Introduction
Angada is the son of Vali and Tara, and the nephew and heir of Sugriva. He is a young and courageous Vanara prince who leads the southern search party and later serves as Rama's messenger to Ravana. He is not the same person as Angada, the son of Lakshmana.
This article primarily follows the Valmiki Ramayana. Where a well-known detail comes from a later retelling or tradition, the article identifies it.
Family
Crown prince
When Sugriva became king, Rama asked him to name Angada as the crown prince (yuvaraja), which he did.
The search for Sita
Angada led the party sent south, with Hanuman and Jambavan. When the deadline set by Sugriva passed, Angada was ready to fast to death, afraid of Sugriva's punishment. The vulture Sampati then told them that Sita was in Lanka. Angada was later among those who considered making the leap, but Hanuman was the one to go.
Envoy to Ravana
Before the war began, Rama sent Angada to Ravana's court with a final message. In Valmiki, Ravana ordered his men to seize him, and Angada killed some of them and leapt away, shaking the palace as he went. In Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas and other later versions, Angada instead plants his foot on the floor and challenges the Rakshasas to move it, and none can.
In the war
Angada killed the Rakshasa Narantaka and fought Indrajit. After the war, he went back to Kishkindha with Sugriva.