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Ramayana Adaptations:  One of the finest Indian epics, Ramayana has been a huge source of inspiration for the Hindi entertainment industry over the years.From Bollywood to the Indian television industry, the timeless tale about life, virtues, and revenge has somehow continued to intrigue people for more than a century now. The story of Lord Rama has everything a good storyteller needs, which is the prime reason for numerous adaptations of the Smriti text from ancient India. Let's take a look back at times when the story of Ramayana was adapted by the entertainment industry.

Times The Ramayana Has Been Adapted By The Hindi Entertainment Industry:

Lanka Dahan (1917)

Lanka Dahan was released in 1971 and was one of the first film adaptations. Dadasaheb Phalke's silent movie highlighted the grand scene of God Hanuman burning Lanka. It was a pioneering Indian film that introduced the magnificent story of the Ramayana on the screen.

Bharat Milap (1942) And Ram Rajya (1943)

Hindi films Bharat Milap, released in 1942 and Ram Rajya, released in 1943, were consecutively directed by Vijay Bhatt. The Hindi and Marathi bilingual movies were regarded among the few legendary early adaptations of the Ramayana. Additionally, to your surprise, Ram Rajya was the only film that Mahatma Gandhi ever watched.

Sampoorna Ramayana (1961)

Sampoorna Ramayana was released in 1961 and was made by filmmaker Babubhai Mistry. The film was a complete adaptation of the real Ramayana. The film covered all the aspects of Rama’s life, from his birth to his victory over Ravana. The film was one of the earliest which shaped the Indian mythological film cinema.

Ramayan (1987-1988 TV Series)

You’ll barely find an Indian millennial who has not watched the epic television series of Ramayan. The series was produced by Ramanand Sagar and was telecast on Doordarshan. The show was a hit of its time, with a massive viewership of around 100 million during its initial telecast and created viewership records once more in its 2020 retelecast during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Also Read: Ramayana First Glimpse: Sai Pallavi Is 'Truly Blessed' To Be A Part Of Mythological Epic

Luv Kush (1988 TV Series)

Luv Kush was a follow-up to the TV Ramayan series. This series was based on the lives of Rama's sons Luv and Kush.

Ramayan (2008 TV Series)

Another TV program, Ramayan, was created by Sagar Arts. The remake was telecast on NDTV Imagine. The objective of this series was to introduce the story of Hindu culture and heritage to a new generation with a new cast but the same storyline.

Modern Bollywood Films Inspired by Ramayana

Numerous Hindi films were also inspired by its ultimate theme. Especially, Sooraj Barjatya’s hit film, Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) and Rajkumar Santoshi’s Lajja (2001). These movies were focused on family values and social issues. These films beautifully reinterpreted the Ramayana’s themes with modern flair.

Also Read: How Wealthy Is Ravi Dubey Aka Lakshman From Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana?

Adipurush (2023)

The recent Hindi film, Adipurush, starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, was also a remake of the epic tale. The attraction of the film was its VFX and high budget. 

Upcoming Ramayan 

Indian film director and screenwriter Nitesh Tiwari is also creating a buzz on the internet with his upcoming movie Ramayana. The movie is slated for release in two parts during Diwali 2026 and 2027. The talented and big star cast of the film includes Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana.

The repeated adaptations of the epic Ramayana by the Hindi entertainment industry highlight the lasting relevance of the story. The epic tale of Ramayana continues to be an epitome of inspiration for storytellers and audiences across generations.