Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part A

Sita cries a river. source: Wikimedia

Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley

The film intros with Lakshmi rising from the sea listening to a song that is stuck on a loop on the line "a woman like me" implying that it gives her the idea to create a woman like herself.  The narrators start the story by setting up Rama's exile at the request of Kaikeyi.  Rama argues with Sita about her going with him into the forest and she convinces him to let her go with him.  It cuts to a musical number where Sita is singing and Rama slays many Rakshasa.  The narrators then explain how Ravana kidnaps Sita and talks about how he was relatively good outside of this incident.  Ravana's sister begins to convince Ravana to make Sita his wife and to steal her from Rama.  Ravana tells one of his servants to distract Rama by taking the shape of a golden deer while Ravana captures Sita.  Rama goes after the deer and Sita is captured.  Hanuman is introduced and meets Rama to help him find Sita.  Ravana gives Sita an ultimatum to marry him in 2 months or die.  Hanuman finds Sita and relays his findings to Rama.  Rama orders Hanuman to assemble his monkey army so they can march on Lanka.  Rama rescues Sita, but has some reservations about her time in Lanka.  Sita proves her purity by a trial involving a funeral pyre and Rama is convinced to take her back.  Rama and Sita then fly back on a flying chariot.