Streaming · Telugu film · 1997
Ramayanam
రామాయణం
Ramayanam release date: 11 April 1997 (theatres). Directed by Gunasekhar; starring N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Smitha Madhav.
- Film release
- 11 April 1997 · All 1997 films
- Director
- Gunasekhar
- Music
- Madhavapeddi Suresh
- Production
- Shabdhalaya Theaters
- Producer
- M. S. Reddy, M. V. S. Haranatha Rao
- Runtime
- 144 min
- Language
- Telugu
OTT release
Streaming now on Aha; no start date is on file (the platform does not publish one).
Film release: 11 April 1997 · all 1997 Telugu films.
Source: Aha (platform listing), checked 26 September 2026. Only what the source states is shown.
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Ramayanam, also known as Bala Ramayanam, is a 1997 Telugu mythological film directed by Gunasekhar and produced by M. S. Reddy, in which the whole of the Ramayana is acted by children. More than 3000 child actors took part, led by a young N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Rama, Smitha Madhav as Sita and Swathi Kodali as Ravana. Released on 11 April 1997, it won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film.
What the story covers
The film follows the epic: Rama’s life in Ayodhya, his marriage to Sita and exile, Ravana’s abduction of Sita, and Rama’s campaign against Ravana to bring her back. Its novelty is entirely in the telling: every legendary character, from Dasharatha and Kaikeyi to Anjaneya and Ravana, is played by a child.
Cast and crew
- N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Rama
- Smitha Madhav as Sita
- Narayanam Nikhil as Lakshmana
- Swathi Kodali as Ravana
- Arun Gangadhar as Anjaneya
- Aanand Vardhan as Valmiki and the young Anjaneya
- Aditya Varma as Dasharatha, and Vasundhara as Kaikeyi
Director: Gunasekhar. Producer: M. S. Reddy. Music: Madhavapeddi Suresh. Runtime: 144 minutes.
Music
Madhavapeddi Suresh’s score mixes songs, verse and classical slokas. The songs feature singers including S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra, S. Janaki, Vani Jayaram and K. J. Yesudas, and Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna sings “Kausalya Supraja Rama” and the poem “Ramayanammu”.
Reviews
The film was well received on release. Andhra Today wrote that Gunasekhar, with only two films behind him, had “vindicated the confidence reposed in him by the producer by this spectacular theatrical”, creating a visual extravaganza from a story told “many, many a time”, and deserved “kudos” for his handling of it.
Awards
Ramayanam won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film for 1997, cited for “presenting the classical Indian epic in an entertaining narrative style with child actors playing all legendary characters with ease and nerve”; Gunasekhar and M. S. Reddy received the award. It also won the Nandi Award for Best Children’s Film (Gold) and a Nandi Award for its child performers, which Wikipedia lists as going to N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Swathi.
Where to watch Ramayanam
We do not have a confirmed streaming listing for the 1997 Ramayanam on file. If we verify one with a platform, it will appear on this page.
Sources: the Wikipedia article on Ramayanam (1997 film) and the review it cites, linked above; our own cast and crew records.
Cast of Ramayanam (1997)
- N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Rama
- Smitha Madhav as Sita
Additional cast
Further acting credits recorded for this film; voice-only and dubbing credits are excluded.
- Aanand Vardhan as Sage Valmiki/ kid Anjaneya
Also in the cast (TMDB): Swathi Kumar as Ravana, Nikhil Narayanam as Lakshmana, Arun Gangadhar as Anjaneya, Amjad Khan as KumbhaKarna, Adithya Varma as Dasharatha, Chiranjeevi as Bharatha, Manisha Choudamani as Kausalya, Vasundhara as Kaikeyi, Suma as Sumitra, Sweta Rao as Urmila, Sunaina Badam as Sabari.
Character names as listed on TMDB, checked 10 Oct 2026.
Source record: Q7289131 on Wikidata. Dates are those on record and can change; this is not a studio announcement. Spotted an error? Send a correction.