“… It has set the Saryu on fire. Why only the Saryu, the Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, even the mythical Saraswati, appear to be affected.
Undoubtedly, “Ramayan” is a block-buster in the history of Indian television. On August 1, a crowd over 40,000 waited patiently outside Jaipur’s Birla Mandir to have a glimpse of Rama(Arun Govil) and Sita(Dipika) who were due to grace the shrine. Even ministers jostled with mesmerized fans for a “darshan”. In Chandigrah, guests at a wedding ceremony were kept waiting as the bride failed to arrive at the “mandap” at the appointed hour. Inquiries revealed that she had refused to get married till the day’s episode on television was over.
Whether it is Ahemdabad or Patna, Chandigrah or Jaipur, a large number of viewer’s, especially womens, regard the serial as their main method of communion with God. Consequently, many bathe early and light sticks of incense or earthen lamps while the serial is telecast….”
The Times of India, Bombay
… Ramayan is a modern day miracle…
Screen - Bombay

The “RAMAYAN’ narrates the life and times of Shri Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is the first ever Ramayan Mythological to be made.

The Ramayan tells the saga of Lord Rama’s incarnation. Devtas pray to Lord Vishnu that with the yagya King Dashrath should be blessed by a son and then Rama is born. His childhood and fundamental education is imparted in Gurukul. After completion of his education, Rama returns to Ayodhya and Rama accompanies Vishwamitra and slays Tadaka. Vishwamitra then bestows divine weapons on to Him and Rama and Lakshman proceed to Mithila. In Sita's Swayamvar, Rama breaks the Shiva Dhanush and Sita garlands Rama. Janak sends this message to Dashrath and then the four brothers are married to the four daughters of Janak and his brother. The four daughter-in - laws are welcomed into Ayodhya. King Dashrath decides to appoint Rama as his heir. Manthara provokes Kaikayee and she asks for two promises from Dashrath. Bharat is hailed as the future king and Rama is sent into exile to the forest for fourteen years. Dashrath relents for his promise to Kaikayee where Sita and Lakshman also accompany Him. Shri Rama and Lakshman come to Valmiki’s ashram, build a hut in Chitrakoot and stay there where Dashrath dies. Bharat develops a hatred for his mother Kaikeyee and so he decides to crown Shri Rama in the forest and return with him. Bharat arrives in the forest and returns to Ayodhya with Rama’s paduka and installs it on the throne of Ayodhya. Rama, Lakshman and Sita are living in Panchvati where Ravan kidnaps Sita. In the forest Rama and Sugriv become friends. Hanuman recognizes Rama and Bali is killed by Rama. Sita is in Ashok Vatika. Hanuman appears in front of her and ravages Ashok Vatika. He returns after meeting Sita and conveys her message to Rama. Shri Rama wonders how to cross the sea. Nal and Neel with the help of others construct a bridge because of which Rama crosses the bridge along with the Vaanar sena. A fierce battle is fought between Rama and Ravan. Shri Rama kills Ravan with Brahmastra and Shri Rama along with others leaves in the Pushpak Viman. Ayodhya rejoices.

 Year of telecast:
The greatest Indian Epic “RAMAYAN” a 78 episode serial was first telecast in 1987 on Doordarshan. It was telecasted in 5 continents:

North America	South America	Europe
• New York Tristate – 31 WYNC (N.J. + N.Y. + Cincinate) • Chicago – Chitrahar Channel 26 • Toronto – Channel 57 • Vancouver – Channel 28/32	• Trinidad – CCN6 • British Guyana – WRHM/VGTV • Surinam – Surinamese TV	• U.K. – London Cable – Cable Tel (Ladbrokes) • C. Net – London (Sky Satelite)
Asia	Africa
• Singapore – Singapore Broadcasting Corporation  • Thailand (Bangkok) – Channel 3 • Indonesia (Jakarta) – P.T. Cipta Television • Sri Lanka – Teleshan Network (Twice) • Nepal – Nepal TV • Nepal – TV Live (in Nepalese) • Malaysia – Measat • Bali – Bali TV	• South Africa – Johannesburg – M. Net (Twice) • South Africa – Johannesburg – East Net • Kenya – Kenya Broadcasting Corporation • Mauritius – Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (Twice) • S.A.B.C. – South African Broadcasting Corporation

Networks around the globe telecaste stories on Ramayan – Shri Ramanand Sagar and the Sagar family included B.B.C., C.N.N., German TV, NHK Japan, Arte France,
Netherland TV, Norwegian TV

B.B.C. – London – (Power of the Soap No. 1 rated TV Serial) C.N.N. – USA N.H.K. – Japan ARTE – France Abdul Rahman film maked – Holland NORWEGIAN Broadcasting Corporation German Television Network -

 Direction and casting:
Ramayan was produced under the banner of “Sagar enterprises” by Ramanand Sagar, Subhash Sagar and Prem Sagar and directed by Ramanand Sagar, Anand Sagar and Moti Sagar.
The role of Ram was played by Arun Govil, Sita by Deepika and Lakshman by Sunil Lahiri, Darasingh played the role of Hanuman.

Some of the important:
Awards:

Raj Kapoor Award for Life Time Achievement By Govt. of Maharashtra Life Time Achievement Award By Govt. of Punjab National Citizens Award Popular TV. Serial By H.E. Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma – President of India Rattna Shiromani Award Ramanand Sagar By H.E Giani Zail Singh – President of India Valmiki Award Academy of Kathak Dance – Bangalore Doordarshan Kalakar Puraskar Great Television Performances Best T.V Serial – Ramayan The Uptron Award – Lucknow Man of the Year Award Ramanand Sagar Junior Chamber Marine Lines – Bombay Kala Bhushan Award Punjabi Kala Sangam – N.Delhi Cine Goers Association Raja Ram Mohan Roy Kala – Shree Award Contribution to the cause of Art and Culture Rotary Club of Bombay – Mid Town India’s Most Popular T.V. Serial Lions Award Best T.V Serial of the Millennium Lions Club of Chembur Ramayan. Lions Club of Chembur Lalit Kala Puraskar Manas Sangam Kanpur – U.P. Hero Honda and Indian Television Academy Award Mumbai Kalyug Valimki Ramanand Sagar Video boom Award Shirmomani Hindustan Rattan Award Padam Shri Dr. Ramanand Sagar – D.Lit By Shaheed Memorial Sewa Society – Ludhiana Udyog Jyoti Puraskar Institute of Industrial Development “Braj Shri” Puraskar Shri Braj Mandal, Mumbai The Millennium Award Zoroastrian Flag of Friendliness and Brotherhood Sindhu Ratna Ramanand Sagar Andheri Sindhi Panchayat

Felicitations – National:

Bombay All India Mayors’ Conference By Bombay Citizens Committee Marwari Sammelan Birla Matoshri, Bombay Vile Parle Kelawani Mandal Bombay Jhulelal Award All India Sindhi Panchayat Association Giants International Award In recognitions of remarkable Achievements The Film Writers Association Dedicated and selfless services rendered Ujjain Yuva Kumbh Shimharath Banjrangdal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad Delhi Saraswati Ratnabhishek Rashtra Gaurav Saman Samaroh Samart Shiksha Samati – Delhi Dharmabushan Akil Bharthiya Sanatan Dharma Pratinidhi Samelan

New Delhi Sarvesh Maitri Bharatiya Jain Milan – Delhi Vijay Rattna – Award Enriching Human Life and Out Standing Attainments International Friendship Society of India “Suramya” Felicitation By former President of India Shri R. Venkataram Ludhiana Citizens of Ludhiana Millennium Great Personality of India Indore Indore Nagar Palika Kolkatta Shree Digamber Jain Trust Ramanand Sagar – Howrah Felicitations – Rotary International District Man of the Year Award

Felicitations – Rotary International District:

Mumbai “Maharashtra Ratna” Outstanding contribution to Indian Cinema Industry Maharashtra Kala Niketan IMPAA Trophy Outstanding contribution to Indian Film Industry Indian Motion Picture Producers Association Crusader of Ancient Indian Culture Indira Ghansham Mirchandani Service Centre Delhi “BHASKAR AWARD” Promoting the Ancient Indian Wisdom, Systems and practices for the benefit of the Mankind. Bharat Nirman Mystique India Spiritual Renaissance Conference “Great Son of Punjab” Padamashri Ramanand Sagar Bhawnakla Mandir “The Great Son of the Soil” Millennium Award XIXth National All India Conference of Intellectuals Contribution to TV.

TV and Video World Award Fame Communications and Sterling Newspaper Ltd. Outstanding Citizen Award 1996 Enriching Human life, Outstanding Attainments Appreciation in the chosen field of Activity International Peace and Goodwill Foundation Bharat Vikas Parishad – Varanasi “Shri Tulsi Samman” Tulsi Janamaboomi Surkerkat Vikas Samiti Pune Pradesh Vishwa Hindu – Parishad Convention Alandi Devachi – Pune Vishal Hindu Sammelan Thiruvananthapuram Press Club of Kerela Millennium Great Personality of India Indore Indore Nagar Palika

Citations :

Kanpur Shree Ram Darbar 125th Suswarnim Varsh Ramlila Bhavan, Kanpur Vijaywada Ramanand Sagar – for his Seminal Contribution to creative, Visual Productions, Popularizing and rekindling interest in our Great Epic Dr. Pinnamaneni and Smt. Seethadevi – Foundation Vijay Wada Dehradun “Himalaya Ratna” Ratna Samman Samroh Nagrik Parishad, Dehradun

Chandigarh Heritage of Punjab Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh Cuttack “Yug Valmiki” Akil Bharat Jagannath Chetana Sansad Jagannath Dhampuri – Cuttack Ludhiana Meritorious contributions In the Field of Film, Arts and Literature Award Sahir Award

Felicitations - International :

Viswa Hindu Parishad of America Global Vision 2000 Festival Centenary of Swami Vivekananda’s Historic Chicago Address, recognizes the outstanding contribution made by Ramanand Sagar through his superb creation of the Most Popular T.V Serial “Ramayana” Rajasthan Parisad of America Plague – Hon’ble Shri Ramanand Sagar In Honour and Appreciation of his Great Contribution to Humanity by Making the Classic Epic Ramayana for T.V. International Punjab Society Award Ramanand Sagar

Wiltren Theatre, Hollywood – On the Stupendous Global Success of the TV Serial “Ramayan” By ALICE COLTRANE w/o JOHN COLTRANE Felicitated by MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI – Vedantic University – Holland Felicitated by the President of West Indies at Diwali Mela celebrations – Trinidad Felicitation by Sounds of Asia – Toronto Channel 47 with Telecast of Ramayan Felicitation by Govt. of Mauritius Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Jagannath

Honours:

Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Honours	Devoted Services to Indian Film Industry as a writer
Decorated with PADAMASHRI by President of India	DOCTOR OF LITERATURE (D.Lit.) (Honors Causa by Jammu University)	SAHITYA VACHASPATI Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Prayag) Allahabad

56 Events that Changed India
India Today • August 18th 2003

Ramayan in January 1986. After the Sagars' discovered Arun Govil’s beatific smile and the power pf tele visual religion, Sunday mornings were never the same again. Nor was India, with Sagar’s miracle – a – minute amakgam of 14 different versions of Valmiki’s epic keeping pace with an aggressive and unapologetic Hundutva that swept the nation

Order of the People’s National Award - ‘Best television serial of the year 1987’
Ramayan created unprecedented records. It blazed new trails all over the world with a unique distinction of achieving something which even prophets, scholars, great thinkers, religious leaders, social reformers and politicians could not achieve in centuries. Ramayan has been registered in the Limca Book of Records. As per BBC figures, the serial has been watched by over 650 million people worldwide of which, 40 million Indian viewers regularly watched it on its first telecast.
As a soothing spiritual balm – The entire Nation stopped ….. Turned … and looked back with pride at our culture, our traditions and heritage of pure ethics and hallowed principles – RAMAYAN championed the victory of good over evil and boasted of noble virtues. The serial was portrayed in a most aesthetic manner and carried a lot of devotional value for the Indian viewer. Such was the phenomenon of Ramayan that often during the telecasts the streets always wore a deserted look.
The message of “Ramayan” cut across all the barriers of caste, creed, language and political boundaries. The euphoria that “RAMAYAN” created and documented by the media during its telecast, it itself is a legend.