Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

The second half of the film was filled with more cute animations and clever storytelling. I love the striking parallel between Nina's breakup with Dave and Rama sending away Sita to the forest. I never really understood the reason why Sita chose to leave with Mother Earth for good. The way Paley interprets this is that Sita seems to be fed up with Rama since she has remained pure this whole time but Rama keeps doubting her. Realizing that Rama will never see her as untainted, Sita decides that she will prove her purity and devotion to Rama one last time before she is never to be seen again.

This story strikes a lot of disagreement among readers about who is in the wrong. Many believe that Rama has become obsessed with the perfect image and becomes vain, abandoning Sita because he thinks she is impure. However, some argue that Rama never stops loving Sita, and even though he knows that Sita is pure, he sacrifices her happiness for the kingdom, who think otherwise. Sita, too, although she is upset that she needs to be away from Rama, knows the reason behind Rama's actions and knows that Rama still loves her. Thus, when living in the hermitage and meeting Valmiki, Sita speaks of only the kind and virtuous nature of Rama. It's an interesting perspective and one that is not really considered in the film, but nonetheless, Paley's interpretation is also interesting and adds to our understanding and appreciation of the Ramayana.

One thing that I also really loved about Paley's film is at the end, she has Lakshmi and Vishnu switch places, and now Vishnu is massaging Lakshmi's legs while she is reclining on Sesha (the serpent). Rama and Sita are incarnates of Vishnu and Lakshmi, so seeing this made me think that, after their incarnates died, Vishnu wanted to apologize to Lakshmi for making her suffer during her life as Sita and was trying to make it up to her. It was a sweet scene and demonstrates how Vishnu and Lakshmi are reunited after living on earth and their love is eternal.

Rama thinks that Sita is contaminated

"Moanin' Low"

During this song, Sita notices that Rama seems to be distancing himself from her and rejecting her affections. He sends her away, appointing Lakshmana to take her to the forest and abandon her there. Sita is upset that Rama is abandoning her again, and she sings about how she is afraid that he doesn't love her anymore.

"Am I Blue"

This song is played after Sita is left alone in the forest. She is lying on the ground in sorrow, and animals who share her pain gather around her. Sita and the animals turn blue, reflecting the pain and sorrow they are feeling after being abandoned by the ones that they love.

"Lover Come Back To Me"

Sita is living in the hermitage, and raising her sons, Lava and Kusha, telling them grand stories about their father Rama. Sita still misses Rama and longs for him to come back to her. She keeps a picture of her husband and prays to him, hoping to be with him again someday.

"I've Got a Feelin' I'm Fallin'"
This is the final song that Sita sings in the movie. When Rama tells Sita to prove her purity again after he meets her and Lava and Kusha, Sita tells him that, if she is pure, then Mother Earth will take her with her to the afterlife. With these words, Sita runs to Mother Earth and departs with her as the others are chasing after her. Sita sings this song just as she is about to fall to Mother Earth, saying that she has fallen for no one else except Rama.

I'm really glad I picked this assignment this week as a wrap-up to Ramayana. I really enjoyed the film and I look forward to checking out Nina Paley's other amazing projects in the future!

Bibliography:
Sita Sings the Blues, by Nina Paley, Link.
Soundtrack for Sita Sings the Blues, Link.