MUMBAI: Ramayan, the epic that created history on Indian television in the late 1980s, has found new markets abroad.

Improved, dubbed versions of the epic were launched on ITV and Nepal 1 channels in London and Nepal respectively on the ocasion of Ram Navmi (11 April).

"The Nepalese dubbed version of Ramayan went on air on the recently launched Nepal 1 (promoted by Nalini Singh) and has received an astounding response. We have also launched the Tamil dubbed version with English subtitles on ITV channel in London. This was primarily to cater to the demands of the Sri Lankans viewers," says Sagar Arts' marketing director cum producer Prem Sagar.

"We have spent Rs 20 million in redesigning Ramayan. The digitized version has a contemporary sound track, look and feel. We have also released VCDs and DVDs of the epic which have shown record sales so far ," he adds.

The improved version of Ramayan , is also having a re-run on Doordarshan Metro channel . "Even during its re-run, Ramayan on DD-2 gets a TRP of 8 plus in the 8 pm to 8:30 pm slot on Mondays," informs Sagar.

The demand for the epic indicates that old popular serials, specially mythologicals, still have a market value. However, what remains to be seen is if the new version of the epic is able to spin the same magic abroad as it did in India in the late 80s, when it launched.