Sita Sings the Blues
A Jazzy Ramayana by Nina Paley
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Valmiki
Sage, teacher, and author of the original epic poem, The Ramayana.
Luv & Kush
Twin sons of Rama and Sita
Rama
Prince of Ayodhya, Avatar (incarnation) of the god Vishnu, heroic warrior, ace archer, embodiment of dharma (law, righteousness, duty, destiny), Perfect Man, and jerk.
Sita
Rama's wife, daughter of the Earth, incarnation of goddess Lakshmi, embodiment of chastity and purity, Perfect Woman, and doormat.
Surpanakha
Demoness sister of Ravana, able to change form at will
Ravana
Ten-headed king of Lanka, and leader of the Rakshasas, a race of demons
Mareecha
Older demon, colleague of Ravana, able to change form at will
Hanuman
Famous Vanara - half monkey, half god - able to fly and change size
Disembodied Head of Ravana
Plus:
Hundreds of additional Vanaras (monkey warriors), Rakshasas (demons), and citizens (humans).
SETTINGS:
Indian countryside
Ashram of Valmiki
City of Ayodhya
Palace of Ayodhya, royal chambers
Forest
Forest hut
The Ocean surface
Island of Lanka
Palace at Lanka
Ashoka grove in Lanka palace
River bank
Ayodhya arena
OPENING (TITLE) SEQUENCE:
(All set to music): From a blank screen erupts the Big Bang, Hindu-style. A dancing Shiva zooms out from the blast as the field fills with stars. As planets form in space, various Hindu gods appear as super-imposed glowing white outlines. From reclining Vishnu's navel springs a lotus containing Brahma. The 3 major gods are coupled off: Brahma with Sarasvati, Vishnu with Lakshmi, and Shiva with Parvati. Other gods and divine creatures appear: Ganesha the elephant-headed, Garuda the winged, Kama the god of love and pleasure surrounded by celestial maidens. The sun appears super-imposed with Surya on a horse-drawn chariot; the moon is depicted as Soma, whose chariot is pulled by antelopes. (This scene will convey the idea of "creation" and "Indian Mythology" to Westerners, which is sufficient to set the theme of the narrative that follows. Hindus will be able to pick up more details, which gods are which and what they're doing symbolically, but the overall theme should be understood by any Western audience.) Finally the Earth forms, surrounded by a heaven filled with divine characters. Earth grows closer, filling the screen; its center point is India. Zoom into India and dissolve to the countryside near Valmiki's ashram: small villages, fields, farmers driving ox ploughs.
PROLOGUE:
In Valmiki's Ashram, everyone is celebrating the Festival of Rama. Everywhere are Rama flags, Rama banners, Rama icons, Rama posters, Rama comic books, Rama TV shows (on TVs made of straw and bamboo this is the 5th century BC!) and villagers singing Rama's praises. Foremost among them are Luv and Kush, two 14-year-old twin boys and Valmiki's star pupils. They sing the Song of Rama:
Rama is Righteous! Rama is Truth! Rama is Duty! Rama is Law!
Rama sacrificed his crown to honor his farther's word. Praise Rama! Rama wandered the forest in righteousness. Rama fought the demons to regain his wife and his crown. Glory to Rama! Whatever Rama does is just. Rama sacrificed his wife! Praise Rama! Righteous Rama!
But who is this crying amidst the festivities? Luv and Kush's mother, wearing a blue sari, retreats to her hut while the revelers sing in the background. Tears streaming from her eyes, she kisses the Rama icon in her own personal altar.
The next morning, she is cleaning up the refuse from the previous night's festivities when Valmiki begins Luv and Kush's lesson for the day. As he begins praising Rama, the mother again bursts into tears and rushes to her hut. Luv and Kush are perplexed. Valmiki is distracted by the woman's sobs in the background, and can't concentrate on his lesson. With a look of pity on his face, he tells the boys: "No Rama lesson today. Today I will tell you the story of Sita..."
ACT I
Valmiki narrates Sita's origins: born directly from the Earth and adopted by King Janaka, she is married to Rama and returns with him to the kingdom of Ayodhya. There they live as Prince and Princess, until Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi schemes his exile to the forest. Sita insists on accompanying him. Rama insists she should stay in Ayodhya, describing the hardships of forest life. Sita insists she wants to go with him, that a wife's place is with her husband. Rama says she should stay behind. Sita falls at Rama's feet, weeping and insisting she cannot live without him. Finally Rama agrees to take her with. Packing and preparing for their journey, Sita romantically sings "Here or There:"
Here, or there
Oh I'd be happy anywhere
As long as I'm with you;
Rain may fall
But what's the difference after all
As long as I'm with you?
As she sings, they move from the luxurious palace into the forest, which gets darker and more threatening as they travel. Soon, scary Rakshasas (demons) appear. Rama shoots demons with arrows while Sita romantically sings "Here We Are:"
Here we are,
Alone together
No matter whether
We journeyed far
And if we haven't got a bankfull
We can still be thankful
That here,
That here we are!
Not long after Sita and Rama settle into a quaint bamboo hut, the vile female demoness Surphanaka appears. She falls madly in love with Rama. Noticing Sita, she remarks, "so that's his type, eh?" and transforms herself into a sexy Sita replica to seduce him. Vamping in high heels and garter stockings, she sings "I Wanna Be Bad":
If it's naughty to lose your lips
Shake your shoulders and twist your hips
Little lady confess I wanna be bad!
And if it's naughty to vamp for men
Sleep each morning 'til after ten
Then the answer is yes I wanna be bad!
On the last line of her exuberant song, the appalled Rama brings a sword on Surpanakha's head, breaking her illusion of beauty and restoring her ugly demoness form. Humiliated, she flies to the kingdom of Lanka in a rage, reporting to her brother Ravana, the evil king of the demons. In his opulent palace, she warns of Rama's might. As she describes Rama, his image is projected in the sacrificial fire (a device akin to the crystal ball of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz).
Arrogant Ravana, who is invulnerable to attack by gods, beasts, or demons, doesn't consider a mere mortal a threat, and ignores Surpanakha's pleas to kill him. Surpanakha tries a different tack, describing the beautiful Sita to arouse Ravana's lust. She sings, "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World."His lust inflamed, Ravana recruits his colleague Mareecha, an older demon relative, to help him kidnap Sita. He orders Mareecha to transform himself into a beautiful golden deer.
Back in the forest, Sita and Rama are admiring flowers and wildlife by their hut. A beautiful jeweled golden deer approaches, frolicking seductively. Sita is entranced. "Oh Rama, I simply must have that deer!" she cries. "I don't know, Sita, I think it may be a demon trick," replies Rama. But Sita insists. Rama reluctantly agrees, drawing a circle around their hut and ordering Sita not to cross it. Bow in hand, Rama follows the deer into the forest, while Sita sings "What Wouldn't I do for that Man":
I'll never leave him alone
I'll make his troubles my own
I love that man better than I do myself
I'm just no good when his arms are about me
What Wouldn't I do for that man?
As the song progresses, Ravana, who has been hiding in the bushes watching all this unfold, makes his move. He drags the screaming Sita into his chariot and flies off for Lanka. As they ascend, they are seen and heard by various forest animals, including the Vanara monkeys. Over the song's last lines Rama's distraught voice calls: "SIIIITAAAAA!"
Rama has slain the deer, who morphs into the demon Mareecha. Mareecha apologizes for tricking Rama, and dies. As night falls, Rama is distraught, searching for Sita. As he wanders through the dark and lonely forest, he sings "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World," weeping occasionally.
Rama is overheard by Hanuman, a divine Vanara: half monkey, half god, all magic. Hanuman introduces himself to Rama and it's masculine love at first sight they become instant friends. Hanuman acknowledges Rama's superior breeding and kingliness, and offers to serve him forever. He reveals he saw Sita flying overhead in Ravana's chariot, and pledges to find Sita and Ravana, wherever they may be. Rama is overjoyed, joining the rest of the monkey clan in a jubilant celebration of friendship. (song?) The magical Hanuman, who can change size and shape at will, flies on his own power to Lanka.
In the luxurious royal palace of Lanka, Ravana proposes marriage to Sita. "Never!" she replies. While Sita is installed in Ravana's garden she is too chaste to even sleep under his roof Ravana tries various gambits to win her love: serenades, poetry, acting cool, inciting jealousy, etc. Sita is immune, pining only for Rama. As night falls, she sings "Daddy Won't You Please Come Home":
Night after night, I'm cryin'
Daddy Won't you please come home
Daddy Won't you please come home
I'm so lonesome...
There Hanuman finds Sita, presenting her Rama's signet ring to earn her trust. Sita bemoans her suffering at the hands of Ravana, and declares her undying love for Rama. Hanuman offers to carry Sita out of Lanka and back to Rama then and there. Sita refuses, explaining her duty is to bring glory to Rama, so she must reserve the honor of rescuing her exclusively for him. Then Hanuman explains he could kill Ravana and vanquish Lanka right then and there, but his duty also is to bring glory to Rama. Together Sita and Hanuman sing of their duty to bring glory to Rama, and enumerate all the things they're not doing in order to make him look good.
Hanuman is impressed with Sita's chastity and devotion. He reports back to Rama, praising Sita's purity and singing "The Most Virtuous Woman in the World." Then Rama and the Vanaras prepare for WAR! Armed to the teeth, they march over the ocean (aided by the ocean god) to Lanka.
In Lanka, Ravana is still trying to seduce Sita, who still resists. At his wit's end, he answers a knock at the door. It's Rama, with 14 thousand Vanaras!
Sita hears the knock and sings, "Who's that Knocking at My Door":
Goodness gracious, can it be
Someone's comin' back to me
Who's that knockin' at my door?
I been waitin' oh so long
I'll just die if I'm wrong
Who's that knockin' at my door?
.
If my sweetie's there outside
My arms and heart are open wide
Who's that knockin' at my door?
All hell breaks loose. Sita watches from the garden, ducking occasionally as severed heads and limbs fly overhead. Rama dispatches all the anonymous minor warriors until it's just him and Ravana. They stare each other down. "so, Rama, we meet at last!" begins the threatening Ravana. Rama shoots him, sending his heads flying in all directions. The Vanaras cheer. Righteousness prevails! Behind the garden wall, Sita cheers for her victorious husband.
Rama calls an assembly of all the citizens and the surviving warriors. "My people!" he booms, "I have come to bring the laws of righteousness to Lanka. The first law is: Ravana is no longer your king!"The crowd cheers. "The second law is, I am your new Emperor!" Emphatic applause. "The third law is, Any woman who sleeps in another man's house is polluted and unfit to be my wife!" APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! The crowd goes wild!
Descending the podium, Rama tells Hanuman, "Bring me Sita. And tell her to take a bath!"As he waits for Sita, a disembodied head of Ravana bounces up to Rama. They commiserate. "Filthy whore," says Rama to the head. "Don't I know it!" replies the head, and begins singing "The Filthiest Woman in the World ."
Sita, dressed in white, is brought before Rama, with all the Vanaras and citizens watching and cheering. Sita's eyes are filled with love and eagerness, but Rama turns his back on her and says, "go where you like. You can't be my wife any more you've been in another man's house!"You can hear a pin drop. Sita is shocked. Tears well up in her eyes. She exclaims, "I have no husband; I am a widow. I am unfit to live. Let me burn in the funeral pyre!" As Hanuman builds her a funeral pyre, she sings "Mean to Me":
You're Mean to me
Why must you be mean to me?
Please honey it seems to me
You love to see me cryin'...
Sita dances into the fire. Everyone thinks she's burning to death. Hanuman weeps. Suddenly, clouds gather, lightning strikes, and the booming voice of God says, "Rama, do you not remember who you are? You are Vishnu, the divine!"The glowing outline of god Vishnu's form appears superimposed on Rama. Lightning strikes. The flames part and Sita, glowing white, emerges. "Your wife Sita is pure in body and spirit. Take her, Rama. Love her. Protect her. And don't be such an ass!"
The clouds vanish and the sky returns to normal. Rama, dumbfounded, back to human form, stands next to the glowing, smiling Sita, who stands with her eyes deferentially downcast and her palms together. But Sita is now taller than Rama, and her glowing makes him look shabby in comparison. Rama apprehensively kisses her, burning his lips, and the crowd cheers. "Hail Rama! Hail Sita! Hooray!"
ACT II
A giant, swan-shaped flying car, the Pushpakha, arrives and is boarded by Rama, Sita, and Hanuman. Unnoticed, the disembodied head of Ravana bounces in after them. (Thereafter, the disembodied head becomes Rama's constant companion, seen only by him and invisible to others.) The Pushpakha carries them all up and over Lanka and back to Ayodhya. On the way, Sita sits peacefully and smiling, still glowing. Rama, sitting next to her, is clearly unnerved. He reaches over to touch her and her glowing aura burns his hand.
In Ayodhya's royal palace, Rama is crowned king. After his coronation, in their private apartment, glowing Sita announces she is pregnant. Rama is thrilled and excited at first, but after Sita exits, he is left alone with his doubts and the disembodied head of Ravana. He becomes jealous, imagining Sita is pregnant with Ravana's progeny and the head encourages his suspicions. Then Rama pokes his head out the window to watch the village idiot beat his wife. As the lowlife kicks his sobbing wife to the street, he shouts, "I'm not RAMA, who lets his wife sleep in another man's house!" Rama thinks, "hmmmmm...."," then turns to the disembodied head of Ravana, and says, "are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Just then, Hanuman enters, dragging said idiot by the collar. "This man slandered Sita!" cries Hanuman. "Should I behead him, your majesty?" Rama replies, "There's only one righteous course of action ." Hanuman's face lights up, as he anticipates disemboweling the miscreant. Rama continues, "I must banish Sita. It's the only honorable thing to do." Hanuman is completely puzzled, and again suggests punishing the slanderer, but Rama will hear none of it. "Take Sita to the forest and leave her there!" He exits, the head of Ravana bouncing loyally after him.
Rama tells Sita that Hanuman is taking her to the forest to visit some sages. Sita is thrilled, thanking Rama for his generous gift. Kissing him goodbye, she sings, "You Wouldn't Fool Me, Would You?"
You Wouldn't fool me, would you?
You shouldn't fool me, should you
Could you be true now, could you?
Or would you want someone new?
Don't make me think I own ya
Then make me wish I'd never ever known ya
You Wouldn't fool me, would you?
'Cause I'm not fooling you!
Hanuman's chariot rushes deep into the forest. Sita notices Hanuman is crying. He ejects her by the river, weeping and apologizing, and drives off. Alone, confused, and heartbroken, Sita cries herself to sleep as the sky blackens.
The next morning, sage Valmiki wanders upon the weeping Sita. When he asks who she is and what happened to her, she replies with "Am I Blue":
I'm just a woman, a lonely woman
Waiting on a weary shore
I'm just a woman, that's only human
One you should be sorry for
.
Why should he do it? How could he do it?
He never done it before
Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in these eyes tellin' you?
Am I blue, You'd be too
If your plan with your man done fell through
Valmiki gently guides Sita to his Ashram, where she gives birth to twin sons. Named Luv and Kush, they resemble miniature Ramas.
Back in Ayodhya, Rama prepares to perform the great Horse Ceremony. His advisor Vasistha tells him, "Rama, a king needs a WIFE at his side to perform sacred rituals." Rama thinks, "hmmmm," and commissions a life-size golden statue of Sita to be poured. The finished statue delights him, and accompanies him to his ceremony, where he releases a perfect horse to wander the kingdom for a year. The golden statue also accompanies him to dinners and all royal functions. Rama gives it flowers and takes it to the theater. In his bedroom, Rama sings "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" to it.
ACT III
Meanwhile, in Valmiki's Ashram, Luv and Kush are now 14 years old. Valmiki has just finished telling them the story of Sita, which he began in the PROLOGUE. Luv and Kush are crying. "Poor Sita," they say. Suddenly, the horse of Rama's ritual sacrifice appears. It bears a notice stating wherever this horse passes, kings must pay tribute to Rama. Wanting to teach Rama a lesson, Luv and Kush capture the horse. Soon, Rama arrives to claim it. Recognizing Luv and Kush as his sons, he embraces them, inviting them to rule in Ayodhya. Then Sita emerges from her hut. Valmiki says, "The gods told you not to be an ass, Rama. Take Sita too!" Rama is clearly uncomfortable. He says, "OK, all she has to do is prove her purity again. How about another trial by fire?"
Sita, wounded beyond words, says,, "I will undergo a trial to prove my purity." They all return to Ayodhya. Posters announce "Purity trial!" "See Sita Prove Her Purity" "Public Purity Spectacle Starring Sita!"The arena is packed, a spectacular pyre is built, and Rama stands before the assembled cheering citizens.
"My subjects," Rama begins. "In Lanka, Sita stayed in Ravana's house, but she proved her purity by throwing herself on a funeral pyre. Today, she shall prove her purity to the citizens of Ayodhya!"The crowd goes wild. Then, quietly, Sita enters the arena, eyes downcast and palms together. The crowd is hushed. The anticipation is palpable. Finally Sita raises her head and declares, in an eerily echoing voice:
"If I have always been pure in body and soul, if my heart and mind have never thought of any except Rama, then LET THE EARTH SWALLOW ME UP!"
Thunder cracks, lightning flashes, and the Earth rumbles. A great fissure opens in the Earth before Sita. Bright light beams out of it. The Earth Goddess rises, seated on a shining golden throne. Sita climbs onto her lap and the goddess embraces her. Together, they descend back into the Earth, and the fissure seals behind them. The thunder and lightning subside, the ground ceases its rumbling, and the sky returns to normal, leaving the assembled crowd dumbstruck.
CLOSING (CREDITS) SEQUENCE
Zoom out of the arena, revealing the palace compound, then the whole city of Ayodhya, the surrounding countryside, then whole country of India. Again the entire Earth is visible, surrounded by the gods in heaven, super-imposed as glowing white outlines. But the gods look a little different: the female gods, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Parvati, are talking to each other on one side, while their shame-faced husbands hang their heads on the other. Then Lakshmi slaps Vishnu in the face and storms off. Pull further into space: galaxies, gas clouds, novas, quasars and black holes. Finally dancing Shiva appears again, and the universe implodes as the music ends, leaving a blank screen. In the last seconds of blank silence, audio is Annette Hanshaw's famous line, "That's all!"
THE END