The creation of the epic television serial “Ramayan” in India stands as a testament to the tenacity and determination of its maker, Ramanand Sagar. Despite facing numerous challenges and hardships, the renowned filmmaker embarked on the ambitious project at the age of 70, leaving an indelible mark on Indian television.
In an exclusive interview with Lehren, Ramanand Sagar’s son, Prem Sagar, shared insights into the making of Ramayan and shed light on the difficulties his father encountered during the transition from filmmaking to television.
Prem revealed that when Ramanand Sagar was transitioning from the big screen to television, he faced skepticism and criticism. People labeled him as “nuts,” questioning the decision to move from the grandeur of filmmaking to the relatively smaller screen of television. Despite such discouragement, Ramanand Sagar remained resolute in his determination to bring the timeless epic to the television audience.
Prem recounted an incident where Ramanand Sagar sent him around the world to seek support for Ramayan, from Dubai to the Middle East, London to New York, Tokyo to Hong Kong, and Singapore. Unfortunately, he found no one willing to support his father’s vision. Some even went as far as calling him “satak gaya” (gone mad). Secretaries were instructed to escort him out, and others sarcastically remarked on the transition from big to small screens.
“He sent me around the world and gave me a ticket, mein yeaha se Dubai gaya, middle east gaya, London se New York, Tokya, Hong Kong, Singapore ek shaks nahi mila who supported papa ji for Ramayan. They said satak gaya hai, kisse ne secretary ko bolaya aur kaha bahar nikalo isko, kise ne bola go and tell your father koi bade screen se chote screen pe jata hai, kya hogaya hai tum logon ko are you have gone nuts,”said Prem Sagar.
Undeterred by the challenges and criticism, Ramanand Sagar sought his son’s advice on how to proceed. Prem suggested conducting a test marketing of a serial to gauge audience interest. They selected “Vikram Aur Betaal” as the test serial, given its similarity in morals and costume to Ramayan.
The decision proved to be a masterstroke as “Vikram Aur Betaal” became an instant hit. Encouraged by the positive response, they embarked on the production of Ramayan, retaining the same actor from the successful test serial.
Additionally, Prem shared an intriguing revelation about a prophetic statement made by Kul Purohit Nityanand Ji, a tantrik, who examined Ramanand Sagar’s kundli (horoscope). The prediction made when Ramanand Sagar was just 25 years old foresaw the creation of “Ramayan” in the ’80s. This visionary insight became a reality, surpassing all expectations.