Ramayana beyond Rama and Sita: 5 fascinating characters who deserve bigger spotlight

Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana renews attention on Guha, Kevat, Urmila, Mandodari and Vibhishan. Their stories deepen the epic's exploration of friendship, devotion, sacrifice, wisdom and righteousness.

In Short

• Guha offers Ram unconditional friendship and support during his forest exile
• Kevat's humble service transforms a river crossing into enduring devotion
• Urmila endures fourteen years of separation while Lakshman serves Ram

With Ramayana: Rise of a Legend Nitesh Tiwari has brought one of India's most celebrated epics to the big screen with larger-than-life visuals, grand sequences and characters that have lived in our collective memory for generations. While Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshman and Ravana remain central to the story, the epic is also shaped by several other characters whose contributions deserve equal attention.

The Ramayana is not just the story of Ram's journey to Lanka, his battle with Ravana and his return to Ayodhya. It is also a story of friendships that crossed social boundaries, sacrifices that went unnoticed, difficult moral choices and people who stood by their beliefs even when it came at a personal cost.

Some characters appear only briefly in the larger narrative, while others remain in the background despite playing an important role in shaping its events. Yet, their stories offer some of the most interesting perspectives on loyalty, devotion and duty.

Here are five such characters from the Ramayana who deserve their own moment in the spotlight.

1. Nishadraj Guha: The friend who stood by Ram when he needed him

Not every friendship in the Ramayana is shaped by royal status or power. Nishadraj Guha's bond with Lord Ram shows how genuine relationships go beyond social differences.

Guha, the king of the Nishad tribe (an indigenous and forest-dwelling community), meets Ram, Sita and Lakshman when they reach Shringaverpur during their exile. He doesn't see Ram as a prince who has lost his kingdom but welcomes him as a friend and offers him shelter and support.

At a time when Ram has been separated from his family and kingdom, Guha stands by him without expecting anything in return. Their bond also shows that Ram's relationships in the epic extend beyond kings, warriors and sages. His ability to connect with people across social boundaries is an important part of his character.

2. Ahalya: The woman waiting for redemption

One of the stories that deserved more space in Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana is that of Ahalya, the wife of sage Gautam. Often reduced to the tale of a woman cursed and later rescued by Ram, her story is far more layered. It brings up an uncomfortable question: why was Ahalya punished for an encounter in which she was deceived by Indra?

According to the epic, Indra, the king of the gods, approached Ahalya disguised as her husband while Gautam was away. When the sage learnt what had happened, he cursed Indra and Ahalya. While Indra faced the consequences of his deception, Ahalya was condemned to remain invisible in the hermitage, surviving on air and waiting for the day Ram would arrive.

The version most people are familiar with says that Gautam turned Ahalya into stone. When Ram's feet touched the stone, she was freed from the curse and came back to life. However, Valmiki's Ramayana tells it differently. Ahalya is not turned into stone; she becomes invisible to the world and continues to live in the hermitage, awaiting her redemption. Ram's arrival eventually brings an end to her punishment.

But there is more to Ahalya's story than Ram setting her free. Indra deceives her by taking on her husband's appearance, yet Ahalya is the one who is made to bear the consequences for years. Her story raises questions about blame, justice and the way women were judged in a society governed by the rules laid down by men.

Ahalya is often remembered as the woman Ram rescued. But perhaps her story deserves to be remembered for another reason: it makes us look at the injustice behind the curse, and at the woman who had to live with it.

3. Kevat: A boatman whose devotion became a story of its own

Kevat's part in the Ramayana is brief, but it has lived on through generations of retellings. A boatman by profession, he gets a moment with Ram, Sita and Lakshman during their exile that turns into one of the most remembered episodes in the epic.

As the three prepare to cross a river, Kevat is asked to take them across in his boat. But he has one condition before they can get in. He wants to wash Ram's feet first.

The reason behind his request is linked to the story of Ahalya, who was freed from a curse after Ram touched her with his feet. Kevat fears that if Ram's feet touch his wooden boat, it might also transform into something else. He therefore insists on washing them first.

What follows is a beautiful exchange between a devotee and the person he worships. Kevat is not interested in money or any reward for his service. For him, the opportunity to serve Ram is enough.

The episode is particularly popular in the Tulsiddas' Ramcharitmanas. Kevat's story also stands out because it gives an ordinary boatman a memorable place in an epic dominated by kings, princes and warriors. But, sadly this ordinary boatman went missing from the movie.

4. Urmila: The sacrifice that rarely gets its due

When people spoke about the sacrifices made during Ram's 14-year exile, Sita and Lakshman naturally came to mind. However, another character whose life changed just as dramatically because of their decision was Urmila.

The daughter of King Janaka and Sita's younger sister, Urmila was married to Lakshman. When Lakshman decided to accompany Ram into the forest, he left behind his wife and the life they could have shared in Ayodhya.

While Lakshman chose to serve his brother and sister-in-law, Urmila had to accept a separation that lasted 14 years. She remained in Ayodhya, away from her husband, as the events of the exile unfolded.

What made Urmila's story particularly moving was how little attention was often given to her perspective. Lakshman's commitment to Ram was celebrated as an example of brotherly devotion, but the personal cost of that decision for Urmila was not always explored.

Various retellings gave her a more prominent place, including stories that described her as making extraordinary sacrifices to support Lakshman's service during the exile. These details varied across versions of the epic.

Her story deserved to be told not simply as that of Lakshman's wife, but as that of a woman who had to find strength in a separation she had not chosen.

However, even Tiwari's Ramayana Part 1 did not do justice to her. Actor Sonia Balani played the role and was mostly seen in the background.

5. Mandodari: The queen who saw through Ravana's pride

Ravana was often remembered for his intelligence, strength, devotion to Lord Shiva and eventual downfall. But his wife, Mandodari, offered a different perspective on the events that led to Lanka's destruction. Actor Kajal Aggarwal portrayed her in Namit Malhotra's film.

The queen of Lanka was often portrayed as wise, composed and aware of the consequences of her husband's actions. Unlike those who supported Ravana out of fear or loyalty, Mandodari understood that his decision to abduct Sita would bring disaster upon their kingdom. However, in the Diwali release, Mandodari is a mera spectator of events unfolding in Lanka.

She repeatedly urged him to return Sita to Ram and avoid a war that could destroy everything he had built. Her advice did not stem from a lack of love for her husband. Rather, she understood the difference between personal pride and doing what was right. This we might get to see in Part 2.

Mandodari's position was particularly difficult as she was torn between her loyalty to Ravana and her understanding of his mistakes. She could see the consequences of his actions but could not change his decisions. Mandodari remained a voice of reason in a household increasingly consumed by ego and power and that was missing in the film.

The Ramayana is more than the story of its heroes

The enduring appeal of the Ramayana lies in the many stories within its larger narrative. Ram's journey remained at its centre, but the people he encountered, the relationships he built, and the choices made by those around him gave the epic its emotional depth.

Guha highlighted the value of friendship, while Kevat showed how devotion could be expressed through simple acts of service. Urmila's story brought attention to the sacrifices made away from the battlefield, and Mandodari represented the tragedy of wisdom going unheard. Ahalya's journey, meanwhile, explored themes of injustice, suffering and redemption.

As Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana introduced the epic to a new generation of cinema-goers, these characters offered plenty of possibilities for stories beyond the battles and core relationships. After all, an epic is not remembered only for its heroes. Sometimes, its most meaningful stories belong to those who stood beside them.

- Ends