Originally released in 1992, ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ has garnered a cult following over the decades for its faithful portrayal of the revered story, combined with the unique artistry of anime.The film, a collaborative effort between Indian and Japanese artists, captures the essence of Prince Rama’s journey, his battles against the demon king Ravana, and his quest to rescue his wife, Sita.
The 4K remastering process involved painstaking efforts to preserve the original’s integrity while updating it to meet contemporary viewing standards.
According to sources from Bollywood Hungama, the decision to re-release this classic comes in response to its enduring popularity as well as, its well-crafted adaptation of the Hindu epic, which continues to resonate with viewers.
Trade sources shared with the portal that the makers have begun talks with distributors to understand how wide the release should be. Although the release date of the film has not yet been locked, the sources confirm that the anime film, cherished by many, will hit theatres this year, either in September or October.
‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ was a co-production between India and Japan, directed by Koichi Sasaki, Ram Mohan, and Yugo Sako. Originally in English, it was later dubbed in Hindi. The Hindi version aired on the popular kids’ channel Cartoon Network in 2002 as a weekly series, garnering a massive viewership.
Interestingly, Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Rama in the classic TV show Ramayan, also voiced the character in the mvoie while Amrish Puri lent his voice to Ravana, and acclaimed music director Vanraj Bhatia composed the songs.
Industry experts predict that the 4K re-release of ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ will attract significant box office attention, given the film’s enduring popularity.
This announcement comes at a time when filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari is working on his adaptation of the Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, and Yash, which is slated for release next year.
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