Extra Credit Readings Notes - Part A of Sita Sings the Blues
For this weeks reading, I decided to watch Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley from Youtube.
The story is told by a narrator that is deciding whether the Ramayana is true or not. There is also a story within the movie about Nina and her boyfriend, Dave.
The story starts with talk about King Dasharatha's life.
He has three wives and four sons just like the Public Domain Edition of Ramayana.
Queen Kaikeyi, a wife of King Dasharatha, makes Dasharatha exile Rama. Dasharatha dies from grief.
Sita is a simp over Rama and goes into exile as well, regardless of the Rama's warning of the rakshasas.
The narrators begin to talk about the story of how Ravana stole Sita. Many people say Ravana was a good king, but people also compare him to Mogambo, a Hindi film villain.
A short legend told about Ravana right after this was about Ravana playing the veena (lute) for Shiva with his intestines since he was so devoted to Shiva himself. The string broke while playing a song, so he used his own intestine so the song wouldn't stop.
Ravana is the king of Sri Lanka with an ancient bridge connecting main land India and Sri Lanka, an island.
The narrators return to the plot of the Ramayana after Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, tells Ravana about Sita being in exile with Rama, in the forest.
Maricha begs Ravana to leave Sita alone with Rama, but Ravana commands Maricha to become a golden deer avatar to distract Rama. Then, Ravana woud come in and scoop Sita.
They did exactly that. Sita was distracted by a gorgeous golden deer, but Rama had a feeling it was a suspicious trick.
As Sita was singing her love for Rama by the forest hut, Ravana swings by in his flying chariot and abducts Sita. Sita drops her jewelry as an indication that she has been stolen for Rama. Then, Rama looks for her in the forest.
Hanuman is discussed by the three narrators.
Hanuman and Rama then become allies, so Hanuman sets out to find Sita.
Sita is being held in Sri Lanka while she calls for Rama. She doesn't want anything to do with Ravana.
When Hanuman finds Sita in Lanka from her singing, he sets Sri Lanka on fire and lets Rama know that she in Lanka.
While Rama was battling the rakshasas and fighting Ravana, Sita was also singing contently that she was being rescued. Ravana is also slayed by Rama.
After regathering, Rama is upset with Sita because she lived in another man's house and sends her away. Sita is in grief from this moment.
Sita then asks for funeral pyre, a test of fire, protected by Agni, the fire god.
Rama asks for Sita's forgiveness and they fly back to Ayodhya in a chariot.
"if you want the rainbow, you must have the rain."
Bibliography:
Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley. 2008. [Film]
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