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I saw Ramayan in its original telecast in 1980s when I was just 5-6 years old. Experience was like that became my life from that time only. We used to record it on our VCR immediately so we could watch the same episode again & again during the week before the telecast of the next episode.
Initially I watched Gurukul episodes again & again and used to remember & copy & rehearse all the dialogs of Vashisth at that little age ' "Paap aur punya dono hi zanzeeren hain" etc. Then the fever of weapon toys started after Taadkaa episode. I used to practice with wooden toy of bow & arrow as if I was fighting with Taadkaa and Maarich. Lol. Mace (gada) was to be added later on for sure of course.š I also enjoyed Pushpvatika and swayamvar sequence even at that age (which is my most favourite song sequence now). But Keikei Manthara part, Dashrath's death etc were not liked by others in the family (being family politics & tragic) also and Bharat milaap was too much for me at that age to grasp, feel and enjoy (which I completely enjoyed around the age of 15). Next was the entire Aranya kand. I loved the song 'Jis kaaran aaye us kaaraj' from that little age (I could feel myself in the forest in the scene in which the Trio walks in the midst of beautiful greenery (Mahi nishkantak karan-haran munijan ki peer,.. Nayee disa me pag dharyo,... Dharm ke rath par-karm ke path par,... Nahi kuchh harash-vishad me antar. I could possibly feel that Dharmasansthaapan motto and karmaveerta even then also from that inspiring portrayal and learned from it) and I loved naturally all the dialogs & presence of all the sages - Vashisth, Vishwamitra, Bharadwaj, Sharbhang, Sutikshna and others. Aranya kand was and is still my most favourite. It was very natural in me from childhood to get attracted to and love and respect the behaviour of innocent elder devotees and sages like they are shown in the serial. I loved the scene of Sharbhang right since the original telecast. Then Hanumanji's leela in Sundarkand (My uncle gifted me a real looking plastic toy mace with 'Jay Shri Ram' written) & yuddh episodes - nothing is required to be mentioned as they are liked first by any child. And that amusing designs of arrows' aura!!š We used to speculate whose arrow would be cut (would disappear). And up until the episode of Daaruk-Atikay, there was unbeaten record that always that arrow was cut which was shot first. And it was only Lakshman-Meghnad or Ram-Ravan battle only largely when arrows were also cut of the warrior who shot them as a reply. I didn't like the final Ram-Ravan battle in the sky - just clashing of arrows - just a blast and you wouldn't come to know who won that clash.š
Over these 25 years, I have watched Ramayan & Ramayan songs countless number of times. Uttar Ramayan I have watched only 2-4 times - first when it was shown on cable 10-15 years ago and not during its original telecast (Last part most frequently watched) and some of its parts just around or after Sita tyag are not seen even once (So I can say that is still not completely watched) but I also don't feel any keen desire to watch it because just like Tulsidasji, I am very happy and satisfied with my Ramayan upto Rajyabhishek (and also RSji directed upto that only originally). I am a happy ending person (However I love to see Swapnil and Mayuresh).
Keikei-Manthra planning, Dashrath's death (Particularly Shravankumar's flashback), Sita haran, Ram's consolation to Tara (Just after my most favourite scene of Ram-Vaali dialog which ends with a devotional choupai - ant Ram kahi avat nahi) and post Ravan's death are the least watched parts of the serial so far. Rest are watched very frequently.
During Sitaharan episode, Vaali beating Sugreev, Ravan kicking Vibhishan, Ravan beating Sugreev in his balcony, Ravan making Sugreev-Lakshman unconscious and hitting punch to Hanumanji, Indrajeet shooting Nagpash/Barchhi - these were the parts where I used to close my eyes/ears or used to go for a round to next room at that age.š I remember that when Nagpash was hit, we just missed that episode, listened to its report & commentary, from other family members who stayed, first after coming back and saw only recording (As we went to Pavagadh temple) and the next Sunday we went to Saurashtra and that episode we watched in a highway garageš where all the village people of the highway restaurant were watching standing with us. And we also managed to find the Mahant's personal cabin in the temples which we visited.š We even used to carry VCR and video cassettes of past episodes with us.
And you all would love to know that we saw the shooting of Kevat episode accidentally. Our family visited Badrikashram temple near Chanod, Bharuch, Gujarat at the river bank of Narmada. The opposite bank of the temple was exactly the spot where the trio with the crew came with their Bhagva costume. So that was not Ganga (also probably the next river Narmada shown). That was Narmada river (which is replying to Sitaji - Sunu Raghuveer Priya Vaidehi)š. 'Jan jan ke Priya song jungle' was also Mumbai film city. Then Deepika and Arvind Trivedi stood for BJP in election (And Arun Govil for congress š) and they passed by while their election campaign very close to our house within 1 km distance. Arvind Trivedi also was sitting beside Ashwin Pathak for Sundar Kand Path and some of our known people arranged those Path at their places.
I dearly cherish my memory of G magazine Ramayan visheshaank which had lots of interviews of all the actors of the show ' the magazine edition I keenly want to get back from somewhere. In that many off screen stories and relations (Arvind Trivedi and Arun Govil taking lunch in common canteen together and having their fun pastimes and Arvind Trivedi's devotion of Ram in real life) and technological aspect (Like weapons, Crowns, Rubber mouths of monkeys, Dara Singhji standing on a fridge or cupboard and shown as flying to Dronagiri).
And last but not least, I also made a presentation in my MBA on Ramanand Sagarji as an entrepreneur for nearly 15 minutes and all the batchmates loved and applauded it. My last line in that presentation was - "Ram to hain Aanand ke Saagar, bhar lo jiski jitni gaagar" š. Now today, as a teacher/lecturer also, I get a few students every now and then who watch the serial inspired by my choice and they cherish it and share their feelings and thoughts with me about the songs/music and dialogs. I wish all my students could get sadbuddhi and good fortune to watch this and feel this.
Favourite songs:
It's not possible to take any song of Ramayan out of my favourite list. They all are there almost in MPG format in my mobile only (24 hours in my hand or in my pocket or close to me) and that also is not needed because they are there in my mind only word to word with music and I can reproduce them at will in my ears in the same voice of the singers at will. I just try here to list a few of the most favourite of mine:
- Entire song sequence from proceeding from Ayodhya for Tadka vadh to Dhanurbhang ('Purush sinh dou veer' to 'Pehenao jaymaalaa' - I can't distinguish these songs - for me they are the one continuous sequence) ' (Jay jay jay Girirajkisori in particular my most favourite)
- Kevat song including and more specifically so higher because of Sitaji's prayer to Gangaji and description of importance of Prayaag tirth (heavenly voice of Hemlata)
- Aise bhakt kahan (Aaj nahi jag me koi Bajrangi sa dhanvan - great to feel this song from POV of Bajrangi)
- Jin par kirpa Ram kare woh patthar bhi tir jate hain (one of the most inspirational as well as devotional songs) and Ling sthapi vidhivat kari pooja before that
- Hanumanji blessed by Sita Ram (Dara-Hemlata-Dehra all at their best)
- Janam janam muni jatanu karaai (Vaali's realization in the end)
- Navdha bhakti (Shabri my favourite)
- Jis kaaran aaye, us kaaraj (Forest atmosphere)
- Bharat sam nahi duja koi tyaagi (the most peaceful song and Satish Dehra's magical voice)
- Mat jaao, ruk jaao (big big chorus impact - waves of emotions like waves of an ocean)
- Yahi raat antim (Beautiful portrayal of thoughts of all in voices of 4 different playback singers)
- Nirnay ki ghadi ab aayee hai (How serious and energetic Arun Govil is and what a rocking music)
- Song sequence starting from first war of Indrajeet (Do raajputra1) till his death (Including Garud song, Hanumanji's entire adventure and Lakshman's oath - Jo tehi aaju badhe binu aavo - Lovely voice of Satish Dehra)
- Vishnu stuti (Shaantaakaaram-Jay jay Surnayak)
- Ram darbaar
Favourite scenes:
I also have my most favourite 20-25 scenes in my mobile. Some of the most favourites among them are:
- Vaali Vadh (upto Vaali's realization ' not the scene when Tara arrives 'that's in the next episode and I must have watched it hardly once or twice in the life time as against the previous one which I have watched countless number of times)
- Sharbhang muni
- Shabari
- Entire Bharat Milaap sequence (From Bharat back in Ayodhya from Nainihal and meeting with Keikei to end of Ayodhya kand ' his another meeting with Keikei in Nandigram)
- Vibhishan-Kaikasi dialog and then Ram Vibhishan milan
- Ram Hanuman Milan
- Hanumanji in Ravan's court
- Angad vishti
- Ram Parshuram Milan
- Meghnad's final dialog with Ravan at balcony in the middle of war and Ram honouring Meghnad's dead body
Most emotional scenes (Repeating of some of them in the above list):
To name a few illustrative (They can always generate flow of tears and storm inside)
- Shabri at the feet of Shri Ram (I always want the time to stop at that still of the serial ' the background music and performance are powerful ' OMG these flute and sitar are the best instruments)
- Bharat and Nishadraj hugging each other (and Keikei's reaction to that)
And Ramanand Sagar's commentary after that Shabari episode - Us desh me jahan Ramayan gaayi jaati hai, wahan jaati paati aur unch neech ki baat koi mere saamne kare, to vishwas nahi hota. Jo Ramayan ko maantaa hai, wo kabhi aisa keh nahi sakta, kabhi aisa kar nahi sakta. Aisi meri maanyata hai, aur apeksha bhi. Jai Ramji ki.
- Ahalya (Feelings which can't be described during its last line ' Ram Hari jay Ram Hari')
- Ram Hanuman first milan, Sitaji's boon to Hanumanji and again Hanumanji back from Lanka at the feet of Shri Ram (Ab kritakritya bhayahu mai mata''Prem magan tehi uthav na bhava)
- Ram Vibhishan milan (Thagna paap hai, thage jana nahi)
- Sharbhang rishi (Swarth se mukt kaun hai Raghvendra, hame bhi swarth tha)
- Kevat (Ram Charit Maanas is so beautiful and so as Ravindra Jain's own composition)
- Janak raja's decision in Chitrakoot (Apne premi ke liye kabhi jeena kathin hota hai)
Favourite performances of Leading Actors:
- Arun Govil: Calmness, politeness & divinity ' plenty of scenes so difficult to mention one (Shabari and Ram Hanuman scenes in particular) - but the best is the one when fun also merges with peaceful way of talking - the way he talks with Shurpankha (As Visrom put it). OMG - kaatil adaa. And his serious calmness during the song 'Nirnay ki ghadi'.
- Deepika: Determination & strength. Solidity & anger. Ghaans ke tinke wale scenes. In fact her smiling look also.
- Sunil Lahri: Everything. Funny part. Emotional part. Anger part. Action part. But most liked is the cute part. Innocence while serving his brother.
- Dara Singh: Face expressions, eyes expressions (all - funny, devotional, emotional, curiosity, respect for others) and maturity. His voice is dubbed well but his own voice with Punjabi assent is also very very sweet in one small scene of BRC MB when he meets Bhimsena and also in the movie Bajrang Bali.
- Arvind Trivedi: Energetic involvement in his role. Powerful speech. Big angry eyes.
- Other than the 5 above: Many many - lots of them - very tough to name just a few. Very unfair it would be to those whose names won't be mentioned. Particularly Bharat - Sanjay Jog - the best (he lived the role he performed as if). Shabari actress (one just can't believe that she was just acting), Vijay Kavish (Shiv, Valmiki - No other Shiv of any serial even that on Shiv sets in my eyes after seeing him as Shiv), Shyam Sundar Kalani (particularly as Vaali but also as Sugreev), Bal Dhuri (Dashrath), Vijay Arora (Indrajeet), Rajanibala (Sumitra), Urmila Bhatt (Sunayana), Shrikant Soni (Vishwamitra) and Nishad Raj actor among the top of them but others as well who are not mentioned here in the list. All were perfect. The entire serial is just almost perfect creation.
I would have loved to join Janaki and Lola when they created the thread but I couldn't join this in time due to some personal occupation. But here I am with this lengthy post to celebrate the greatest of moments in the history of Television after loving the posts of you all (Particularly the guys of the same group as mine - writing long long posts to frighten the readersš¤£- Lola, Janaki, Urmila, Aalochak, Visrom, Aakanksha and everyone else). I feel I have still written too little but will have to stop otherwise people will be annoyed with me and none will read any part of it. š Thank you for being here in this thread. Many many congratulations for the anniversary. May God bless Dada Sagarji. Rest in Peace. Many many generations to come of many many countries and religions of the world are grateful to you. Ramayan serial is the greatest of gifts I have got from you ever since my childhood and with tears of joy and pride in my eyes for all those awards list on the first page and its impact on people, I would wish its glory to grow infinitely in many many future generations to come. Jai Ramji ki.
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