A landmark of Indian television and one of the most culturally significant adaptations ever made for the medium. Its devotional earnestness, theatrical style, and weekly-episode pacing are part of the experience, and for viewers interested in epic storytelling or television history, it remains essential.
Ramayan is a highly successful and phenomenally popular Indian epic television series created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar. The 78 episode series originally aired weekly on Doordarshan from 25 January 1987, to 31 July 1988, on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. IST.
It is a television adaptation of the ancient Indian Hindu religious epic of the same name and is primarily based on Valmiki's Ramayan and Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas. It is also partly derived from portions of Kamban's Ramavataram and other works.
A landmark of Indian television and one of the most culturally significant adaptations ever made for the medium. Its devotional earnestness, theatrical style, and weekly-episode pacing are part of the experience, and for viewers interested in epic storytelling or television history, it remains essential.
Best for
Viewers interested in Indian mythology, religion, and cultural history
Fans of classic, reverent, large-scale epic drama
People who appreciate influential television with a strong sense of occasion
Families looking for a traditional, values-driven series
Skip if
You want modern production values, fast pacing, or cinematic action
You prefer psychologically complex, revisionist, or ambiguous retellings
You are looking for a short, tightly serialized binge with contemporary storytelling rhythms
Overview
Ramayan is less just a TV series than a shared cultural event. Airing weekly on Doordarshan, it became a ritual for millions and helped define what televised epic storytelling could mean in India. Its performances, music, and devotional tone are inseparable from its impact, and even decades later it carries unusual emotional authority for viewers familiar with the source material.
Worth noting
As drama, it is broad, earnest, and highly stylized, with a stage-like presentation that can feel old-fashioned to modern audiences. But that formality is also part of its power: the series treats its material with complete seriousness, and that sincerity gives it a timeless quality for many viewers. The pacing is deliberate, but the structure suits the mythic scale.
Bottom line
If you want a historically important adaptation of a foundational epic, this is indispensable. If you want contemporary television craft or a more nuanced reinterpretation, it may feel dated. For the right audience, though, it is one of the defining television works of its era.
The closest companion piece in scale, cultural impact, and devotional epic presentation; essential if you want another foundational Indian mythological serial.
1981 · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, BritBox, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory TV, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Tubi TV, Amazon MX Player
A stately, values-driven classic with an old-world television sensibility and strong family and moral themes.
For viewers who enjoy courtly duty, honor, and long-form serialized character arcs in a historical setting.
Themes
mythology, epic journey, dharma, family duty, good versus evil, devotion, sacrifice, exile
Topics
mythological drama, epic storytelling, devotional tone, classic television, family viewing, Indian television, religious adaptation, cultural landmark, slow-burn pacing, 1980s