Why are readers falling in love with Amish’s reimagination of the Ramchandra Series?

Why are readers falling in love with Amish’s reimagination of the Ramchandra Series?

It’s interesting to see how mythological stories are so deeply ingrained into us since childhood that we don’t realize when they have become part of our daily life. Especially in the case of the Ramayan, when we look at each character and their qualities, it’s fascinating to see the origins of certain phrases we use in everyday conversation—like ‘Kumbhkaran ki tarah sota hai,’ ‘Vibhishan jaisa bhai kisi ko na mile,’ and ‘Sita ki tarah bahu chahiye.’ Everything has its origin and long history, which helps us understand our land and its glorious past.

These tales tell us the beginning of our lord Ram and the achievements he has accomplished util now. We revere lord Ram and worship him. We are well aware of the great epic, Ramayana. However, the Ramayan story we have heard until today has been presented from a single lens, thereby silencing the multiple viewpoints within this tale of glory and success we’ve known since childhood. Thus, when reading this series of RamChandra, Amish, the author, has tried to break this linearity. I mean, if such complex stories are narrated into new simplified versions with clarity, connecting every thread to weave it so beautifully, why wouldn’t a reader fall in love with it? One of the most interesting elements of Amish’s series is its depiction of multiple perspectives—from Sita, Raavan, and Ram—which fills the gap left by the traditionally linear form of storytelling. It creates space to reimagine the Ramayana and explore character traits that have rarely been explored before.

In the traditional linear narrative, Sita hasn’t been shown truly as a warrior figure. She has been portrayed as an ideal wife a society should have. However, Amish’s book places her at the center stage, depicting her as someone capable of bringing down soldiers with her bow and arrow and possessing all the qualities to be the next Vishnu. For women readers, like me, I would love to see this version of the story, where Sita fights for herself and takes stands instead of being silenced or subdued by men in power. I would love to see her opinions on various occasions and events that took place during her lifetime, because her viewpoints have continued to remain hidden throughout the Ramayana heard until now.

Similarly, in Raavan’s case, the story of Vedavati, her daughter, and the deep-rooted vengeance burning in Raavan against Sapt Sindhu have been so beautifully reimagined by Amish that it’s hard to believe it’s fictional. Nowhere in Valmiki’s Ramayana is Raavan’s gentler side portrayed as it is here—particularly in his relationship with Vedavati. Similarly, in Ram’s case, the internal conflict between morality and duty is beautifully explored through events like the murder of Roshni and the launch of the Asurastra. There’s a famous saying: ‘Raghukul reet sadaa chali aayi, praan jaaye par vachan na jaayi,’ which reflects the deep-rooted values of the Raghu clan. In the Ramayana, Ram is portrayed as a staunch upholder of duty and law. Ever since watching the story as a child, one question has always stayed with me: “Did he ever struggle to choose between his morals and his duties?” To my surprise, this book has thoughtfully addressed the kinds of questions that often arise in readers’ minds. I really love the way Amish has researched his audience and their needs and has wonderfully created a story that answers so many questions. It’s of course fictional, but it’s an enjoyable read that challenges the long-held assumptions about Ramayana’s characters and offers a fresh perspective to visualize them differently. Plus, it also emphasizes the need to question and decode narratives that have historically been shaped by a single, linear version over time.

Thus, I would end by saying that truth lies not in simplification through linearity but in decoding complex ideas and thoughts to understand multiple lenses.