Iconic Hindi Dub of Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama Lost Forever
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The Japanese anime, Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama, experienced a delayed theatrical release in India earlier this month. This newly remastered version of the beloved anime was presented in 4K and included dubs in four different languages. However, many viewers observed that the Hindi dub featured a new voice cast, differing from the original actors from the 1990s, such as Arun Govil, Amrish Puri, and Shatrughan Sinha.
Why the new Hindi dub for The Legend of Prince Rama
In light of the mixed reactions to the new dub, the film's licensor has disclosed that the original dub may now be irretrievably lost.
According to IGN, TEM Co., the Japanese company responsible for licensing Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama, has addressed fan concerns regarding the replacement of the Hindi voice cast for this release.
TEM communicated via email to fans, clarifying the absence of the original Hindi dub in the 4K remaster. The company indicated that the new dubs, produced by Geek Pictures India, are derived from the 1993 English version. Unfortunately, the 1997 Hindi and Tamil dubs, which were produced by a different distributor, cannot be restored due to the loss of the master audio data. Although TEM attempted to extract and enhance audio from DVDs, they ultimately decided against using the 1997 dub.
A source affiliated with the production confirmed this information to HT, noting that copyright complications also hindered the acquisition of the original dub. The Hindi dub was created in 1997 for the film's television release in India, and the rights are intricately divided between the producers and Doordarshan. This, coupled with the technical challenges, led the producers to choose a completely new dub.
All about Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama
Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama is a 1993 animated feature co-produced by Japan and India. Conceived by Yugo Sako, the film was co-directed by Koichi Sasaki and Ram Mohan, with a musical score by Vanraj Bhatia. Following its debut at IFFI 93, the film was intended for theatrical release; however, it faced a ban due to restrictions on religious films following the Bombay Riots. Despite this setback, the film developed a dedicated fan base through numerous television reruns during the 1990s and 2000s.
Eventually, Excel Entertainment and AA Pictures secured the rights for release and collaborated with Geek Pictures India to present the film in a 4K theatrical format in January 2025. It is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional adaptations of the epic.
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