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

Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

By: Nina Pale

These notes are over the film Sita Sings the Blues, Part B. 

• Sita tells Rama that she is pregnant.
• Rama's reaction to Sita telling him that she is pregnant results in him banishing Sita from the kingdom for two reasons:
• 1.Rama lost the trust of his subjects when Rama took Sita back even if she has been in the possession of another man. 
• 2. Rama still doubts of Sita's pureness.
• In my opinion, it is wrong that Rama cares more about his reputation as seen by others rather than protecting his wife. I understand that Rama is seen as this perfect man who obeys and follows his "duty" as a king. However, isn't his "duty" to also love and protect his wife? If he keeps basing his actions on what his thinks other people would want him to do, then he has lost a lot of his own character. Speaking as an audience member, I think Rama should be a strong, independent man who disregards the small opinions of others that he cannot control. Furthermore, Rama from the start LOVES Sita, and it baffles me that he can change his thoughts so quickly.
• A very pregnant Sita thinks about killing herself because she thinks it is bad karma that she lives a banished (by her husband) life.
• However, Valmiki rescues her and Sita tells him the whole story.
• Valmiki helps Sita give birth.
• Sita gives birth to twins!! Her two sons are Lava and Kusha.
• Valmiki teaches Sita's twins songs of praise about Rama.
• Sita is still obsessed with Rama and she is still wanting to do anything or wait for so long for Rama. 
• Rama goes into the forest and hears singing voices and finds out it is his sons singing.
• Rama immediately invites his two sons to come back to the kingdom to rule alongside with him for many hears to come. 
• However, Rama would not let Sita come back unless she proves her purity again.
• In order to prove her purity, Sita calls on Mother Earth to take her back if she is pure. 
• Mother Earth takes Sita and, therefore, Sita leaves Rama behind with a single tear.

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The three above images may be a stretch to relate the 2020 film of "To All the Boys P.S. I Still Love You" to Ramayana; however, I feel like there is a connection. (SPOILER ALERT to the movie!) Rama throws Sita to the side when pretty much she served him no more good. Similarly, Lara Jean (female on the right in the third picture) throws John Ambrose (guy in the white tux) to the curb when she didn't need him anymore and thought she had something better elsewhere.

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