From Ramayan to Bollywood: How Cinema Retold the Story of Diwali — The Light That Never Fades

Every Diwali, millions of diyas light up homes across India, celebrating the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana. But this story the beating heart of Ramayana has not just lived in our scriptures. It has been retold, reimagined, and reborn on Indian screens for nearly a century from black-and-white mythological films to mega digital spectacles.

This is the story of how Ramayana became Bollywood’s eternal muse and how the tale of light over darkness continues to evolve with every generation of Indian cinema.

The Golden Era: When Ramayan First Shone on Screen

Before the glitz of CGI and OTT platforms, the story of Rama and Sita was told through devotion and artistry.

The magic began with Babubhai Mistry’s Sampoorna Ramayana (1961) a landmark mythological film that turned religious storytelling into cinematic grandeur. Starring Mahipal as Rama and Anita Guha as Sita, the film became a cultural phenomenon.

Its emotional depth, melodious music, and revolutionary special effects captured the nation’s imagination. Even today, Lata Mangeshkar’s timeless songs “San Sanan Sanan Ja Re O Pawan” and “Badalon Barso Nayan Ki Or Se” echo during Diwali playlists across generations.

For audiences of the 60s, this wasn’t just a movie it was darshan on the big screen.

The Nation That Stopped for Ramayan: Ramanand Sagar’s Era

Then came Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan (1987–88) the single most defining moment in Indian television history. Every Sunday morning, India came to a standstill. Streets emptied, temples played the title track, and families placed flowers in front of their TV sets before the episode began. With a staggering 650 million viewers, Sagar’s Ramayan became the most-watched show on Earth, far surpassing Western TV finales like Game of Thrones.

When Doordarshan re-telecast the show during the 2020 lockdown, it broke the internet all over again drawing 77 million viewers in a single day, proving that even after three decades, Ramayan still held India’s heart.

Arun Govil’s divine calm as Lord Rama, Deepika Chikhalia’s grace as Sita, and Dara Singh’s strength as Hanuman became benchmarks that no modern actor has yet surpassed.

When Spectacle Overshadowed Soul: The Adipurush Controversy

In 2023, hopes were high as Bollywood attempted to recreate the epic on a ₹500 crore scale with Om Raut’s Adipurush. But instead of divine glory, the film sparked nationwide backlash.

Despite star power — Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan — the movie was criticized for poor VFX and tone-deaf dialogue. Lines like “Kapda tere baap ka, tel tere baap ka…” reduced revered deities to street-level caricatures, deeply hurting sentiments.

Writer Manoj Muntashir later admitted, “We became simplistic instead of simple.”

The movie’s failure was a wake-up call: devotion can’t be replaced by digital effects.Rama’s story needs reverence, not reinvention for shock value.

The Dawn of a New Age: Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana (2026–27)

But all is not lost. The next great retelling is already in motion.

Director Nitesh Tiwari (of Dangal fame) is creating a two-part Ramayana, starring:

• Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama

• Sai Pallavi as Sita

• Yash as Ravana

• Sunny Deol as Hanuman

With a ₹1,600 crore budget, this will be India’s most expensive cinematic universe.

Casting director Mukesh Chhabra explained, “Ranbir’s face radiates innocence and calm — qualities that define Lord Ram.”

Visual effects will be handled by Oscar-winning studio DNEG, ensuring a global standard in storytelling. Producer Namit Malhotra calls it “a sacred and visually stunning adaptation of our truth and culture.”

The first part releases on Diwali 2026, with Part 2 following on Diwali 2027 — poetic symmetry that mirrors Rama’s return itself.

Why Diwali Still Glows With Rama’s Return

The origin of Diwali lies in that timeless moment — when Rama, Sita, and Lakshman returned home after 14 years in exile, greeted by the joyous people of Ayodhya lighting rows of diyas.

It wasn’t just light they celebrated — it was hope, righteousness, and renewal.Legend says Goddess Lakshmi herself visited Ayodhya that night, showering homes with wealth — which is why Lakshmi Puja became central to Diwali traditions.

Every diya lit today represents that eternal message: No matter how long the night, the light always returns.

Modern Echoes: New Takes on an Ancient Tale

Bollywood continues to reinterpret Ramayana in fresh forms:

• Mani Ratnam’s Raavan (2010) reimagined the story through shades of grey, exploring morality and perception.

• Akshay Kumar’s Ram Setu (2022) blended mythology with science, following archaeologists proving the existence of Rama’s bridge.

• Mahayoddha Rama (2025) — a stunning animated film with writing by Varun Grover and lyrics by Javed Akhtar — aims to introduce the epic to Gen Z through immersive animation.

Producer Abhimanyu Singh said it best:“Ramayan is the soul of Indian storytelling. We wanted to make it accessible without losing its purity.”

The Eternal Light of Storytelling

From Sampoorna Ramayana to Ramanand Sagar’s TV serial, from Adipurush’s lessons to Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming adaptation — every version reminds us that the story of Rama isn’t just mythology.

It’s India’s collective memory, reborn each Diwali.

The challenge for modern filmmakers is not to recreate the grandeur, but to honor the essence — because the victory of light over darkness isn’t just a story; it’s a truth that has guided our civilization for over 5,000 years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is Diwali celebrated according to the Ramayana?

Diwali celebrates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over Ravana. The people of Ayodhya lit diyas to honor his homecoming — marking the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

2. Which was the first Bollywood film based on Ramayana?

The first major Hindi adaptation was Sampoorna Ramayana (1961), directed by Babubhai Mistry, starring Mahipal and Anita Guha. It set the foundation for all future mythological films.

3. How did Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan influence Indian television?

Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan (1987–88) became India’s biggest cultural event, uniting the country every Sunday morning. Its 2020 re-telecast during lockdown broke global viewership records."

4. Why did Adipurush fail despite a massive budget?

Adipurush (2023) failed due to weak visual effects, controversial dialogues, and lack of reverence for its divine source material — showing that spiritual narratives demand sensitivity, not just scale.

5. When is Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana releasing?

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is releasing in two parts — Part 1 on Diwali 2026 and Part 2 on Diwali 2027, making it India’s most ambitious mythological project to date.

6. What are the best movies to watch this Diwali based on Ramayana?

Some must-watch films include Sampoorna Ramayana (1961), Luv Kush (1997), Raavan (2010), Ram Setu (2022), and Mahayoddha Rama (2025).