INDIA: The Ramayana has been adapted into several live-action and animated versions. But only Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana (1987) and Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1992) directed by Yugo Sako, Ram Mohan, and Koichi Saski have properly adapted the ancient Indian epic.
In 2022, India and Japan will commemorate 70 years of diplomatic relations. At the same time, the Japan Film Festival will be held in India. Apart from many films, everyone is eagerly waiting for Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama, which will be remastered in 4K with various advancements in animation details. The film was released in 1992 in Japan and America, but due to some controversy, it was not released in India.
How Yugo Sako adapted the ancient Indian epic Ramayana and turned it into a remarkable piece of art
In 1983 Yugo Sako was working on a documentary called “Ramayana Relics”. When he first read the Ramayana, he became so enamoured with the epic that he decided to produce a film around it. The movie he envisioned was being made in anime format. At the time, this was a revolutionary concept. When asked why he chose anime over live-action in an interview, he replied, “Because Ram is God, I felt it was best to depict him in animation, rather than by an actor.”
He presented his concept to the governments of India and Japan. It was difficult to make the entire film without the involvement of both nations, so he decided to partner with India. As a result, he chose to work with Ram Mohan, an Indian animation director, also considered as the Father of Indian animation. Yugo Sako desired a flawless cast for the film, so he began methodically allocating the cast members.
The production of this 135-minute animation feature began in 1983 and lasted until 1992. The film will be upgraded to 4K with improved sound and animation and released in Japan and India.
Anime is currently quite popular in India and is also a worldwide phenomenon. Many anime films are the highest-grossing in their respective nations, such as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020), which is the highest-grossing anime film.
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