Ashok Kumar narrated the Ramayan, which Ramanand Sagar wrote and directed. Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas and Valmiki's Ramayana served as its main sources. Did you know that the show became one of the most-watched TV shows worldwide when it was aired again in 2020?

As excitement builds around Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, here's a look back at the iconic TV series Ramayan. From its memorable cast to its episode details and budget, here's everything you need to know about it:

Where To Watch Ramayan For Free?

Ramayan premiered on January 25, 1987. You can watch Ramanand Sagar's TV series online for free on YouTube via the Tilak Playlist.

The iconic series (1987–1988) continues to have the highest TRP of any Indian show. When it was re-released in 2020 during the pandemic, it once again topped the TV ratings, demonstrating its appeal.

Ramayan Cast And Episode Details

Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, who portrayed Ram and Sita, respectively, were revered as the gods' reincarnations. Arvind Trivedi played Ravana, Lalita Pawar played Manthara, Dara Singh played Hanuman, and Sunil Lahri played Lakshman.

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In fact, in Umbergaon, where the serial was shot, villagers from nearby areas used to kneel in front of Arun as they considered him to be Lord Ram himself.

(Image: X/@IndiaHistorypic)

Ramayan has a total of 78 episodes.

Ramayan Serial Budget

In a recent interview, Shiv Sagar, the grandson of Ramanand Sagar, disclosed that the budget for each episode of Ramayana was approximately Rs 9 lakh.

With Ramayan, families all around India gathered to watch the Doordarshan series every Sunday, making it a cultural phenomenon.

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About Ramayana The Movie

Ramayana, a two-part film directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, is regarded as the most costly in Indian film history.

Yash plays Ravana, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, and Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama in the movies. Here, Arun Govil, who portrayed Rama in the 1987 television series, plays King Dashrath. This Diwali, Ramayana Part One opens in theaters.