The source: Valmiki's Ramayana
The Ramayana is one of the two great Sanskrit epics of India. Tradition says the sage Valmiki composed it. The story has been retold many times. Famous versions include Kamban’s Tamil Ramavataram, Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas and Ramanand Sagar’s television series Ramayan (1987). The 2026 films name Valmiki’s epic as their source.
Valmiki tells the story in seven books, called kandas. Here is each one in plain words.
The seven books (kandas)
Bala Kanda: childhood and marriage
King Dasharatha of Ayodhya has four sons: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. The sage Vishvamitra takes young Rama and Lakshmana to guard his rituals from demons. In the city of Mithila, Rama lifts and breaks the great bow of Shiva. By doing this he wins the hand of Sita, the daughter of King Janaka.
Ayodhya Kanda: the exile
Rama is about to be crowned. Queen Kaikeyi, pushed by her maid Manthara, asks Dasharatha for two old promises. She wants her son Bharata crowned. She wants Rama sent to the forest for fourteen years. Rama accepts calmly. Sita and Lakshmana choose to go with him. Dasharatha dies of grief. Bharata refuses the throne. He rules only in Rama’s name and places Rama’s sandals on the throne.
Aranya Kanda: the forest and the abduction
In the forest, Ravana’s sister Shurpanakha tries to win Rama and is turned away and wounded. Ravana plans revenge. The demon Maricha takes the form of a golden deer and leads Rama and Lakshmana away. Ravana then carries Sita off to Lanka. The old vulture Jatayu fights to stop him and is fatally hurt.
Kishkindha Kanda: new friends
While searching for Sita, the brothers meet Hanuman and the exiled vanara prince Sugriva. Rama helps Sugriva win back his kingdom. In return, the vanara armies search the whole land for Sita.
Sundara Kanda: Hanuman's leap
Hanuman leaps across the ocean to Lanka. He finds Sita in the Ashoka grove and gives her Rama’s ring as a sign. Before he returns, he sets parts of the city on fire.
Yuddha Kanda: the war
The vanaras build a bridge of stones across the sea to Lanka. Ravana’s brother Vibhishana leaves him and joins Rama. After a long war, Rama defeats Ravana. Sita is freed, and the exiles return home. Rama is crowned king of Ayodhya.
Uttara Kanda: after the war
The last book is often seen as a later addition. It covers Rama’s rule and the later life of Sita and her twin sons, Lava and Kusha.
Main characters at a glance
- Rama: prince of Ayodhya, known for keeping his word.
- Sita: princess of Mithila and Rama’s wife, known for her courage.
- Lakshmana: Rama’s loyal younger brother.
- Hanuman: the vanara devotee who finds Sita.
- Ravana: the learned and powerful king of Lanka.
- Kaikeyi and Manthara: the queen and the maid whose plan starts the exile.
Read more in our character guide.
How the films divide the story
The makers have confirmed two films but have not published a full synopsis of either. The Part 1 trailers show Rama’s life in Ayodhya, Ravana’s rise in Lanka and the conflict that is coming. Part 2 is planned for Diwali 2027. We describe the source epic here and do not guess at scenes that have not been shown officially.
Why the story still matters
The Ramayana is more than an adventure. It asks what duty means, how to keep a promise, and how to act when life is unfair. That is why it is retold in plays, dance, comics, television and now cinema, across India and much of Asia.
Read more
Go deeper with our guides to the seven kandas, Sita, Hanuman and Ravana.