Reading Notes: More Ramayana - Sita Sings the Blues, Part A

Sita Sings the Blues, Part A

By: Nina Pale

These notes are over the film Sita Sings the Blues, Part A.  There is a great focus on Sita and I love that!

• Rama is banished from his father's kingdom.
• Sita said to Rama "If you go, I go."
• Sita is head over heels for Rama. --> Even with no money, she is still thankful.
• Rama defeats any threat to safety they have in the forest.
• Ravana is king of Lanka who seems to be a really good guy. 
• --> His only flaw is taking Sita away from Rama.
• --> Taking Sita away from Rama is instigated by Ravana's sister, because she wanted to hurt Rama for killing their people and animals.
• Ravana's sister convinces him by saying "Sita is the most beautiful woman in the world."
• Sita is kidnapped by Ravana and he takes her to Lanka
• Sita leaves a "trail" for people to find her by dropping her jewelry.
• Hanunan's sole purpose is to help Rama.
• -->Rama asks Hanunan to find Sita.
• Sita stays under a tree in Lanka either:
• weeping
• worshiping Rama
• rejecting Ravana over and over again 
• Hanunan arrives to Lanka and searches for Sita.
• --> As Hanunan looks for Sita, he also sets the kingdom of Lanka on fire.
• --> Hanunan finds Sita but Sita does not go back to Rama with him because she wants Rama himself to find and rescue her.
• Sita's want for this is perceived in different ways.
• --> Her action is seen as a mistake.
• --> Her action is seen as wanting to glorify Rama because he would be the one to save her and Rama could fight and defeat Ravana.
• Rama organizes an army of half-monkey/half-human creatures to fight against Ravana's army to get back Sita.
• Rama's army defeats Ravana's army.
• Rama and Sita's first fight (or it seems to be the first) occurs:
• However, Rama doubt Sita's purity because she has been in the kingdom of Ravana.
• Sita is hurt and argues her purity.
• Rama believes Sita through being convinced by a washerman.
• So Rama believes Sita is pure and begs Sita to forgive him for doubting her.
• Sita forgives Rama.
• Sita is so happy they have made up. --> "No rainbow without rain."

Rama and Sita forgive each other after (what seems to be) their first fight.

(Screenshot image of my favorite part of the film (at time 43:14) Sita Sings the Blues, Part A.)

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues, Part A by Nina Paley. Created 2008.