Telugu Films which remind us of the Ramayana.

Valmiki’s monumental saga, the Ramayana, has inspired countless films to great acclaim. Continuing this legacy, the recent movie ‘Adipurush was made to show the greatness of Ramyana to current generation. Additionally, there are Telugu films that, though not directly showcasing Ramayana’s characters, subtly weave its narrative through commercial storytelling. These cinematic works aren’t overtly linked to the Ramayana at first glance, requiring a deeper analysis to uncover their connections. YouSay highlights these films, exploring the embedded Ramayana influences within them.

Dasara

In the recent film ‘Dasara‘ starring hero Nani, the Ramayana’s influence is apparent, especially in the portrayal of villain characters reminiscent of Ravana. The villain, who sets his sights on the heroine, schemes to make her his own. Ultimately, the hero defeats him and restores peace to his wife and village.

RRR

In ‘RRR’, if one observes Jr NTR‘s character, it’s hard not to be reminded of Hanuman. Tarak embarks on a journey to Hastinapur to find a girl taken away by the British, much like Ravana’s palace. He infiltrates a British mansion and instills courage in the captive girls, eventually reuniting the girl with her parents, mirroring how Hanuman reunited Sita with Rama.

Varsham

Directed by Shobhan and starring Prabhas and Trisha, ‘Varsham’ also echoes the Ramayana. As the hero and heroine deeply fall in love, a villain (Gopichand) enters the scene, desiring Trisha for himself. Prabhas eventually defeats him and wins his love back, reminiscent of Rama’s victory over Ravana, who coveted Sita.

Varudu

Directed by Gunasekhar and released in 2010, ‘Varudu’ stars Allu Arjun and Bhanu Sri Mehra, with Tamil actor Arya playing the antagonist. The story unfolds with the hero and heroine’s engagement, during which the heroine is kidnapped right from the wedding altar by the villain. The hero locates and defeats the villain to reclaim his bride, reflecting the storyline of the Ramayana.

Okkadu

Directed by Gunasekhar, the blockbuster ‘Okkadu’ stars Mahesh Babu and Bhumika. The villain (Prakash Raj), enamored with the heroine, attempts to kill her family and marry her. Bhumika escapes and encounters the hero, leading to love between them. The hero ultimately defeats the villain to secure his love, mirroring the narrative of Ravana coveting Sita and Rama defeating him.

Raavanan

Directed by Mani Ratnam, ‘Ravanan’ stars Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, and Prithviraj. The film modernizes the Ramayana, highlighting Ravana’s perspective. SP Dev (Prithvi), resembling Rama, searches for his wife Aishwarya Rai, kidnapped by Vikram to the Nallamala forest, with a constable (Karthik) assisting him, akin to Hanuman’s role.

Sainikudu

Starring Mahesh and Trisha, ‘Sainikudu‘ presents a narrative somewhat opposite to the Ramayana. The heroine, believing the villain to be good, agrees to marry him. However, upon discovering his true nature, Trisha falls for Mahesh Babu. The hero defeats the villain, who attempts to forcefully marry Trisha, and claims his love.

Robo

Directed by Shankar, ‘Robo’ stars Rajinikanth and Aishwarya Rai. Scientist Vaseegaran creates a robot, Chitti, capable of human emotions, which falls in love with the heroine and abducts her. The hero ultimately deactivates the robot and wins back his love, reflecting the Ramayana’s essence.

Adipurush

Last year’s ‘Adipurush’, starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, is based on the Ramayana’s war chapter. Despite harsh criticism, director Om Raut defended the film as a modern interpretation of the Ramayana suited for today’s youth.

Seeta Ramula Kalyanam Lankalo

Starring Nitin and Hansika, ‘Seeta Ramula Kalyanam Lankalo‘ directly evokes the Ramayana’s narrative. The college-going hero and heroine fall in love, but family feuds involving the villain, reminiscent of Ravana, complicate their relationship. The hero, disguised, infiltrates the villain’s stronghold, like Lanka, deceives the villains, and triumphs in love.