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{{short description|1992 film by Yugo Sako}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox film
| italic_title = Ramayana LOPR
| name = Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama
| image = Ramayana, The Legend of Prince Rama.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Ramayana LOPR
| border = Sanghakinji Film Studio (Babaghungi Zairat, India)
| caption = DVD cover
| native_name =
| director = Koichi Sasaki [[Ram Mohan]] [[Yugo Sako]] 
| producer = [[Yugo Sako]] Kenji Yoshii Atsushi Matsuo
| writer =
| screenplay = [[Narendra Sharma]] Rani Burra [[Ram Mohan]] Koichi Sasaki Hiroshi Onogi Ram Mohan Yugo Sako
| story =
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Ramayana]]''|[[Valmiki]]}}
| starring = Rael Padamsee Uday Mathan Mishal Varma Noel Godin
| narrator =
| music = [[Vanraj Bhatia]]
| cinematography =
| editing = Makato Arai Wayne Schmidt
| animator = Kazuyuki Kobayashi
| layout_artist =
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1993}}
| runtime = 135 minutes
| country = Japan India
| language = English
| background_artist =
| color_process =
| studio = Nippon Ramayana Film Co. [[Toei Animation]]
| budget = ¥800 million <ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview of the film |url=https://ramayana-anime.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209083700/https://ramayana-anime.net/ |archive-date=9 February 2022 |access-date=6 February 2022 |website=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama}}</ref>
| gross =
}}

'''''Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama''''' is a 1992 [[anime film]] co-produced by Japan and India; produced and directed by [[Yugo Sako]]. It is based on the [[Indian epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''.<ref name="ramaenc">{{cite web |last1= Bharule |first1=Shreyas |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (Japan) |url=https://cgimunich.gov.in/public_files/assets/pdf/The-Global-Encyclopaedia-of-the-Ramayana_full-Interactive.pdf6 |website=Pages 182-183 of "The Global Encyclopaedia Of The Ramayana" uploaded to the website of the Consulate General of India, Munich, Germany |access-date=11 July 2023 |language=en-IN |date=2021}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> The film was directed by Koichi Sasaki and [[Ram Mohan]], with music composed by [[Vanraj Bhatia]]. Although it was banned in India during [[Demolition of the Babri Masjid|the Babri Masjid riots]], it was later dubbed in Hindi and aired on [[DD National]].

== Premise ==
The king of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]], [[Dasharatha]] is forced by his third wife [[Kaikeyi]], on the basis of a boon promised by himself, to exile prince [[Rama]] for 14 years, where Rama, along with his brother [[Lakshmana]] and wife [[Sita]], departs from Ayodhya and starts a new life in the forests of [[Panchavati]] until [[Ravana]], the demon king of [[Lanka]], abducts Sita in order to retaliate Rama for his sister, [[Shurpanakha|Shurpanakha's]] dishonor. Not finding Sita at the hut where they resided, Rama and Lakshmana set out to rescue Sita and find [[Jatayu]], who tells him about Sita's abduction committed by Ravana. Moving on, they find [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriva]], the king of [[Kishkindha]] who leads an army of forest dwelling people called [[Vanara|Vanaras]], and seek their help. The Vanaras are generally depicted as humanoid apes, or human-like beings. They come to know about Ravana's residence in Lanka by Jatayu's elder brother [[Sampati]]. Then, the army of Rama forays towards Lanka, defeats Ravana's army and Rama gets his wife back. In the end, Rama along with his people, returns to Ayodhya where the residents of Ayodhya welcome them festively.<ref>{{Citation |title=Ramayana |date=2023-06-24 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ramayana&oldid=1161720036 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-06-25 |language=en}}</ref>

== Voice cast ==

=== English ===
* Nikhil Kapoor - [[Rama]]
* Rael Padmasee – [[Sita]]
* Uday Mathan – [[Ravana]]
* Mishal Varma – [[Lakshmana]]
* Noel Godin – [[Hanuman]]
* Bulbul Mukherjee – [[Dasharatha]]
* Madhulika Varma – [[Kaikeyi]]
* [[Rahul Bose]] – [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]]
* [[Pearl Padamsee]] – [[Manthara]]
* Bhargava Krishna – [[Kumbhakarna]]
* Shagufta Jaffrey – [[Shurpanakha]]
* Easo Vivin Mathew – [[Indrajit]]
* [[Denzil Smith]] – [[Sugriva]]
* [[Cyrus Broacha]] – [[Angada]]
* Dodo Bhujwala – Additional Voices
* Rohan Arthur – Additional Voices
* Avi Shroff – Additional Voices
* Akash Sharma S - Additional Voices
* Salome Parikh – Additional Voices
* Farid Saboonchi – Additional Voices
* Leeya Mehta – Additional Voices

=== Hindi ===
* [[Shatrughan Sinha]] – Narrator
* [[Arun Govil]] – [[Rama]]
* [[Namrata Sawhney]] – [[Sita]]
* [[Shakti Singh (actor)|Shakti Singh]] – [[Lakshmana]]
* Adarsh Gautam – [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]]
* Dilip Sinha – [[Hanuman]]
* [[Amrish Puri]] – [[Ravana]]
* Harjeet Walia – [[Dasharatha]]
* [[Sava]] – [[Kaikeyi]]
* Manju Bhatia – [[Manthara]]
* Rakesh Vidua – [[Jatayu]]
* [[Umesh Sharma]] – [[Jambavan]]
* [[Raj Joshi]] – [[Sugriva]]
* [[Pradeep Shukla]] – [[Kumbhakarna]]

== Production ==
=== Development ===
In 1983, while working on "The Ramayana Relics" a documentary film about excavations by [[B. B. Lal|Dr. B. B. Lal]] near [[Allahabad]] in Uttar Pradesh (India) Yugo Sako came to know about the story of Ramayana. He liked the story of the Ramayana so much that he researched deeper into the topic and went on to read 10 versions of the Ramayana in Japanese. After reading the Ramayana he wanted to adapt it into animation as he didn't think a live-action movie could capture the true essence of Ramayana, "Because Ram is God, I felt it was best to depict him in animation, rather than by an actor."<ref name=":0" /> TEM Co., Ltd. financed the production and a new production studio Nippon Ramayana Film Co., Ltd. was set up <ref name="ramaenc" /><ref name="tufscinema">{{Cite web |title=Screening of "Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama", an animated film co-produced by Japan and India |url=https://tufscinema.jp/200110-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206090607/https://tufscinema.jp/200110-2/ |archive-date=6 February 2022 |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Cinema |language=ja}}</ref> and the principal animation of the film began in 1990 with 450 artists on board. Indian animators guided their Japanese teammates with Indian customs and traditions depicted in the film like how dhotis are worn and how the children receive blessings from their elders.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Melwani |first=Lavina |date=April 2001 |title=Yugo Sako's Ramayan Odyssey |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Hinduism/2001/04/Yugo-Sakos-Ramayan-Odyssey.aspx?p=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905220306/http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/hinduism/2001/04/yugo-sakos-ramayan-odyssey.aspx?p=2 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |access-date=2015-12-28 |website=Beliefnet}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Ram Mohan – Biography, Works, Interview, etc. at Design in India |url=http://designinindia.net/design-thoughts/masters/ram-mohan/interview-ramayana-meers-sara.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193958/http://www.designinindia.net/design-thoughts/masters/ram-mohan/interview-ramayana-meers-sara.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=2015-12-28 |website=designinindia.net |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Music ===
There are different songs for the '''Original English Version''' (sung in [[Sanskrit]]) and the '''Hindi Dub version''' (sung in [[Hindi]]), both are listed below. The lyrics are written by [[Vasant Dev]] (Sanskrit) and P.K. Mishra (Hindi).

==== English version soundtrack (Sanskrit) ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Song
!Artist(s)
|-
|Panchvati Man Bhavan Upwan
|[[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
|-
|Janani Main Ramdoot Hanuman
|Vinod Rathod
|-
|Shri Raghuvar Ki Vanar Sena
|Chorus
|-
|Jai Lankeshwar
|Chorus
|}

==== Hindi version soundtrack ====
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Artist(s)
|-
|Sumiran Karle Mannwa
|[[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
|-
| Panchvati Man Bhavan Upwan
| [[Sadhana Sargam]]
|-
| Janani Main Rama Doot Hanuman
| [[Udit Narayan]]
|-
| Shri Raghuvar Ki Vaanar Sena
| Chorus by many
|-
| Jai Lankeshwar
| Chorus by many
|-
| Ram Bolo
|Channi Singh
|}

== Controversies ==
''[[The Indian Express]]'' published an article about Yugo Sako's "The Ramayana Relics" documentary on 25 April 1983. Soon thereafter, a protest letter based on the misunderstanding from the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] was received by the Japanese Embassy in Delhi, which said that no foreigners could arbitrarily cinematize Ramayana because it was the great national heritage of India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2002-06-08 |title=Prince of Light: Production |url=http://princeoflightmovie.com/production.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020609002919/http://princeoflightmovie.com/production.html |archive-date=9 June 2002 |access-date=2015-12-28}}</ref> After the misconceptions were cleared, Yugo Sako proposed the idea of an animated Ramayana to the VHP and the government. He told them that animation was a serious art form in Japan and it would help bring the Ramayana to a wider global audience. The Government agreed initially, but later declined his proposal for a bi-nation collaboration, saying the Ramayana is a very sensitive subject and cannot be portrayed as a cartoon. Also, the fact that the movie was being made at the height of the [[Ayodhya dispute]], added to the controversy and axed the prospects of producing it in India. With no choice and support left, the movie was ultimately produced in Japan with nearly 450 artists from both nations contributing to its creation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VIDEO REVIEWS – Magazine Web Edition > June 1993 – Publications – Hinduism Today Magazine |url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/april-1993/1993-04-ramayana-animated/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004202410/https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/april-1993/1993-04-ramayana-animated/ |archive-date=4 October 2021 |access-date=2015-12-28 |website=www.hinduismtoday.com}}</ref>

== Release ==
The original English version with [[Sanskrit]] songs was worked on by teams from both countries and was screened for the first time at 24th [[International Film Festival of India]], New Delhi, 10–20 January 1993.<ref name="21thiffi">{{Cite web |title=24th International Film Festival: Grim celluloid images mirror turmoil of recent events |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19930215-24th-international-film-festival-grim-celluloid-images-mirror-turmoil-of-recent-events-810689-1993-02-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321101616/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19930215-24th-international-film-festival-grim-celluloid-images-mirror-turmoil-of-recent-events-810689-1993-02-15 |archive-date=21 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=India Today}}</ref> The film was also shown at the 1993 [[Vancouver International Film Festival]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Peter |first=Birnie |date=4 June 1993 |title=Film Festival: Franey finds hunt for film fare fascinating |pages=31 |work=[[The Vancouver Sun]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98420903/ramayana-anime/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326154930/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98420903/ramayana-anime/ |archive-date=26 March 2022}}</ref>

The Hindi dub version was released in the late 1990s. [[Arun Govil]], who is popularly known for playing the role of Rama in [[Ramayan (1987 TV series)]] voiced Prince Rama in the version. This film was distributed as a work in the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between Japan and India. The film was not released on a large scale as the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] (Birthplace) Movement was at its peak and the movie made into controversy. But later it was released on TV channel Cartoon Network.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rajeev |first1=M. |title=Animated films failed because of content |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ldquoAnimated-films-failed-because-of-contentrdquo/article15527752.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=10 July 2022 |language=en-IN |date=21 January 2011}}</ref>

It was the opening film of the 2000 [[Lucca]] Animation Film Festival in Italy, a highlight of the [[Cardiff]] Animation Film Festival in the United Kingdom and won Best Animation Film of the Year at the 2000 [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita]] International Film Festival in the United States.

2022 was an important year for both countries as they marked 70 years of India-Japan relations. On the occasion of 70th Anniversary Year, the remaster of this film would be launched during the 5th edition of Japanese Film Festival in India, along with 10 other films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japanese Film Festival India 2022 English theatre-plays Play in Bengaluru Tickets |url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/japanese-film-festival-india-2022/ET00320951 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309204439/https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/japanese-film-festival-india-2022/ET00320951 |archive-date=9 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=BookMyShow |language=en}}</ref>

The specific 2022 edition of the original film is called the '''''Anniversary Edition''''', which is a 4K [[Remaster]] version of the original film with stereo audio and better graphics and visuals as tech use in the original film is old. This is also the first time that this anime movie would be released theatrically, following with releases in DVDs, [[Blu-ray]]s and [[Over-the-top media service|OTT platforms]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Supriya |date=2022-03-19 |title=Groundbreaking "Ramayana" anime remastered for new audience 30 years on |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/03/19/films/ramayana/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325053456/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/03/19/films/ramayana/ |archive-date=25 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama Anime Film Gets 4K Remaster |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-28/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-anime-film-gets-4k-remaster/.181026 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=10 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
When it was screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival, festival director Alan Franey called the film "Extraordinary", and said "The backgrounds are done in beautiful detail, while the foreground characters are an Indian version of the Disney style, with big dewey eyes."<ref name=":3" />

The film won "Best Animation Film of the Year" award at the [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita International Family Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |date=2001-12-14 |title=Academy Announces New Ani-Oscar |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/14/academy-announces-new-ani-oscar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119062443/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/14/academy-announces-new-ani-oscar |archive-date=19 November 2017 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> In 2001, [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences]] announced a new category, [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]]. ''Ramayana'' was one of nine films that qualified to be nominated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best animated feature will get an Oscar |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2001/12/12/Best-animated-feature-will-get-an-Oscar/62701008199393/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627070317/http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2001/12/12/Best-animated-feature-will-get-an-Oscar/62701008199393 |archive-date=27 June 2015 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

Ken Eisner writing in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' in 1993 was critical of the film, saying the film is "Relentlessly paced, pic has no heart" and "not even great to look at."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eisner |first=Ken |date=5 December 1993 |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-1200434899/#! |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324001501/http://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-1200434899/#! |archive-date=24 March 2017}}</ref>

== Alternative version ==
=== The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana ===

It was released in the United States as ''Warrior Prince'' or ''The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana'' by [[Krishna Shah]],<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> further localized English dub with narration by [[James Earl Jones]], prince [[Rama]] voiced by [[Bryan Cranston]] and additional music by [[Alan Howarth (composer)|Alan Howarth]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 February 2021 |title=Did you know Hollywood star Bryan Cranston voiced for Lord Ram in the animated film 'The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana |work=[[Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know/did-you-know-hollywood-star-bryan-cranston-voiced-for-lord-ram-in-the-animated-film-the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana/articleshow/80678311.cms |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204033147/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know/did-you-know-hollywood-star-bryan-cranston-voiced-for-lord-ram-in-the-animated-film-the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana/articleshow/80678311.cms |archive-date=4 February 2021}}</ref> That version was released on 9 November 2001.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lenburg |first=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons |date=2009 |publisher=Checkmark Books |isbn=978-0-8160-6600-1 |edition=3rd |location=New York |pages=215–216}}</ref>

Robert Koehler reviewed it for ''Variety'', also giving it a critical review. He described the film as a "curious fusion of an interesting if simplified literary adaptation with emphatically second-rate animation technique" and said "the blatantly American vocal casting and direction are painfully out of kilter with the 5,000-year-old Indian setting".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Koehler |first=Robert |date=8 November 2001 |title=The Prince Of Light: The Legend Of Ramayana |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana-1200552924/#! |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504101732/http://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana-1200552924/#! |archive-date=4 May 2015}}</ref>

==== Voice cast ====
* [[Bryan Cranston]] - [[Rama]] as ''Ram''
* [[Edie Mirman]] – [[Sita]]
* [[Tom Wyner]] – [[Ravana]]
* [[Richard Cansino]] – [[Lakshmana]]
* [[Michael Sorich]] – [[Hanuman]]
* [[Mike Reynolds (actor)|Mike Reynolds]] – [[Dasharatha]]
* [[Tony Pope]] – [[Vishvamitra]] as ''Vishwarmitra''
* [[Mari Devon]] – [[Kaikeyi]]
* [[Simon Prescott]] – [[Kumbhakarna]] as ''Kumshaharn''
* [[Barbara Goodson]] – [[Surpanakha]] as ''Shoorpanakh''
* [[Kirk Thornton]] – [[Indrajit]]
* [[Steve Bulen]] – [[Sugriva]] as ''Sugreev''
* [[Eddie Frierson]] – [[Angada]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{official website|https://ramayana-anime.net/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020609001957/http://princeoflightmovie.com/index.html Official Website of "The Prince of Light" – Archive.org] (The site was closed in 2009.)
* [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/73/story_7349_1.html Yugo Sako's Ramayan Odyssey] at [[Beliefnet]]
* {{anime News Network|anime|7792||noparen}}
* {{IMDb title|tt0259534|Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20220622191009/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296274/ "The Prince of Light" at IMDb – Archive.org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052703/http://wwwdb.oscars.org:8100/servlet/impc.DisplayCredits?primekey_in=2001120512:30:37965440371 Prince of Light] at [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences]] database

[[Category:1990s adventure drama films]]
[[Category:1993 anime films]]
[[Category:1993 drama films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:Animated adventure films]]
[[Category:Animated drama films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Animated romance films]]
[[Category:Anime in India]]
[[Category:Japanese fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Films set in ancient India]]
[[Category:Films set in the Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Indian animated speculative fiction films]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:Japanese animated fantasy films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]

Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama - Revision history

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