Page 8 - NIS English 16-31 December, 2025
P. 8
PERSONALITY | Ramanand Sagar
Bringing
Ramayana
to Every Doorstep
The Ramayana, an important epic and
sacred text, has immense significance for
India and the Hindu religion and culture.
Whenever the Ramayana name is taken in
the same breath, the name of Ramanand
Sagar comes to mind. He received adulation
for his serial Ramayana, which was aired for
the first time on Doordarshan in the 1980s.
The characters played by actors were so
realistic that they were immortalized. Born: December 29, 1917, Died: December 12, 2005
rom its very first episode broadcast in 1987, cherishing the dignity, ideals, and teachings of
it evoked public emotion. Every Sunday Lord Shri Ram to the masses through electronic
Fmorning, the streets would be empty as the media. He also made highly acclaimed movies
people remained glued to their television sets like Charas and Jalte Badan, along with several ro-
to watch Ramayana. The characters were so mantic movies, and ventured into making serials.
popular that, as Ram and Sita would appear on His famous TV serials include Vikram Aur Betaal,
the screen, people respectfully joined their hands Dada-Dadi Ki Kahaniyaan, Ramayan, Krishna, Alif
in reverence. The man behind the serial was none Laila, and Jai Ganga Maiya.
other than Ramanand Sagar, who produced and In 2020, when Covid made an entry into the
directed through his production company, Sagar country, in the interest of the people during the
Arts. The popularity of the Ramayana can be 21-day lockdown, the Ministry of Information
gauged from the fact that after its 78 episodes and Broadcasting and Prasar Bharati decided
were completed, viewers demanded the making to re-telecast Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan on
of the story of Luv and Kush. Doordarshan from March 28, 2020. This decision
After his birth in Lahore on December 29, 1917, was taken after a public demand was made for
his mother named him Chandramouli. He lost his its rebroadcast. With its re-telecast, Ramayan
mother in childhood. After his mother’s demise, once again proved its popularity, breaking all
his grandmother adopted him and changed his TRP records as soon as it was aired on the small
name to Ramanand. Thus, Chandramouli Chopra screen again.
was given the name Ramanand Sagar. He over- Ramanand Sagar was honored with the Padma
came several hardships in his childhood; he faced Shri by the Government of India in 2000 for his
a lot of hurdles in pursuing his studies despite a contributions to the field of art. Ramanand Sagar,
deep interest in it. He made a foray into the film a symbol of preserving and promoting Indian
industry and achieved new heights of success. He culture and religious values, passed away on De-
later brought Ramayana alive on the small screen, cember 12, 2005. n
6 6 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || December 16-31, 2025
