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The Ramayana is one of the most beloved epics in Hinduism and has deeply influenced the religion as well. Ramayana follows the journey of Lord Rama as he’s exiled to the forests of ancient India with his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshmana.
Ramayana further recounts the war with Lanka after the kidnapping of Lady Sita by the demon king, Ravana, and Lord Rama’s eventual return to Ayodhya. On Dussehra, Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, signifying the triumph of good over evil, is celebrated. Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya and crowning as King is celebrated on Diwali, the festival of lights.
As Diwali approaches, there has been a renewed interest in the Ramayana in India. Bollywood is set to release Adipurush in a few months, which, even after receiving negative reception from the fans, is trending all over the web. But there are several other amazing interpretations of the Ramayana. So dive in to find out the 7 best movies and TV shows inspired by the Ramayana to watch before Diwali.
1. Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana
Release Year: 1987 – 1988
Cast: Arun Govli, Deepika Chikhalia, Sunil Lahri, Arvind Trivedi, Dara Singh
Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana is arguably the best interpretation of the Hindu epic. Ramayana first aired on Doordarshan from 1987 to 1988 on Doordarshan and is revered even today. The show is a must-watch for people of all ages and generations.
2. Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama
Release Year: 1993
Cast: Rael Padamsee, Uday Mathan, Mishal Varma, Noel Godin
Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama is an anime film inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana. The film was made jointly by the Indian and Japanese animation industries and featured voice actors from both countries. It’s one of the best-animated adaptations of the Ramayana, and its visual effects stand out even today.
3. Raavan
Release Year: 2010
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Govinda
Mani Ratnam’s Raavan is a modern retelling of the Ramayana. Raavan follows a bandit, Beera, who kidnaps the wife of a police officer only to fall in love with her later. Raavan was made simultaneously in Tamil as well, but the Hindi version wasn’t a big box-office success. Watch Raavan for its performances, stunning cinematography, and revisionist take on the Ramayana.
4. Hanuman
Release Year: 2005
Cast: Mukesh Khanna, Mona Ghosh Shetty, Rajesh Jolly, Viraj Adhav, Sumit Pathak
Hanuman is India’s first full-length animated feature film released theatrically. While Hanuman is centred on Lord Hanuman, it also depicts the events of the Ramayana. Hanuman features some excellent voice acting and animation. Also, being an animated film, Hanuman is family-friendly and a good way to introduce kids to the Ramayana.
5. Baahubali series
Release Year: 2015
Cast: Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah, Rana Daggubati, Ramya Krishnan
S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali series is heavily inspired by epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Baahubali follows Shiva, a common villager who goes on a quest to reclaim his right as the King of Mahishmati.
Some plot elements of Baahubali: The Conclusion like Baahubali and Devsena being banished from the Royal Palace are inspired by Ramayana.
6. RRR
Release Year: 2022
Cast: Ram Charan, NT Rama Rao Jr., Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Ray Stevenson
Filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli grew up reading the Ramayana and Mahabharata in his childhood. So, it’s no surprise that his films are inspired by the epics as well.
2022’s biggest hit, RRR, also bears similarities to Ramayana, with the central trio of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Komaram Bheem, and Sita resembling Lord Rama, Hanuman, and Lady Sita from the Ramayana.
7. Hum Saath Saath Hain
Release Year: 1999
Cast: Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Mohnish Bahl, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor
Hum Saath Saath Hain is a Bollywood drama film heavily inspired by the Ramayana. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, Hum Saath Saath Hain follows an affluent Chaturvedi family and their internal struggles.
While it’s not an exact remake of Ramayana, Hum Saath Saath Hain features characters that resemble Lord Ram, Lady Sita, King Dasharatha, and Kaikeyi. Like all Sooraj Barjatya films, Hum Saath Saath Hain also delivers a heavy dose of humour and family drama to get you into the festive mood.
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