Sita Sings the Blues

I first read about the film via a blog, Devis with Babies, and then a few months later a friend suggested we watch the film, we recalled that we had planned to and failed, the friend had watched the DVD via Netflix. So we did the same. However you can download it and/or stream it for free by going to the website Sita Sings the Blues.

The film is interesting on so many different levels; the animation, music and the film itself, the different stories involved in the film, the retelling of the Ramayana from Sita's view and the struggles the artist has had to face in bringing her film to an audience.

Nina Paley, the brilliant talent behind the film appears to have faced her own battle of epic proportions with copyright laws and facing insurmountable costs she opted to distribute her movie via a different model, and so far she seems to be getting the film out there and generating a significant amount of interest.

Whilst watching the film, we both realized that we had heard the stories about Sita having to "prove her purity" to Rama but that it is one of the aspects of the Ramayana not repeatedly told, and in today's "enlightened age", it is a wonder why. I have to admit, I am not a regular reader of the Ramayana, but maybe that is why I enjoyed this film for its modern twist and because I am not beholden to one particular version?

I think if someone takes the time to complain, you are definitely on the road to making it. I understand that some Hindu's have taken offense at the animation as an affront to their religious beliefs and some "left wing" opinions have taken affront to a "white" woman re-telling the Ramayana, as this indicates neocolonialism. See the wiki entry for a summary.

It is a shame, that some people find art offensive, and wish to shut down such endeavors and discussions on the basis of their offense. I feel grateful to have been born in a time and place where individuals have some freedom to express themselves. It is my belief that art can sometimes be a generator of discussion and re-analysis, this is how art, which is a part of culture and society as a whole, moves (hopefully) progressively forward and does not stagnate or worse still, regress.

I feel that Ms Paley's art is an honourable expression, her comments about how she perceived her audience is a testament to her intentions, "I always imagine an audience of smart, compassionate people I’d enjoy spending time with." Maybe this sentiment is a little naive, but to believe that such people exist is probably a good thing.

To sum up; this clever, beautiful and unique animation is a joy to watch on various different levels not least of which it is a wonderful film by a talented and yet to be undefeated artist.