Week 4 Reading Diary, continued: Sita Sings the Blues

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley

I finished the animated movie of the Ramayana and I absolutely loved it! It was such a neat idea to incorporate the traditional epic with a modern story and narration/commentary to go along with it. I really, really loved seeing the story from a new angle. I did have a few favorite parts in the second half of the movie.

Once again, the correlation between the epic and the story of Dave and Nina was such a new, cool take on this traditional story. For example, the part where Nina and Dave broke up after getting back together is very similar to how Rama and Sita's relationship turned out in the Ramayana. Rama banished Sita from Ayodhya which is just like Dave basically "banishing" Nina from coming back to India. Again, I did appreciate the bit of comedy that the movie included in this scene. While reading the Ramayana, this was one of the parts that really upset me. Once again, Sita is doubted and Rama lets peer pressure get the best of him. I'm thankful that the movie made it funny because if there's one scene that needed comic relief, it's this one!

Sita is kicked out of Ayodhya...literally (Image Source).

I also really liked how the movie portrayed the part where Sita, pregnant, was banished. Her song that she sang really depicted her hopelessness and desperation. Thankfully, with the help of Valmiki, she goes on with her life. She has two boys, who end up learning the stories of their father. I absolutely loved the part in the movie where they were singing the story they learned. The Ramayana within the Ramayana, so to speak. One of my favorite commentaries was where they debated Sita's devotion to Rama. It was a very interesting take on the situation. They acknowledged that she loved Rama but questioned whether she should like someone that doesn't treat her right.

I loved the part about Sita returning to mother Earth! The animation was absolutely spectacular for that scene. For the end of the movie, Nina curls up with a book. Of course, it's none other than the Ramayana.