Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

In the film, narrators mention how Rama still doubted Sita's purity.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons) 

In the second half of this film, it really focused more on Sita and highlighted the mistreatment of her by Rama. In her songs, she mentions how she's devoted to him, but yet she feels like he's doubting her and not treating right. Even though Rama accepts her back after being in captivity for so long, his people's concern about her purity and loyalty to him pressures him into sending her into exile. He doesn't want his reputation to be impacted because of her. I liked how this film showed a laundry man comparing his wife to Sita because she was with another man, which lead to Rama's decision to exile his wife. I feel it was a good example of why Rama sent Sita away. It was sad he did that to her because she was pregnant with his children. I hated how when Rama came back to see his kids he asked Sita AGAIN to prove her purity. I really like how this part of film focused on Sita while she was in exile and not so much on Rama. Also, the narrator's opinions were quite interesting and added to the story in a way. One of them questioned on how he didn't understand  how could Sita still love Rama when he mistreated her and doubted her purity.

If I was to retell this part of Ramayana, I could focus on Sita's time in exile, and her feelings about everything she was going through. It must not have been easy being sent away by your love and raising two children. This film shows more of Sita's characteristics, and she's not just in the background. Also, the modern couple was going through a similar situation in the film like Rama and Sita. The transition between the modern couple's story and Rama and Sita was well done. It was not confusing and added to the story by relating it in a modern setting, which could be a good idea when retelling this story.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley