Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’ gets a behind-the-scenes documentary
Long before Ranbir Kapoor’s big-screen ‘Ramayana’, Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’ became a landmark television adaptation of the epic. First aired in 1987, the series featured Arun Govil as Lord Ram and Dipika Chikhlia as Sita and went on to become a defining part of Indian television history. Almost four decades later, Ramanand Sagar’s grandson Shiv Sagar is bringing the making of the much-loved series to the screen through a 60-minute documentary. The project is currently in post-production and will explore the making of the original show through archival material and first-hand accounts.Shiv told Mid-Day, “It will show what happened behind the scenes including anecdotes, never-before-seen footage, and retakes during the making of my grandfather’s Ramayan.
We have interviewed the cast, crew, and technicians connected to the series. We have [archival] videos of my grandfather and father. Its working title is Behind The Scenes of the Ramayan, and we are planning to release it in the Diwali week.”
‘Behind The Scenes of the Ramayan’ to release on YouTube
The documentary, which currently carries the working title ‘Behind The Scenes of the Ramayan’, is planned to be launched on the Tilak channel on YouTube. It will also be screened at the Ramanand Sagar Museum in Karjat. The documentary’s release timing adds another layer of interest, as Diwali week will also see the arrival of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The two projects will approach the epic from very different perspectives. While Ramanand Sagar’s documentary will look back at the making of the television classic, Tiwari’s film is a large-scale cinematic retelling designed for a global theatrical audience.
Shiv Sagar wants to invite Ranbir Kapoor and the ‘Ramayana’ team
The Ramanand Sagar Museum in Karjat is located close to a Ram temple built at the family’s Karjat property by Shiv Sagar and his father Prem Sagar. Shiv hopes to invite Ranbir Kapoor and the team behind the new ‘Ramayana’ to the temple. Speaking about the connection between the two projects, Shiv said, “My sister Shabnam Gupta has designed Ranbir and Alia’s [Bhatt] new home in Bandra. I’d love to invite Ranbir and the Ramayana team to our Ram temple.”The proposed meeting would bring together two generations of filmmakers and actors associated with different interpretations of the timeless epic, with the original television adaptation continuing to hold a strong place in popular memory.
‘Ramayana: Part 1’ gears up for a major Diwali release
Meanwhile, Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ is entering an important phase of its promotional campaign. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Sunny Deol playing Hanuman. The film’s music and score bring together Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. The makers are also planning an international promotional push. According to Mid-Day, AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer are expected to host a musical evening dedicated to ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ in London on October 20, with the event likely to take place at Royal Albert Hall. The reported event is expected to precede the film’s second trailer. The film’s first song is also expected to arrive soon and is reportedly centred on the wedding of Lord Ram and Sita.
‘Ramayana: Part 1’ gets early Australia release
In another recent development, ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ is set to open in Australia on November 5, 2026, a day ahead of its wider international release, according to Sony Pictures Australia. The early release is reportedly designed to avoid a clash with ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’. The film is being mounted as the first instalment of a two-part saga, with the second part planned for Diwali 2027. The first film is expected to bring together mythology, large-scale action and extensive visual effects, with the makers aiming to present the Ramayana to audiences across international markets.
When and where to watch Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’ documentary?
The 60-minute documentary on Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’ is currently in post-production. While an exact release date is yet to be announced, Shiv Sagar has said that the team is planning to launch it during Diwali week. It will be available on the Tilak YouTube channel and will also be screened at the Ramanand Sagar Museum in Karjat.