Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, India’s all-time favourite adaptation of the epic Ramayana, is set to make a comeback on TV from early next month even as Prabhas-Kriti Sanon’s Adipurush is whimpering towards its endgame.

The TV series from the 1980s, which continues to enthral the audiences with its simple storytelling, will be airing on Shemaroo TV from 7:30pm.

Shemaroo TV recently shared a promo for the re-airing of Ramayan on the channel. “Coming soon for all you beloved viewers… the globally acclaimed mythological series Ramayan... Watch Ramayan starting from July 3 at 7:30pm on your favourite channel, #ShemarooTV,” they wrote on Instagram alongside a brief clip from the show.

The announcement comes at a time when comparisons are being drawn between the 1980s TV show and Adipurush. The film, which also stars Saif Ali Khan, has faced significant criticism for its misrepresentation of the beloved Indian epic. The Om Raut directorial has been panned by the audiences for its sloppy writing, caricaturish representation of characters, weak dialogues and subpar VFX.

Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia played Ram and Sita, respectively, in the ’80s TV show, while Sunil Lahri played the character of Lakshman. During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, there was a strong demand from the public to re-air Ramayan, leading the information and broadcasting ministry to broadcast the mythological series on Doordarshan.