Starting January 21, 2008, NDTV Imagine presents Ramayan- a brand new series based on Valmiki’s Ramayan and Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas! After a period of 20 years, this age old classic will be retold with grand sets, new star cast and lilting music, from Monday to Thursday at 9:30 p.m. only on NDTV Imagine.

The production of Ramayan is being executed at Sagar Film City in Baroda where majestic sets have been erected to depict the city of Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram. The kingdom was 12 kilometers in area and this grandeur has been replicated for the show. Extravagant sets have been designed by art director, Omung Kumar and his team, after undertaking research for over nine months and the labor of around 800 workers. The design team has also referred to the Ramcharitmanas where Ayodhya has been described in detail, to create an upscale and sophisticated look.

The sets personify royalty and regality with a very subdued look and feel. The exteriors of the kingdom have a sandstone like feel with palaces supported with elaborate pillars and structures. Each and every pillar, statue, room, throne and wall is intricately designed and detailed just like the way the temples and constructions of that era. The upholstery, carpets and curtains are artistically hand painted with zardozi work. The highlight of the sets is the grand-chariot set atop the main palace with a huge sun riding on it.

The interiors are subdued and mellow which give each room an airy and bright look. The Banyan tree bedroom, the Lotus room, the King’s chamber- all of them have designs which have never been seen before on a television show. The chariots, bows and the kawach have all been specially designed to suit the characters.

Watch out for India’s greatest epic now on an epic huge scale! Tune in to Ramayan starting January 21st every Monday to Thursday at 9 30 pm, only on NDTV Imagine.

NDTV Imagine presents Ramayan – A brand new series based on Valmiki’s Ramayan and Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas.  Produced by Sagar Arts, the family that introduced mythology on television, this age old classic is retold with grand sets, new star cast and lilting music.  The all-new Ramayan will air Monday to Thursday at 9:30 p.m. only on NDTV Imagine.

The enthralling production values and fresh approach to the storytelling gives the new Ramayan an appeal that will entertain and delight viewers across all age groups. The entire production is being executed at Sagar Film City in Baroda where grand sets have been erected to depict key areas in the kingdom of Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram. This new version has the advantage of being produced in times of huge technical advancements which will greatly enhance the story telling in a compelling new way.

Announcing the launch of the show, Mr. Sameer Nair, CEO, NDTV Imagine said, “Ramayan is a tale for every generation. It is multi-layered, multi-faceted, multi-dimensional… and this brand new daily version of the timeless classic has been interpreted to cater to the taste of a shining, modern India. Television is all about great stories well told, and for us, Ramayan is India’s greatest story ever and we hope to re-tell it in a compelling, entertaining manner.”

The characters in Ramayan will be essayed by a new generation of actors – Gurmeet Choudhary will play the lead of Lord Ram, while Debina Bonnerjee plays Sita.  The 3 key characters - Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan will be played by Ankit Arora, Vije Bhatia and Lalit Negi respectively.

Some of the country’s best talent is associated with the show:

• The music of Ramayan has been composed by Ravindra Jain
• The extravagant sets have been designed by renowned art director Omang Kumar
• Celebrated designer Nisha Sagar has created the costumes and accessories
• Kavita Krishnamurthy and Suresh Wadkar have lent their voices for the title track

Commenting on the show announcement, Mr. Prem Sagar said, “Ramayan like river Ganga is sacred, timeless and unmeasureable. A dip in the values of idealism and sacrifice embodied in Ramayan is like a bath in the Ganga that purifies your thought, speech and action and washes away all evil gathered as time has moved life. Twenty years ago, our revered father Dr. Ramanand Sagar created a revolution through a blockbuster show.  Now, we the second and third generation hopes to recreate the same magic”.

Adds Mr. Nair, “Ramayan has a huge connect with audiences across the country and has all the elements that will deliver on our promise to entertain and delight. The Sagar’s are powerful storytellers and the final word in creating mythological epics for television and we believe that our partnership has the potential to make Ramayan a show that the whole family will watch together every evening.”

NDTV Imagine will hit TV screens on 21st January, 2008. It will offer programming across genres, ranging from light-hearted family soaps to period dramas and from high voltage music and dance entertainers to the most glamorous events in the entertainment business.