Hyderabad: After over three decades, the iconic Indo-Japanese animated film Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama will be hitting theatres again on January 24, 2025. The film, now remastered in stunning 4K resolution with enhanced sound, will be available in Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu. The new release date follows a tumultuous history, filled with delays, bans, and controversies.

Originally set for release on October 18, 2024, the film's new date was announced by Bollywood actor-director Farhan Akhtar on Instagram on January 8, 2025. As one of the producers of the film, Akhtar shared this update with eager fans.

Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama is a collaboration between India and Japan. It blends both countries' animation styles to offer a unique cinematic experience that stays true to its Indian mythological roots. Directed by Koichi Sasaki and Ram Mohan, the film is an animated adaptation of the epic Ramayana, written by the sage Valmiki.

The film first premiered in 1992, combining traditional Indian storytelling with Japanese anime techniques. This hand-drawn animation version preserved the essence of the Ramayana, making it appealing to both Indian and international audiences. The latest release includes a screenplay by V Vijayendra Prasad, the famed writer behind blockbusters like Baahubali, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and RRR. His involvement aims to connect the ancient epic with modern viewers while retaining its cultural significance.

A key highlight is the film’s multi-language release, which includes Hindi, English, Tamil, and Telugu, ensuring that it can reach a broader audience. Distributed by Excel Entertainment, helmed by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, this version promises to captivate a new generation of viewers.

The story of Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama began in the early 1980s when Japanese filmmaker Yugo Sako became fascinated by the Ramayana. Intrigued by its deep cultural roots, he studied ten different versions of the epic in Japanese. Sako felt that animation, with its divine quality, would be the perfect medium to portray the gods and heroes of the epic, particularly Lord Rama.

The project was an ambitious cross-cultural collaboration, combining Japanese manga-style animation with Disney-like aesthetics and traditional Indian art inspired by the works of Ravi Varma. The result was a visually stunning film that premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 1993, receiving much attention.

However, the film’s release in India wasn’t straightforward. The 1990s were a politically charged time in India, with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the demolition of the Babri Masjid stirring communal tensions. Conservative religious groups, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), strongly opposed the film, believing it was inappropriate for foreign filmmakers to portray Hindu gods, especially through animation. These protests led to delays and the eventual banning of the film in India.

The situation worsened following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, which led to widespread riots. Fearing further unrest, the Indian government decided to halt the theatrical release of the film. Instead, it found a new platform when it was broadcast on Doordarshan, India’s state-run television channel, in 1995. The Hindi-dubbed version, featuring iconic voices like Arun Govil (Rama), Amrish Puri (Ravana), and Shatrughan Sinha (Narrator), was a hit with audiences, offering a faithful retelling of the Ramayana.

Despite its success on television, the film never made it back to Indian theatres due to its controversial past. Over the years, it became a cherished classic, regularly rerun on channels like Cartoon Network and Pogo in the 2000s. However, its potential to reach wider audiences was limited by the historical stigma surrounding its initial ban.

Now, 32 years after its original release, Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama will be re-released in theatres, remastered and enhanced for modern viewing. With renewed interest in the Ramayana story, especially after recent films like Adipurush and an upcoming adaptation featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, this long-awaited cinematic event promises to reignite passion for the epic’s timeless tale.