TV SERIES · 1987–1988 · INDIA
रामायण
- Created by
- Ramanand Sagar
- Network
- DD National
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 79
- Studio
- Sagar Pictures Entertainment
47 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
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'…
47 Interesting Facts About रामायण
Interesting Facts (15)
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Initially rejected by Doordarshan for lack of interest in religious programming, Ramayan quickly became the most popular series in Indian television history, reaching more than 100 million viewers every week. Its popularity reached the point the Indian news magazine India Today called "'Ramayan' fever": religious ceremonies were rescheduled, buses, trains and intercity trucks were halted, and shops closed at 9:30 on Sunday mornings so people could gather to watch the series. In villages, watching the series became a religious ritual in itself. The show's popularity would remain at its highest level in history until it was surpassed a few years later by Mahabharat (1988), also based on an ancient Hindu epic.
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While the series aired on television, people performed various Hindu rituals such as bathing early in the morning before sitting down to watch it, and they did not wear shoes while sitting in front of the television. Some lit agarbatti before the series began, or broke a coconut before it started, considering this very sacred.
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Sameer Rajda went to Natraj studio to collect the dates of his father, Mulraj Rajda, for Ramayan. The man playing Janak in Ramanand Sagar's production saw him and felt he would be suited to the character of Shatrughana. Sameer Rajda then kept a moustache, and Ramanand Sagar asked him to shave it for the character. When Sameer Rajda went to meet Ramanand Sagar after shaving his moustache, he was told the role would be given to someone else. Sameer Rajda was just leaving the studio when he met a friend, who told him the role had been finalised for him alone; the friend took him to Ramanand Sagar, who realised he had not recognised him without the moustache.
Production Story (11)
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Sameer Rajda was actually at the studio to collect the shooting schedule of his father Mulraj Rajda, who was in the role of Janak. When Ramanand Sagar saw him, he deemed him suitable for Shatrughna; Rajda had his moustache cut, but when Sagar did not recognise him, he thought the role had gone to someone else. Just as he was leaving the studio, a friend told him the role was still his.
- #025
Rejected at first by Doordarshan on the grounds that there was no interest in religious content, the series quickly became the most popular production in Indian television history and reached 100 million viewers a week. This popularity, which India Today magazine called 'Ramayan fever', led to religious ritual hours being changed, buses and trains being halted, and even shops closing every Sunday morning. In villages, watching the series became a religious ritual in itself. Ramanand Sagar's success launched a wave of mythological series and was powerful enough to make people postpone their weddings and politicians miss important meetings.
- #026
When the Ramayan series was broadcast on television, viewers would bathe early in the morning and sit before the screen, take off their shoes and perform Hindu rituals such as burning incense and breaking coconuts; the series was considered so sacred that it was watched in an almost devotional atmosphere.
Behind the Scenes (6)
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The series, which Doordarshan initially rejected on the grounds that there was no interest in religious content, quickly became the most popular production in Indian television history and reached 100 million viewers weekly. This popularity, which India Today magazine called 'Ramayan fever', led to changes in the times of religious rituals, the halting of bus and train services, and even shops closing every Sunday morning. In villages, watching the series became a religious ritual in itself. Ramanand Sagar's success launched the trend of mythological series and was effective enough to cause people to postpone their weddings and politicians to miss important meetings.
- #030
At the time of its broadcast, the series earned the title of the most-watched production with more than 200 million viewers. Re-aired during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, Ramayan set many global viewing records, including breaking the record for the world's most-watched TV programme with 77 million viewers on 16 April 2020.
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Characters & Cast (13)
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Sameer Rajda was actually at the studio to collect the shooting schedule of his father Mulraj Rajda, who was in the role of Janak. When Ramanand Sagar saw him, he found him suitable for Shatrughna; Rajda had his moustache cut, but when Sagar did not recognise him, he thought the role had gone to someone else. Just as he was leaving the studio, a friend told him that the role was still his.
Deeper Meaning (2)
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When the Ramayan series aired on television, viewers would bathe early in the morning, sit before the screen, remove their shoes and perform Hindu rituals such as lighting incense and breaking a coconut; the series was considered so sacred that it was watched in an almost devotional atmosphere.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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