Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1, with Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, opened in cinemas on 5 November 2026. If the film has left you wanting more of the story, these are the best Ramayana books to read after watching it, from the classic retelling to novels told by Ravana, Sita and Shurpanakha. With Diwali on 8 November, most of them also work as gifts.
Reviews have been mixed, but almost every critic has talked about Yash’s Ravana. Our Ramayana review roundup has the details. The books below give you the parts of the epic a three-hour film cannot fit in.
Quick comparison: best Ramayana books to read after the film
| Book | Author | Told from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramayana | C. Rajagopalachari | Narrator, classic | First-time readers |
| Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku | Amish Tripathi | Ram | Fast-paced fiction |
| Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta | Amish Tripathi | Raavan | Yash’s Ravana fans |
| Asura | Anand Neelakantan | Ravana and Lanka | Alternate view |
| The Forest of Enchantments | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni | Sita | Literary readers |
| Lanka’s Princess | Kavita Kane | Surpanakha | Character backstory |
| Sita: An Illustrated Retelling | Devdutt Pattanaik | Sita, with notes | Gifting |
The 7 books, one by one
1. Ramayana by C. Rajagopalachari
This is the version many Indian families already have on a shelf somewhere. Rajaji wrote it as a short, readable retelling, and it still works as the cleanest way to get the whole arc from Ayodhya to Lanka and back.
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Who it suits: First-time readers who want the full story, start to finish, in plain English.
- Author: C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)
- Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
- Type: abridged prose retelling of Valmiki’s epic
- Tone: traditional, devotional, easy to follow
Drawback: The language feels dated in places, and it skips the side stories that newer retellings explore.
2. Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish Tripathi
Amish writes Ram as a rule-following prince who is misunderstood by his own people. It reads quickly, with short chapters and battle scenes that feel close to what Nitesh Tiwari’s film is going for.
Who it suits: Readers who liked the film’s action and want a fast, thriller-style Ram.
- Author: Amish Tripathi
- Series: book 1 of the Ram Chandra Series
- Approach: Ram as a human prince, not a god
- Format: paperback, Kindle and audiobook
Drawback: Purists may not enjoy the liberties Amish takes with the original plot.
3. Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta by Amish Tripathi
Most reviews of the film have singled out Yash, so this is the obvious next read. Amish called it the darkest book he has written, and it builds Raavan as a brilliant, damaged man instead of a cardboard villain.
Who it suits: Anyone who walked out of the theatre talking about Yash’s Ravana.
- Author: Amish Tripathi
- Series: book 3 of the Ram Chandra Series
- Published: 2019
- Focus: Raavan’s early life and rise
Drawback: It works best after reading the first two books in the series.
4. Asura: Tale of the Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan
Neelakantan flips the epic. Ravana and the people of Lanka tell the story, and the book asks what the war looked like to the side that lost. It has been a word-of-mouth favourite for years.
Who it suits: Readers who want the story told fully from Lanka’s side.
- Author: Anand Neelakantan
- Narrator: Ravana and a common man of Lanka
- Type: novel, alternate perspective
- Tone: angry, political, provocative
Drawback: It is deliberately one-sided, and some readers find the portrayal of Ram harsh.
5. The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Divakaruni tells the Ramayana as Sita’s own account, from her childhood in Mithila to the forest years and after. The writing is warm and literary, and it gives depth to scenes the film can only touch on.
Who it suits: Readers who want Sita’s voice, and a good choice for Sai Pallavi fans.
- Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- Publisher: HarperCollins India
- Published: 2019
- Narrator: Sita
Drawback: The pace is slower than the Amish books, since it spends time on emotion over battles.
6. Lanka’s Princess by Kavita Kane
Kane gives Ravana’s sister a backstory and a reason for what she does. If you want a wider set of women’s stories, her earlier book Sita’s Sister, about Urmila, is worth picking up too.
Who it suits: Readers curious about Shurpanakha after Rakul Preet Singh’s role.
- Author: Kavita Kane
- Central character: Meenakshi, later known as Surpanakha
- Type: mythological fiction
- Theme: her anger, loss and revenge
Drawback: Readers looking for big war scenes will find this more of a family drama.
7. Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana by Devdutt Pattanaik
Pattanaik retells the story and adds short notes on how different regions and traditions tell each episode. It makes a good Diwali gift because it is easy to dip in and out of.
Who it suits: Gifting, especially to someone who likes context and regional versions.
- Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
- Format: illustrated, with his own line drawings
- Extras: notes on regional and folk versions
- Focus: Sita and the women of the epic
Drawback: It is more of a guided reading than a novel, so it does not pull you along like fiction.
How to choose a Ramayana book
- New to the story? Start with Rajaji. It covers everything without getting lost in detail.
- Want a page-turner? Go for the Amish books. Start with Scion of Ikshvaku if you plan to read the whole series.
- Interested in the villain? Pick Raavan or Asura. Raavan is more balanced, Asura is openly on Lanka’s side.
- Want women’s perspectives? Divakaruni, Kane and Pattanaik each centre a different woman from the epic.
- Buying a gift? Pattanaik’s illustrated Sita or a boxed set of the Ram Chandra Series looks good wrapped and suits most ages.
Most of these come in paperback, Kindle and audiobook editions, so check which format the person actually reads before you order. Audiobooks are a good pick for parents who prefer listening.
The film’s box office run started strong, with advance bookings crossing Rs 100 crore worldwide before release, as we reported in this Ramayana advance booking update. If you would rather stay home this weekend, our list of OTT releases this week has the new streaming titles.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ramayana book should a beginner read first?
C. Rajagopalachari’s Ramayana, published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, is a short, readable retelling that covers the whole story.
Which book tells the Ramayana from Ravana’s point of view?
Asura: Tale of the Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan is narrated by Ravana and a common man of Lanka. Amish Tripathi’s Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta also centres him.
Is there a Ramayana book told by Sita?
Yes. The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is Sita’s first-person account. Devdutt Pattanaik’s Sita: An Illustrated Retelling also focuses on her.
In what order should I read Amish’s Ram Chandra Series?
Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku, then Sita: Warrior of Mithila, then Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta, then War of Lanka.
