Sitayana

Anand, a labmate, showed me short animation films based on Ramayana made by Nina Paley. She is not Indian, has seen the Ramayana TV series (in her words "you can never have too many close-ups"), and has read different versions of Ramayana. The presentation is anything but conventional. She claims that it is Sita's perspective to Ramayana (hence, 'Sitayana'). I don't know how accurate that is.

Regardless, the animation series is pure joy to watch! Background scores are 1930's light Jazz songs. All the characters are caricatured, reduced to a few simple characteristics. Rama is stoic, capable, uncaring. Hanuman is having a ball, with an extremely funny dance. And Sita is the seductress in love, and crying ALL the time. With streams from her eyes and all. The episode "Trial by Fire" is hilarious!

Part of my joy is in imagining the reactions of the grandma's and grandpa's (and the green nekar-wallah's) to this (he raam! or, he Sita!) :-)

Here's the link :

http://www.ninapaley.com/Sitayana/