Ramayana: A Visual Treat and More

"Ramayana" by Nitesh Tiwari is, no doubt, a visual treat for the audience. Much has been written about this movie. And this write-up of mine is not a movie review; rather, it is a sharing of my thoughts about the movie and why I loved watching it.

First of all, the movie begins with the backstory of Ravana, which explains the reasons behind his inflated ego and arrogance. In the version of Ramayana that we generally read, the story begins with Dasharatha's yajna to beget an heir to the throne. However, the backstories of the Dev-Asur battle, Ravana's past and Vishnu's birth as an avatar set the stage for the subsequent events.

Secondly, I loved the portrayal of Sita in this movie. Among the women characters from Indian mythology, I have always admired Draupadi more than Sita. Whereas Draupadi from the Mahabharata appears to me as a fiery, feisty woman who refuses to accept injustice, Sita from the Ramayana has traditionally been portrayed as a demure, submissive wife. But this Ramayana proves otherwise. Here, Sita is a warrior princess with agency of her own. She stands on an equal footing with Ram and, when the need arises, doesn't shy away from taking responsibility for protecting her loved ones.

Thirdly, I loved the kind, compassionate and loyal Ram. He never shows disrespect to anybody, not even to Surpanakha. He rejects her advances politely, citing his own reasons. He is the kind of man every woman wants as her husband and every mother wants as her son.

Last but not least, the grand visual extravaganza is a treat for the eyes. Even without considering anything else, this alone is sufficient reason to watch the movie.

Have you seen the movie? Drop your thoughts in the comment box and let me know.