# As Rs 4000 Crore Ramayana Sparks VFX Debate, How Ramanand Sagar Crafted Epic TV Classic Using Incense Smoke and Paper Jewelry

> Following the trailer launch of Nitesh Tiwari's Rs 4,000 crore film Ramayana, details of Ramanand Sagar's iconic 1987 TV series and its low-budget creative innovations have gained widespread attention.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Entertainment · **Published:** 2026-08-01 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/entertainment/4000-karora-ki-nai-ramayana-ke-bicha-yada-ai-ramanand-sagar-ki-kala-agarabatti-ke-dhuen-aura-kagaja-ke-abhushanon-se-racha-tha-iti-12691 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Ramanand Sagar, Ramayan, Nitesh Tiwari, Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Doordarshan, VFX

Whenever the cinematic retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana is discussed, director Ramanand Sagar holds an unmatched legacy. Currently, intense public interest surrounds director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra's upcoming film adaptation of Ramayana. Starring actors Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, the grand project released its official trailer on July 30 during the auspicious early morning hours of Brahma Muhurta. Following the trailer reveal, viewers and critics began widely evaluating the movie's heavy visual effects (VFX), massive sets, and distinct color grading. Produced on a monumental budget of Rs 4,000 crore, this modern cinematic spectacle is naturally being contrasted with Ramanand Sagar's legendary television show Ramayan. Despite severe financial and technological limitations during the 1980s, the classic TV serial set a gold standard for broadcasting that remains unmatched. While today's film spends thousands of crores, Ramanand Sagar completed all 78 episodes of his magnum opus on a total production budget of just Rs 8 to 9 crore.

## Building an Epic on a Modest Television Budget
First broadcast in 1987, the landmark television show starred Arun Govil as Lord Ram, Dipika Chikhlia as Goddess Sita, and Sunil Lahri as Lakshman. Although the production team operated with strict monetary boundaries, Ramanand Sagar ensured that the visual storytelling was never compromised. According to industry records, the director managed the entire 78-episode series, including the full compensation of the star cast, within the Rs 8 to 9 crore allocation. Despite these tight constraints, he refused to cut corners on the aesthetic richness of the sets, costumes, or character jewelry.

## Ingenious Practical Effects and Incense Smoke Fog
During the late 1980s, advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI) and digital visual effects did not exist in Indian television. To overcome this limitation, Ramanand Sagar relied on innovative practical solutions and physical stagecraft. When a scene called for dense fog, mist, or atmospheric haze, the crew lit large quantities of incense sticks on set. The thick smoke generated by the burning incense created a natural, captivating fog effect across the camera lens. Furthermore, when depicting giant mountains or imposing architectural structures, Sagar utilized clever camera positioning, physical cutouts placed directly before the lens, and optical perspective tricks rather than expensive post-production work.

## Historical Wardrobe Crafted by Maganlal Dresswala
Ramanand Sagar maintained a hands-on approach across every department of his dream project. Beyond conducting auditions personally, he personally oversaw costume selection and jewelry design. The responsibility of tailoring the sacred attire worn by Dipika Chikhlia as Sita and Arun Govil as Lord Ram, along with outfits for the rest of the cast, was assigned to the renowned costume house Maganlal Dresswala. This historic tailoring institution, which crafted the iconic wardrobe for the entire series, boasts a rich heritage of over 100 years in the Indian costume industry.

## Hand-Drawn Jewelry Sketches and Classic Set Designs
The creation of royal jewelry and majestic backdrops followed an equally meticulous artistic process. Ramanand Sagar commissioned celebrated art director Hirabhai Patel to design both the show's sets and its extensive jewelry collection. Hirabhai Patel constructed iconic production environments, including Ravana's golden palace, the city of Lanka, and the serene garden of Ashok Vatika. For the jewelry, Patel drew every piece by hand on paper and painted them manually to determine their exact colors and patterns. Throughout this painstaking design phase, director Ramanand Sagar sat directly beside Patel to review, adjust, and approve each ornament sketch before it went into production.

## What this means for you
**For the Indian Entertainment Industry:** This comparison highlights how Indian entertainment has expanded from modest Rs 8-9 crore TV productions into Rs 4,000 crore visual spectacles with global visual effects standards.

**For Cinema and Art Lovers:** It demonstrates that enduring cultural impact is achieved not just through massive budgets, but through strong directorial vision, craftsmanship, and creative problem-solving.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What is the budget of Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming Ramayana film?
The upcoming Ramayana film directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra has an estimated budget of Rs 4,000 crore.

### 2. What was the total production budget of Ramanand Sagar's 1987 TV series Ramayan?
Ramanand Sagar completed all 78 episodes of his classic TV show within a total budget of Rs 8 to 9 crore, including cast fees.

### 3. How were fog and mist effects created in the 1987 Ramayan series without visual effects?
In the absence of digital VFX, the production crew lit incense sticks on set and used the smoke to simulate natural fog and mist.

### 4. Who designed the costumes for the cast of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan?
The costumes for Lord Ram, Sita, and the entire cast were designed by Maganlal Dresswala, a classic attire firm with over 100 years of history.

### 5. Who designed the sets and jewelry for the original TV show?
Art director Hirabhai Patel designed iconic sets like Lanka and Ashok Vatika, and hand-drew and painted all jewelry items on paper.

## Inspiration & Lessons
**Excellence Under Constraints:** Ramanand Sagar proved that financial limitations cannot stop the creation of a timeless masterpiece when backed by clear vision.

**Hands-on Leadership:** From casting to reviewing costume fabrics and paper jewelry sketches, he personally guided every detail of production.

**Resourceful Innovation:** In the absence of digital technology, he skillfully used simple practical methods like incense smoke and optical camera tricks to create iconic visual effects.

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