this unspooling on your friendly TV set was entirely new. So, what made the Sagar-helmed Ramayan so special? What explains its enduring appeal over the decades?Ī simple answer is that Indians could relate to Ramayan, but to see the insides of the godly royal courts, elaborate costumes and ornaments, forests and battle scenes, monkey armies, the miracles, boons and curses, the saints and sages, your favourite god’s personal tribulation. The story of the morally upright Ram and the sacrificial Sita along with the adventures of Hanuman thrown in for good measure are familiar to most Indians and has long enriched our vision of the world as well as our culture and art - via the religious texts, ubiquitous Ram Leelas and many oral retellings.
At the peak of its popularity, Ramayan had the spiritual energy to bring the entire nation to a standstill.
They knew the previous episodes by heart and would wait anxiously for the new ones. Jaidev’s signature theme tune played in the opening title against Lord Ram’s archery pose seldom failed to hook the audiences. The Ramayan revival is also a reminder of the good ol’ days when family members and prying neighbours would gather around the TV for their weekend fix. Those were the times when few households owned a TV set, and yet, that never stopped viewership from bulging in other (uniquely Indian) ways. An unprecedented epic, no less than an event, Ramayan was watched by millions of viewers throughout India cutting across religion, caste and social strata earning it a spot in record books. “Hugely popular” doesn’t even begin to cover it.
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The TV series was a divine rage in its time.
Needless to say, the government expects to recreate the original’s magic. In his tweet on March 26, I&B minister Prakash Javadekar, while dropping the Ramayan doozy, gave no other reason for the re-telecast except “public demand.” The mythological epic, it is hoped, will once again entertain and enlighten 1.3 billion Indians who are at home, due to coronavirus lockdown. Ramanand Sagar’s iconic Ramayan first premiered on Doordarshan in 1987, after which, as they say, Indian television wasn’t quite the same. Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhalia in Ramayan.