director ki maa ki bhosda me buldojar dal dunga.. ! U asshole,motherfuckr europian pepul we will get punisment to you in india.. I will goto burn 'gandu Jesus" churc..
The story itself is a blatant harassment of the faith. Just becuz south park does that shit doesnt mean this nina mofo has to commit this same crime to Hindus...
Weird that people were offended by this. My boyfriend's family is Hindu and they LOVED it! His mom thought it was beautiful. It's why I have it saved to a playlist.
In fact, almost ALL of his family, and our Hindu friends were pretty amazed by this!
The way this video protrays Hindu culture is totally disgusting. I don't care if she fucking killed herself to make this thing, the fact is that it is insensitive and protrays Hinduism in a negative light. I know many of you have your own beliefs in Christianity and Islam. How would you feel if people made demeaning cartoons about Muhammad and Jesus??? I'm sure it would hurt...
@logicandroid123 they do make demeaning cartoons about jesus and muhammad... have you ever seen south park? or family guy? at least this movie is trying to tell a story and not blatantly harassing the faith.
Absolutely beautiful. What genius to weave together these two stories, from ancient Indian mythology and modern American angst, then mix it with jazz era popular music. Entertainment elevated to art . . . it don't get better than this.
@atz2007: its amazing tht u're talkin abt 20,000yrs considerin balmiki wrote the ramayana around 5th or 6th cen. u do realize tht gives us abt 600 more yrs than the 2000 u mentioned, don't you?
@atz2007: its amazing tht u're talkin abt 20,000yrs considerin balmiki wrote the ramayana around 5th or 6th cen. u do realize tht gives us abt 600 more yrs than the 2000 u mentioned, don't you?
Its an absolute mockery. An epic story which outlines the difficult as a human, his duties not only as a man, but as a ruler and a god.. Yet not abusing his power to gain, but to lose someone he loved dearly.. To make a comic out of it, is absolutely beyond me.
A western mind trying to portray their view, which really is not relevant. Considering you have no knowledge of the amount of respect we give our deities such as Rama, even 20,000 yrs later.
@atz2007 oh stop assuming every westerner is christian and that every hindu gives a shit about their religion. learn to take yourself less seriously. im christian and i hear people mocking my religion all the time. that's their point of view and they're entitled to it and it doesn't affect me or my faith in the slightest.
u father dick sucking bitch(nina pale) , atleast onece in my life time, i will slap in ur ugly face with my stinking shoes.......... fuke u and ur rotten western culture.........................
I wonder.... This man that took the job in India.. what happened to him? What made him change his heart? If it was meant for them to separate it could have happened in San Fr... We see the girl at the end reading Ramayana as if she's trying to understand what happened to him...Could it be that India with its so different culture made an impact on him and changed the course of his life...? Through the eyes of his girlfriend we see him as indifferent and cold.... Could it be that he just evolved?
This movie is funded and made by people who hate Hindu relegion and have no time to read Ramayana. What Nina Palay have read and made a movie must be a book by a cristian missenary full of hate for hindu religion. The people who are praising should try to find out what is written in Ramayana by Valmiki. Nina Palay is making a movie just to get money from people who hate hindu religion.
@jasdit Actually, this movie was funded by no one. Nina paid out of pocket to make it, because she has read the Ramayana and she loves it. And she's not religious, so she doesn't give a damn whether it be Christianity or Hinduism, because this movie doesn't have anything to do with that. It's about the story of the Ramayana, and the connections that it has to modern day life. It has no stance whatsoever on Hinduism or any religion.
This movie is not based on Ramayana. Can Nina point to author/publisher of the book from where she read Ramayana? Which language it was? Can Nina read Sanskrit? If not then who was the translator of the Ramayana Nina read? Can she site sentences from Ramayana to support her depiction.
Is nudity and insult for India's icon for thousands of years is definition of modern days? Had Valmiki been alive he would have sued Nina for defamation. This movie is not based on Ramayana of Valmiki.
@L2the2ndpower This movie is not based on Ramayana by Valmiki. Can Nina provide name of the book/publisher of the Ramayana Nina read? Can Nina read Sanskrit? If not then which language she read the book? Who was the translator? Who was publisher of the translation?
Can she site sentances from the book to support her depiction? This movie is just aimed at defaming Hindu Icons and Valmiki. Had Valmiki been alive he would have sued Nina for using his name.
@jasdit I believe that Rama was a very dharmic person, and every action of his was right- for the most part. But I do believe it is wrong, how Rama left Sita. One should not listen to what other people say, but accept themselves, adn their situation. however, Sita would never dress like that, and I feel that is very degrading to the image of Sita- she is as dharmic if not more than Rama, and every aciton of hers was right. but humans and humans, and humans make mistakes.
@roborexasaurus As a king you can't let your personal life destroy mainstream of your country. In India we don't expect Hillery Clinton to stand behind Bill Clinton when he committed Adultery. In Ayodya one women had committed Adultery and her husband had thrown her out of his house. This kind of thing had not occurred in Ayodya for hundreds of years preceding Rama. So to uphold character of people Rama had to find out what went wrong recently. Women took sita in wrong light.
@jasdit I'm not supporting her movie.Sita was pure- she went through the fire when Rama told her to. though Rama knew she was pure (because she went through the fire) he threw her b/ he didnt want to upset others. Once I was listening to one of Swami dayanandas students-bramhacharishankarji. He said one should not look for every one to accept them because there will always be someone who doesnt. accept yourself. He also said that there is no pt in arguing when neither of us have an open mind(:
The Ramayana is complex, dynamic, and relevant to life today, and the film exemplifies this. All Hindus should be happy that it still resonates around the world.
I want to know who considers themselves "keepers of the culture", because I didn't elect you. You should feel glad that someone loves the Ramayana enough to make a movie about it.
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@oodoodanoo listen u u have no rite to say this first of all u need to watch that insulting movie then decide wat crap he has or she has shewn in this movie THIS MOVIE IS AN INSULT OF RAMAYAN and who ever has done creating to this is an asshole
You know, I'm Hindu. An American Hindu. As such, I appreciate any serious attention from outsiders. Those who ciriticize Ms. Paley should realize how much negative coverage they would otherwise receive.
Furthermore, I know that a lot of people who were born "Hindus" haven't actually put in the same effort as Ms. Paley toward understanding the Ramayana. They should feel glad that someone else is picking up the slack.
@oodoodanoo Is insulting someone called an attempt to understand? Many people don't know Jesus was do you call people who insult Jesus better then people who don't know who Jesus was?
The people who appreciate Nina's movie should please read Ramayana and see is what she is showing written in Ramayana or not?
Lighten up. It's meant to be art. And actually, the animation used during the episodes of the Ramayana resembles Rajput style painting. The other style is only used during musical numbers. Maybe if you watch the movie before commenting, you can answer your own question.
hmm i don't have a strong opinion on the controversy surrounding this movie, but i did enjoy it if only for the story of the Ramayana. Hindu culture is fascinating, and this medium made the story quite accessible to an idiot such as myself.
@cattishxyz I come from a hindu family, its an interpretation, you don't know what Sita ji looks like. Don't be pretentious, I don't know what Sita ji looks like, no one does, who's to say she doesn't look like that? In the film she's portrayed as quite pretty what are you complaining about?
@leovickmedina Yes, but that has barely if not failed to cover the amount she paid to make the movie out of her own pocket. Since this is a great movie, I'm sure that she will eventually make a nice profit from it; this movie certainly deserves it.
you completely missed the point of the movie then. She obviously loved the Hindu mythology and felt it connected with her own life, You realize she took money out of her own pocket made no money off of this just because she wanted to put her feeling out there. You're ignorance hurts.
@MrKoukao I'm not Hindu or anything, but I felt that this movie, probably unintentionally, did belittle Hinduism just a bit. I felt like the creator was taking religion and turning it into some children's story. It wasn't a big deal, but it did poke fun at it, just not in an obvious way.
I just saw this movie in a theatre in San Francisco. Beautiful! Delightful! I immediately went to a brick-n-mortar DVD store to purchase (to no avail, alas).
I just finished watching this movie. I think it is funny how people would use a comic animation to actually judge anything about the Ramayana, Ram, a religion, a culture, or people.
This movie is about a point Nina is trying to make about women in relationships.
If you look around you will find many other versions/ translations, philosophical/ religious explanations, etc. about this story. (hence the puns on the narrators' confusions) Don't just take this movie as THE portrayal of Lord Ram :)
love your comments! we're distributing the film on dvd thru netflix/amazon -- please post your reviews on both sides if you can. it will really help sales. thanks! filmkaravan
It's good to know America and Middle East do not have the monopoly on religious pricks and fundamentalists.
No, you do not have the right not to be offended. This film is obviously a personal interpretation of Ramayama, and does not pretend to be anything else.
And yes, we make fund of Jesus and the Bible. We had a picture with Jesus on a Crucifix merged in a jar of urine, for God's sake.
For one thing, calling someone a religious fundamentalist for being offended by a film is just silly. Jessbillings isn't bombing abortion clinics or beheading anyone.
To say someone doesn't have the right to be offended is ridiculous. So people have the right to create art, but not have reactions to art? Freedom of speech but not freedom of emotion? Absurd.
its not fair when people assume religious people are just emotional and have no sound philosophical understanding of what they believe besides some blind faith... and therefore they are less intelligent.. or pricks.. or fundamentalists... etc
people definitely have a right to their emotions... i don't think its unreasonable for someone who has been taught something else of Lord Ram, or that he is sacred, to feel somewhat taken back by this film's portrayal.
Religious fundamentalis is blind faith. This doesn't mean all religious people are blindly faithful, but some in this thread are and that is why I used the term.
My expression just means you don't have the right to censor just because you are offended. Some people in this (and other Sita) thread were calling out for the movie to be withdrawn just because they felt offended. My comment was aimed at those people. Obviously you have the right to feel whatever you feel.
Religious fundamentalism does not require acts of violence. Bombing clinics/beheading others makes you terrorist, not religious fundamentalist. It is not an inheritently negative term, which is why some use the term to describe themselves.
"You have no right to not be offended" = "you don't have right to censor art that offends you." Your literal reading is amusing, however, and yes, absurd.
Sorry for misspelling. m happens to be right next to n. You missed my misspelling of "fun," though.
Ram was only a great king.. the Ramayana used Ram only as a protaganist cause there was no other suitable hero. I think its actually a fictitious book, very much like if frodo from the Lord of the Rings was worshiped after 500 years..
Thats alright Lord Rama being a rigteous king. BUt he had a duty towards his wife also. One should not be so hort sighted. It's good to see the goodness but one should also know how not to overlook the shortcomings that may exist. And from the view point of a woman what he did was not justified. And religious sentiments cannot be blind.
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Than go ahead upload a video mocking Jesus.
I started watching it thinking it would be harmless fun. But it is not, just want to spread the truth here, which the filmmaker is obviously not doing.
@jessbillings Um there are already HUNDREDS of videos mocking Jesus, a fair amount of which are hilarious. None of us need to make another one to prove that point.
even is u dont believe this it is very important to others and it is sacred. not something funny. it is bad that u would make fun of something as important as that
Within Valmiki's Ramayana, Ram makes mistake after mistake, many of which are omitted in "Sita Sings the Blues". He wants to abandon his bow in the forest and become a peaceful hermit, even though his duties lie elsewhere. Six (If I remember correctly) incarnations very sternly tell him that he's majorly screwed up when he all but puts Sita on a funeral pyre. In the apocryphal ending that "Sita Sings the Blues" uses, he goes mad and kills innocent people because he's been dumb and irrational.
I think its funny we say "Valmiki's Ramayana". there r so many versions/ interpretations- its not really his Ramayana anymore
what we really have r people's stories & interpretations...
what we take from the movie/ story says way more about us (as in where we are in society) & the writers than about Lord Rama or the actual (unavailable) original story.
For example I follow the Vaisnava understanding of this story & 85% of the material in this film is presented backwards than what i learned :)
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This video depicts Lord Rama as a cruel person who left his dutiful wife. This hurts our religious sentiments. Lord Ram is a man of principles, he has been shown as a good husband in Ramayana. This lady who created this cartoon is altering Lord Rama's image by showing him as cruel.
How would you feel if Jesus was depicted as a cruel person? Please tell her to delete this video as it promotes Hatred towards Lord Ram.
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It is easy to compare Ram to your husband-who did something cruel to you. But for GOD's sake do not mis-interpret what Ram is. Please don't change Ram's image.
never thought, such a complex storey of Ramayana could be told in such a simple and imaginative way.....
and pspython4, in india a holy book, even ramayana, was never considered to be unchangable.... in fact almost 200 versions of ramayana exist all over india, each having a different depiction and even different character assuming the central role.... so no need to be so touchy....
Paley did a good job... atleast better than that of Ramanand sagar.
I would appreciate Nina Paley to come up with direct questions about Hindus and their beliefs, that would be the better approach rather than making an animated hatred movie!
Give me a break, this is not a mockery. Yes, it's a liberal adaptation of the Ramayana, full of artistic license (which is great by the way), but not a frame of it is disrespectful, to the contrary. It can only make people more interested in Hindu traditions.
its not being spoiled.. we hindu's are represented i think in a very sweet and cute way... whats wrong with that.. u know what u believe right?? u dont need other ppl for that if they do good or wrong with our religion it doesnt matter becuz god is inside of u..
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It represented exactly opposite thing. Lord Ram, who is known as 'maryada purushottam', presented as ordinary shameless man. Accept Gods as they are. Don't present them by your thoughts.
I M educated. So doesn't need to it further. But U really needs it. U doesn't know about Hinduism & principles of it, definitely. So there is no question of Lord Ram. First read Ramayan & then only speak about Lord Ram.
WOW! Ignoring all the debate going on. I have no idea what this movie is about or who it is by. I didn't get passed the first 20 seconds because the 'a' at the end of Rama is suppose to be silent and it drives me crazy when people mispronounce it.
It's about an American cartoonist whose husband moves to India and later divorces her. Heartbroken, she saw themes about man/woman relationships she could relate to in the legends and imagery of India, as well as old blues songs from the 1920's. So she combined these two very different cultural elements throughout the film. It's supposed to be a "very personal" film according to an interview (in other words, not trying to be canon about the subject matter).
either way, silent or pronounced, there is no hard and fast rule. the benefit of hearing transcendental sound and pastimes of the Supreme are all good.
cartoni animati: Ramayana - The legend of prince Rama [1]
Another you tube vedio. Which gives a good description of Ramayana in ENGLISH. This video is in parts and shows the whole Ramayana story. Just watch it in your spare time and if you have kids, show it to them too. I am sure they will enjoy it.
You do not see this as ridiculing Hinduism because you are not as familiar with Ramayan and the characters depicted in it as we are. Ram and Seeta and Hanuman are deeply revered figures. Any description showing them to be jerks (and yes she has used the word "jerk" for Lord Ram and "doormant" for seeta on her website) is humiliating.
Ram, Seeta and Hanuman are revered as deeply wise and here they are all depicted as some dumb jokers and this is what is infuriating.
Well, yes, sometimes Americans can be unwittingly insensitive towards other cultures. That is because as a culture, Western society tends to be a little more irreverent in attitude. Just about everything gets made fun of in America (look up "The Simpsons"). That does not always mean there is a hateful intent. What *will* cause Americans to hate something is to threaten their liberties. This is why presidential candidates who speak against Communism or terrorism tend to get elected.
Yes, I looked at some of the scenes, although did not have time to watch the whole thing. It's very beautiful, more like anime or Disney. Thanks for sharing.
I admit I do not know that much about the Hindu religion although I hear that there are various sects and that there are various ways the story has been told and interpreted, as is the case with many other religions.
Just to rephrase what I meant, I meant that the cartoon did not lead me to want to make fun of Hinduism. It did not cause me to think of revered Hindu figures as silly cartoons. The movie you cited is understood to be a sincere representation. This isn't. My impression was that it had much more to do with the experience and viewpoints of the person who made the film (whose American husband was working in India). Just to answer your concerns about how it would influence Western audiences.
You have a right to be offended; however, going back to the cross-cultural aspects, I do not think it was Paley's intent to make fun of the story by depicting them as cartoons, since cartoons of all forms are a part of American culture. So, perhaps she was just being naive. In fact most Americans have affection for 1930's style cartoons since it is something most of us watch in childhood. She used the 1930's style to go with the 1930's music in some of the scenes.
But here's the thing: talking about killing and harming someone is a highly negative response, and rather contradictory for one who claims to hold peace and open-mindedness as a virtue. Perhaps you have not yet mastered the discipline of learning the most peaceful and positive ways to approach a problem. Because otherwise, it just ends up making *you* look bad -- no better than an Islamic fanatic. And that is far worse for your side than a little cartoon that was done on a computer.
(con't) But as you saw, becoming more reasonable enabled more of an open dialogue. So, I learned more about the ways Hindus are oppressed, and you possibly learned more about American culture, that there may be an entirely different context for interpretation.
Point accepted, as long as the person being spoken to is sensitive enough to understand (for example you), but when not then I do not think there is an option.
If you care to read the Ramayana, Lord Hanuman and Sita have a relationship of Mother and Son and Sita is an epitome of chastity. She revered as the devine mother by all Hindus. But just recently a famous muslim painter, M.F. Hussain, painted Hanuman and Sita in nude and embarassing positions and that too all in the name of artistic freedom. Do you think artistic freedom gives them the license to show mother and son in an incestuous relationship. Or the Divine mother in nude....
In America, yes, there is that kind of artistic freedom under law, as long at is it by private individuals and not government-sponsored. Of course the offended religion also has the right to denounce the artist (See "Andres Serrano") and people are free to discuss the merits of the work (or lack of).
There have been plenty of outrageous and blasphemous depictions of Christian figures in Western culture. (Ken Russell's "The Devils" is one I can think of. Look it up, it's on here.) The Christian response is generally, "God will judge him for that"
If you had cared to watch "Bad Manna" whenever some poor hindus are converted to christianity, they are told to step upon and spit upon Hindu dieties. How open minded is that?
I don't agree with everything evangelical Christians do. FWIW I am more of a rationalist and freethinker. In fact, my nick refers to fundamentalist Xtians (+ Muslims) and their attitude towards the world. Just another form of "our side is better than yours".
The world remembers Jews being persecuted by Hitler, but is ignorant that Hindus are the most perscuted people in the world, millions of hindus have been killed either at the hands of islamists or at the hands of christians. And persecution of Hindus is still going on, like for example in Kashmir where more than 500000 Hindus had to leave their home and hearth behind for fear of losing their lives to muslim terrorists.
the Hindus were denied certain employments, while the Christians were preferred; it was ensured that the Hindus would not harass those who became Christians, and on the contrary, the Hindus were obliged to assemble periodically in Churches to listen to preaching or to the refutation of their religion."
... various viceregal and Church council decrees banished the Hindu priests from the Portuguese territories; the public practices of Hindu rites including marriage rites, were banned; the state took upon itself the task of bringing up Hindu orphan children.
.... at least from 1540 onwards, and in the island of Goa before that year, all the Hindu idols had been annihilated or had disappeared, all the temples had been destroyed and their sites and building material was in most cases utilized to erect new Christian Churches and chapels.
Or only Hindu God is true god and the gods of other religions are false gods. But look at what christians and islamist propogate. For christians only Jesus is true god (true savior) and Hindu gods are devils personfied and therefore Hindus should be converted to christianity (And mind you this is big on the Vatican's agenda). Same goes with islam (for them only Allah is true god and Hindus and people from other religions should be either killed or converted by force).
As far as open mindedness is concerned let me give you some insight into Hindu philosophy. Hinduism says that if you believe in Christ good for you, pray christ and you will achieve salvation, if someone else beleives in Allah then good for him he will achieve salvation praying allah, if some one believes in Rama or Krishna then good for them him he will achieve salvation by praying to Rama and Krishna. You will never hear stories about Hindus saying that only Hinduism is the true path......
Read about the history of Hinduism which has survived 10,000 years of history, you will know how strong hinduism is. It is not a question of foundation but a question of respect.
I think there has been a cross-cultural misunderstanding, just to reiterate. As an American I know that Nina Paley has been drawing cartoons for a long time. It is just an American thing. The style of the Sita cartoons in is similar to the style of American cartoon that was popular in the 1930's, which was the same era of the old jazz songs that accompany the scenes. The cartoon scenes are set to old 1930's jazz songs sung by a woman who is heartbroken over a man. (con't)
So I think the whole idea of doing the Sita and Rama segments in this style, set to American music, is to show that the same kinds of themes in human relationships can be found across different cultures and eras. The reason she used the Hindu stories is because she had spent time in India with her husband, and it was a new culture to her, but when her husband divorced her she saw similarities in the theme of the heartbroken women in that story, as well as in the old songs.
Plus the beauty of hinduism is that reforms are encouraged. We have had reformes both legally and socially where people are discouraged to do some thing as henious as bride burning just for some dowery. Where as I have never heard about reforms being encouraged in bigoted faiths such as Islam. Where their archiac shariat law is the only law which is to be followed.
It is a good thing to hear that reforms are encouraged, especially when times are different now, with more people and knowledge, than they were many generations ago. I agree with you about Islam (or at least, radical Islam, where negative people use religion to justify their negativity.) I looked up "Afghan women" on this site and it is worse than I realized. Thousands of artists all over the world should collaborate and do a movie against that.
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director ki maa ki bhosda me buldojar dal dunga.. ! U asshole,motherfuckr europian pepul we will get punisment to you in india.. I will goto burn 'gandu Jesus" churc..
rajsoft76 6 days ago
director of this film will soon get the result to play with the feelings of 1000 millions of hindus
bhatiarahul18 1 week ago
These fckin americans ..why do u wanna glamourize every thing ? ... u call this art ? i call this mockery !
aman3111sudan 1 month ago
The story itself is a blatant harassment of the faith. Just becuz south park does that shit doesnt mean this nina mofo has to commit this same crime to Hindus...
logicandroid123 2 months ago
I am a Hindu and I can assure you any Hindu that gets offended by this is not really a Hindu but a zealot.
LuciusStone94 3 months ago
patapon
FalkonX3000 3 months ago
Weird that people were offended by this. My boyfriend's family is Hindu and they LOVED it! His mom thought it was beautiful. It's why I have it saved to a playlist.
In fact, almost ALL of his family, and our Hindu friends were pretty amazed by this!
I think it's beautiful, too!
-e
nkr9241 4 months ago
cool animation
BLACKPUFFLEXTREME1 4 months ago
The way this video protrays Hindu culture is totally disgusting. I don't care if she fucking killed herself to make this thing, the fact is that it is insensitive and protrays Hinduism in a negative light. I know many of you have your own beliefs in Christianity and Islam. How would you feel if people made demeaning cartoons about Muhammad and Jesus??? I'm sure it would hurt...
logicandroid123 6 months ago
@logicandroid123 they do make demeaning cartoons about jesus and muhammad... have you ever seen south park? or family guy? at least this movie is trying to tell a story and not blatantly harassing the faith.
TheGirlYouDoNotKnow 2 months ago
Good! Genious! Good luck with your efforts to lighten up grumpy hindus!
muthushiv 6 months ago
Absolutely beautiful. What genius to weave together these two stories, from ancient Indian mythology and modern American angst, then mix it with jazz era popular music. Entertainment elevated to art . . . it don't get better than this.
cocofrio 7 months ago
this movie is brilliant..great style of animation..and very well thought out...:D
aleesha311 9 months ago
this is one of the best animation movies ive ever seen...the style is brilliant
aleesha311 9 months ago
Was this animated by one person?
Android2137 9 months ago
@atz2007: its amazing tht u're talkin abt 20,000yrs considerin balmiki wrote the ramayana around 5th or 6th cen. u do realize tht gives us abt 600 more yrs than the 2000 u mentioned, don't you?
dude! even wiki knows!
stainles5steel 9 months ago
@stainles5steel A few minutes on wiki-fuckin-pedia might have enlightened him :P
juditK2007 8 months ago
@atz2007: its amazing tht u're talkin abt 20,000yrs considerin balmiki wrote the ramayana around 5th or 6th cen. u do realize tht gives us abt 600 more yrs than the 2000 u mentioned, don't you?
dude! even wiki knows!
stainles5steel 9 months ago
Its an absolute mockery. An epic story which outlines the difficult as a human, his duties not only as a man, but as a ruler and a god.. Yet not abusing his power to gain, but to lose someone he loved dearly.. To make a comic out of it, is absolutely beyond me.
A western mind trying to portray their view, which really is not relevant. Considering you have no knowledge of the amount of respect we give our deities such as Rama, even 20,000 yrs later.
Your not even able to do so for 2000 yrs.
atz2007 10 months ago
@atz2007 oh stop assuming every westerner is christian and that every hindu gives a shit about their religion. learn to take yourself less seriously. im christian and i hear people mocking my religion all the time. that's their point of view and they're entitled to it and it doesn't affect me or my faith in the slightest.
mizindia 10 months ago 5
@atz2007 Dude, just wait until Disney finds the right Hindu story to "assimilate" into American.
apostlethirteen 7 months ago
@atz2007 Dude, just wait until Disney finds the right Hindu story to "assimilate" into American.
Maybe something with Ganesh dancing to an Elton John song?
apostlethirteen 7 months ago
Oh, Nina Paley, you never disappoint . Boys and girls, can you say "animation genius"?
hellopeopleofyoutub1 10 months ago
Outstanding Nina, I love the animation.
sayedjaffer 1 year ago
As a practicing Hindu, I find this kind of insulting...
4cidQu33n 1 year ago
@4cidQu33n It is known that the level of progress of a civilization depends on its capacity to laugh of itself… ;)
Even if it hurts your feelings, consider it as a work of art. And an adaptation.
Cool movie anyway.
Switcher1972 1 year ago
It's very hard to be unbiased when you are trying to go through the process of mourning the end of a relationship especially marriage!
goblinchild 1 year ago
Oh my, this movie made me laugh so hard xD It was a good watch c:
WolfHeraldofLight 1 year ago
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u father dick sucking bitch(nina pale) , atleast onece in my life time, i will slap in ur ugly face with my stinking shoes.......... fuke u and ur rotten western culture.........................
TheKalikalam 1 year ago
I wonder.... This man that took the job in India.. what happened to him? What made him change his heart? If it was meant for them to separate it could have happened in San Fr... We see the girl at the end reading Ramayana as if she's trying to understand what happened to him...Could it be that India with its so different culture made an impact on him and changed the course of his life...? Through the eyes of his girlfriend we see him as indifferent and cold.... Could it be that he just evolved?
krufdx 1 year ago
The music is so soothing, both blues and traditional indian!
It's truly creative piece of art that amuses and gives wings to imagination.
krufdx 1 year ago
I love this movie.
pepsibookcat 1 year ago
Nina Paley.
You're fantastic
SomeArtists 1 year ago
Is this movie basically one big acid trip? If so, I'm interested.
MuIdoon 1 year ago
This movie is funded and made by people who hate Hindu relegion and have no time to read Ramayana. What Nina Palay have read and made a movie must be a book by a cristian missenary full of hate for hindu religion. The people who are praising should try to find out what is written in Ramayana by Valmiki. Nina Palay is making a movie just to get money from people who hate hindu religion.
jasdit 1 year ago
@jasdit Actually, this movie was funded by no one. Nina paid out of pocket to make it, because she has read the Ramayana and she loves it. And she's not religious, so she doesn't give a damn whether it be Christianity or Hinduism, because this movie doesn't have anything to do with that. It's about the story of the Ramayana, and the connections that it has to modern day life. It has no stance whatsoever on Hinduism or any religion.
L2the2ndpower 1 year ago 2
This movie is not based on Ramayana. Can Nina point to author/publisher of the book from where she read Ramayana? Which language it was? Can Nina read Sanskrit? If not then who was the translator of the Ramayana Nina read? Can she site sentences from Ramayana to support her depiction.
Is nudity and insult for India's icon for thousands of years is definition of modern days? Had Valmiki been alive he would have sued Nina for defamation. This movie is not based on Ramayana of Valmiki.
jasdit 1 year ago
@L2the2ndpower This movie is not based on Ramayana by Valmiki. Can Nina provide name of the book/publisher of the Ramayana Nina read? Can Nina read Sanskrit? If not then which language she read the book? Who was the translator? Who was publisher of the translation?
Can she site sentances from the book to support her depiction? This movie is just aimed at defaming Hindu Icons and Valmiki. Had Valmiki been alive he would have sued Nina for using his name.
jasdit 1 year ago
@jasdit I believe that Rama was a very dharmic person, and every action of his was right- for the most part. But I do believe it is wrong, how Rama left Sita. One should not listen to what other people say, but accept themselves, adn their situation. however, Sita would never dress like that, and I feel that is very degrading to the image of Sita- she is as dharmic if not more than Rama, and every aciton of hers was right. but humans and humans, and humans make mistakes.
roborexasaurus 1 year ago
@roborexasaurus As a king you can't let your personal life destroy mainstream of your country. In India we don't expect Hillery Clinton to stand behind Bill Clinton when he committed Adultery. In Ayodya one women had committed Adultery and her husband had thrown her out of his house. This kind of thing had not occurred in Ayodya for hundreds of years preceding Rama. So to uphold character of people Rama had to find out what went wrong recently. Women took sita in wrong light.
jasdit 1 year ago
@jasdit I'm not supporting her movie.Sita was pure- she went through the fire when Rama told her to. though Rama knew she was pure (because she went through the fire) he threw her b/ he didnt want to upset others. Once I was listening to one of Swami dayanandas students-bramhacharishankarji. He said one should not look for every one to accept them because there will always be someone who doesnt. accept yourself. He also said that there is no pt in arguing when neither of us have an open mind(:
roborexasaurus 1 year ago
Wow this got a 100% rating on RT!!
I hope some asshole doesn't give it a negative review and reduce to it 90%
vikramvaranasi 1 year ago 3
The Ramayana is complex, dynamic, and relevant to life today, and the film exemplifies this. All Hindus should be happy that it still resonates around the world.
elylew 2 years ago 9
I want to know who considers themselves "keepers of the culture", because I didn't elect you. You should feel glad that someone loves the Ramayana enough to make a movie about it.
oodoodanoo 2 years ago 7
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@oodoodanoo listen u u have no rite to say this first of all u need to watch that insulting movie then decide wat crap he has or she has shewn in this movie THIS MOVIE IS AN INSULT OF RAMAYAN and who ever has done creating to this is an asshole
IQBAL464 1 year ago
You know, I'm Hindu. An American Hindu. As such, I appreciate any serious attention from outsiders. Those who ciriticize Ms. Paley should realize how much negative coverage they would otherwise receive.
Furthermore, I know that a lot of people who were born "Hindus" haven't actually put in the same effort as Ms. Paley toward understanding the Ramayana. They should feel glad that someone else is picking up the slack.
oodoodanoo 2 years ago 11
@oodoodanoo Is insulting someone called an attempt to understand? Many people don't know Jesus was do you call people who insult Jesus better then people who don't know who Jesus was?
The people who appreciate Nina's movie should please read Ramayana and see is what she is showing written in Ramayana or not?
jasdit 1 year ago
I love this movie! I think it was very well done.
the way the musical numbers tell important parts of the story, the dialog between the narrators, the animation, the parallel heartbreak.
Thank you for contributing this to the collective commons and kudos on a job VERY WELL DONE.
soulrebelsound 2 years ago 6
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wtf?
crhopki 2 years ago
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who in the hell made this animation...??? it sucks big time ...cattishxyz ur right
Deewana71727 2 years ago
Comment removed
cattishxyz 2 years ago
Lighten up. It's meant to be art. And actually, the animation used during the episodes of the Ramayana resembles Rajput style painting. The other style is only used during musical numbers. Maybe if you watch the movie before commenting, you can answer your own question.
semi0tical 2 years ago 7
hmm i don't have a strong opinion on the controversy surrounding this movie, but i did enjoy it if only for the story of the Ramayana. Hindu culture is fascinating, and this medium made the story quite accessible to an idiot such as myself.
pwnageprata 2 years ago 20
Comment removed
cattishxyz 2 years ago
@cattishxyz I come from a hindu family, its an interpretation, you don't know what Sita ji looks like. Don't be pretentious, I don't know what Sita ji looks like, no one does, who's to say she doesn't look like that? In the film she's portrayed as quite pretty what are you complaining about?
idkyajushrulz 2 years ago 6
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forget it. i am turning a blind eye to this movie.
cattishxyz 2 years ago
did sita really sleep with ravan. can anyone answer me please as i am very confused
manheld12 2 years ago
@manheld12 No, she didn't. She held herself pure and chaste for Rama. She didn't bathe and barely fed herself, believing Rama would come for her.
TheaSinclaire 1 year ago
Sucks she cant make any money off her movie
MrKoukao 2 years ago
But She is. She's made thousands on donations and merchandise. Like the soundtrack or the DVD.
leovickmedina 2 years ago
@leovickmedina Yes, but that has barely if not failed to cover the amount she paid to make the movie out of her own pocket. Since this is a great movie, I'm sure that she will eventually make a nice profit from it; this movie certainly deserves it.
L2the2ndpower 1 year ago
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Portraying hindu sentiments in this fashion is not funny... it hurts..
shashidharng 2 years ago
you completely missed the point of the movie then. She obviously loved the Hindu mythology and felt it connected with her own life, You realize she took money out of her own pocket made no money off of this just because she wanted to put her feeling out there. You're ignorance hurts.
MrKoukao 2 years ago 39
@MrKoukao, it's spelled "Your", as in "your spelling is insulting".
Yuvattar 1 year ago
@MrKoukao when some who is ignorant enough to know the difference between 'your' and 'you're' talks about ignorance it hurts my feelings
aman3111sudan 1 month ago
@MrKoukao I'm not Hindu or anything, but I felt that this movie, probably unintentionally, did belittle Hinduism just a bit. I felt like the creator was taking religion and turning it into some children's story. It wasn't a big deal, but it did poke fun at it, just not in an obvious way.
Regardless, the movie was awesome.
wc1hater 1 week ago
Grow up! The world is changing all around you! Your old voice will not be able to continue unless you adapt to new ways of telling old stories!
ianinspace 2 years ago 5
I saw this movie with my friend Kate! It's hilarious!
I love the shadow puppets, I wish they showed them in the preveiw.
TheWarnerSister 2 years ago
hehe...hanuman makes me laugh. :-)
ShakespeareAndOpera 2 years ago 2
amazing!love it! Sad to see the women charcters all cryin so much though even the female animals!
glorious Artwork though!!
tiffinnisaintranae 2 years ago 5
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its hurting hindu sentiments
gurushack 2 years ago
I'm Hindu, it's not hurting my sentiments. You just think that cuz ur a guy....don't you love how I know.
shaniwrites 2 years ago 5
Amazing!
Univarkian 2 years ago
love it
eleonoralove1 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
shit
XAstoriaGreengrassX 2 years ago
I just saw this movie in a theatre in San Francisco. Beautiful! Delightful! I immediately went to a brick-n-mortar DVD store to purchase (to no avail, alas).
ChaunceytheGardener 2 years ago 4
@ChaunceytheGardener You can order it online! Google Nina Paley's site.
L2the2ndpower 1 year ago
@L2the2ndpower, thanks but I prefer to support local DVD businesses.
ChaunceytheGardener 1 year ago
good funny movie ...
free hi-res copy available on demonoid(dot)com and thepiratebay(dot)com
for a more complete story check the ashok banker's series on the ramayana
dclx5i 2 years ago
WTF?
lizucateo 2 years ago
Available on Netflix and Amazon on July 28.
Book or Queue your copy now.
kohlipooja 2 years ago
Its a GREAT animation and .
LaFolleSirene 2 years ago
I just finished watching this movie. I think it is funny how people would use a comic animation to actually judge anything about the Ramayana, Ram, a religion, a culture, or people.
This movie is about a point Nina is trying to make about women in relationships.
If you look around you will find many other versions/ translations, philosophical/ religious explanations, etc. about this story. (hence the puns on the narrators' confusions) Don't just take this movie as THE portrayal of Lord Ram :)
nitaipriyaa 2 years ago 6
love your comments! we're distributing the film on dvd thru netflix/amazon -- please post your reviews on both sides if you can. it will really help sales. thanks! filmkaravan
farfara1561 2 years ago
Regarding jessbillings . . .
It's good to know America and Middle East do not have the monopoly on religious pricks and fundamentalists.
No, you do not have the right not to be offended. This film is obviously a personal interpretation of Ramayama, and does not pretend to be anything else.
And yes, we make fund of Jesus and the Bible. We had a picture with Jesus on a Crucifix merged in a jar of urine, for God's sake.
saltyseaweed 2 years ago 4
For one thing, calling someone a religious fundamentalist for being offended by a film is just silly. Jessbillings isn't bombing abortion clinics or beheading anyone.
To say someone doesn't have the right to be offended is ridiculous. So people have the right to create art, but not have reactions to art? Freedom of speech but not freedom of emotion? Absurd.
Also, it isn't the "Ramayama", but the Ramayana.
NaturalGrace 2 years ago 3
well put....
its not fair when people assume religious people are just emotional and have no sound philosophical understanding of what they believe besides some blind faith... and therefore they are less intelligent.. or pricks.. or fundamentalists... etc
people definitely have a right to their emotions... i don't think its unreasonable for someone who has been taught something else of Lord Ram, or that he is sacred, to feel somewhat taken back by this film's portrayal.
nitaipriyaa 2 years ago
Religious fundamentalis is blind faith. This doesn't mean all religious people are blindly faithful, but some in this thread are and that is why I used the term.
My expression just means you don't have the right to censor just because you are offended. Some people in this (and other Sita) thread were calling out for the movie to be withdrawn just because they felt offended. My comment was aimed at those people. Obviously you have the right to feel whatever you feel.
saltyseaweed 2 years ago 2
most def ;)
nitaipriyaa 2 years ago
Religious fundamentalism does not require acts of violence. Bombing clinics/beheading others makes you terrorist, not religious fundamentalist. It is not an inheritently negative term, which is why some use the term to describe themselves.
"You have no right to not be offended" = "you don't have right to censor art that offends you." Your literal reading is amusing, however, and yes, absurd.
Sorry for misspelling. m happens to be right next to n. You missed my misspelling of "fun," though.
saltyseaweed 2 years ago 2
Ram was only a great king.. the Ramayana used Ram only as a protaganist cause there was no other suitable hero. I think its actually a fictitious book, very much like if frodo from the Lord of the Rings was worshiped after 500 years..
thebigdirt 2 years ago
Thats alright Lord Rama being a rigteous king. BUt he had a duty towards his wife also. One should not be so hort sighted. It's good to see the goodness but one should also know how not to overlook the shortcomings that may exist. And from the view point of a woman what he did was not justified. And religious sentiments cannot be blind.
alienfromblueplanet 2 years ago
Funny
wreckedpc 2 years ago
Yes, I would make fun of the Bible and Jesus. If you don't want to be offended then don't watch the film.
abacathoo 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Than go ahead upload a video mocking Jesus.
I started watching it thinking it would be harmless fun. But it is not, just want to spread the truth here, which the filmmaker is obviously not doing.
jessbillings 2 years ago
@jessbillings Um there are already HUNDREDS of videos mocking Jesus, a fair amount of which are hilarious. None of us need to make another one to prove that point.
L2the2ndpower 1 year ago 3
even is u dont believe this it is very important to others and it is sacred. not something funny. it is bad that u would make fun of something as important as that
JuJuBee479 2 years ago
Abacathoo: Would you make fun of the Bible and Jesus? Ramayana is the Story of God Ram. Therefore It should not be made fun of.
jessbillings 2 years ago
Within Valmiki's Ramayana, Ram makes mistake after mistake, many of which are omitted in "Sita Sings the Blues". He wants to abandon his bow in the forest and become a peaceful hermit, even though his duties lie elsewhere. Six (If I remember correctly) incarnations very sternly tell him that he's majorly screwed up when he all but puts Sita on a funeral pyre. In the apocryphal ending that "Sita Sings the Blues" uses, he goes mad and kills innocent people because he's been dumb and irrational.
vandama0mossadegh 2 years ago 2
I think its funny we say "Valmiki's Ramayana". there r so many versions/ interpretations- its not really his Ramayana anymore
what we really have r people's stories & interpretations...
what we take from the movie/ story says way more about us (as in where we are in society) & the writers than about Lord Rama or the actual (unavailable) original story.
For example I follow the Vaisnava understanding of this story & 85% of the material in this film is presented backwards than what i learned :)
nitaipriyaa 2 years ago
He's not above mistakes even in the Ramayana. Get over it. Or better, write your own movie about how awesome he was.
vandama0mossadegh 2 years ago 2
Incredible film, very funny.
People should donate as Nina Paley had to take out a loan to legalize this film and let you all watch it.
jessbillings: What makes you think the ramayana is some sort of special thing nobody is alowed to make fun of?
abacathoo 2 years ago 3
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This video depicts Lord Rama as a cruel person who left his dutiful wife. This hurts our religious sentiments. Lord Ram is a man of principles, he has been shown as a good husband in Ramayana. This lady who created this cartoon is altering Lord Rama's image by showing him as cruel.
How would you feel if Jesus was depicted as a cruel person? Please tell her to delete this video as it promotes Hatred towards Lord Ram.
jessbillings 2 years ago
true
JuJuBee479 2 years ago
He does this withing the original version of the story.
Ram was conflicted, thats why we love him so much, he was the most human of Lord Vishnu's incarnations
idkyajushrulz 2 years ago
When Kings enjoyed in the glory of having multiple queens, Ram chose to have only one queen.
He could have easily married someone else after sending Sita to the ashram. But he did not. Don't you think he too was suffering?
He could have chosen to leave Sita with Ravan and get married to someone else, But he choose to go and save her.
All his actions make me beleive that he was a Man with values. Why do u see otherwise?
jessbillings 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
It is easy to compare Ram to your husband-who did something cruel to you. But for GOD's sake do not mis-interpret what Ram is. Please don't change Ram's image.
jessbillings 2 years ago
i really like the movie the dancing shiva is cool
minniethemoocher1932 2 years ago
i saw it it was awesome!!!
julianchelo 2 years ago
Great film.
badjuk 2 years ago 2
Hey...... its brilliant........
never thought, such a complex storey of Ramayana could be told in such a simple and imaginative way.....
and pspython4, in india a holy book, even ramayana, was never considered to be unchangable.... in fact almost 200 versions of ramayana exist all over india, each having a different depiction and even different character assuming the central role.... so no need to be so touchy....
Paley did a good job... atleast better than that of Ramanand sagar.
soumyadipta1234 2 years ago 5
This has been flagged as spam show
I would appreciate Nina Paley to come up with direct questions about Hindus and their beliefs, that would be the better approach rather than making an animated hatred movie!
nambibt 2 years ago
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nambibt 2 years ago
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pspython4 2 years ago
Give me a break, this is not a mockery. Yes, it's a liberal adaptation of the Ramayana, full of artistic license (which is great by the way), but not a frame of it is disrespectful, to the contrary. It can only make people more interested in Hindu traditions.
intigfx 2 years ago
Oh mercy do I want to see this film on the biggest screen in the city. Not all animation has to be Pixar or anime, people!
thaitea10 2 years ago
This played here for two nights and I MISSED IT! I'm so pissed!
JoyGrenade 2 years ago
Sita Sings the Blues is going to be broadcast on New York PBS station WNET Channel 13 on Saturday March 7 at 10:45pm on the series Reel13.
richsieg 3 years ago
lol
Cresantstar 3 years ago
anyone who wants to donate can do so now at questioncopyright(dot)org(slash)sita_distribution
Falco98 3 years ago
cool animations, musiic
men I need to see this filmm!!
gronchodelica 3 years ago
donations are now open...
Falco98 3 years ago
thanx a bunch for posting this! i love watching thist railer and want it to come out on DVD because i want to see it soooooooo much!
that funky beat is nice too. i've watched this trailer at least a dozen times by now!
dubhippy 3 years ago
you can now donate... just go to nina paley's blog and click on the giant picture of sita "in jail"...
Falco98 3 years ago
awesome..
kejsmann 3 years ago
that was a great film, anyone who hasnt seen it needs to see it
darrenhammond 3 years ago
cool !~
LordLebu 3 years ago
*Sigh* Is there any way a 19-year old guy living in Malta can see this film?
julian7carter 3 years ago
Amazing trailer!5/5
dragonveins 3 years ago
I watched this movie today, and met the creator. Both wonderful.
333RandomPerson333 3 years ago
soooo sweeet
lillykilly 3 years ago
I watch this movie on exit fest, Its fucking amazing!!!
MasterAkob 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Oh! Idiot, donkey & all bad thing of world. Don't upload such movies to spoil images of our holy Gods. Remove it immediately.
hirenable 3 years ago
its not being spoiled.. we hindu's are represented i think in a very sweet and cute way... whats wrong with that.. u know what u believe right?? u dont need other ppl for that if they do good or wrong with our religion it doesnt matter becuz god is inside of u..
Awiesha 3 years ago
What are "Hindu's"?
NobleApple 3 years ago
go crawl back under ur rock
Awiesha 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
It represented exactly opposite thing. Lord Ram, who is known as 'maryada purushottam', presented as ordinary shameless man. Accept Gods as they are. Don't present them by your thoughts.
hirenable 3 years ago
i believe how i wanna believe.. i dont need you for it...
Awiesha 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Oh! Idiot.
Here also nobody needs to U.
We wants to say that please stop your cheap activities to spoil images of holy God.
hirenable 3 years ago
im the idiot?? obviously you dont know anything about Hinduism and you should be educated.
Awiesha 3 years ago
I M educated. So doesn't need to it further. But U really needs it. U doesn't know about Hinduism & principles of it, definitely. So there is no question of Lord Ram. First read Ramayan & then only speak about Lord Ram.
hirenable 3 years ago
WOW! Ignoring all the debate going on. I have no idea what this movie is about or who it is by. I didn't get passed the first 20 seconds because the 'a' at the end of Rama is suppose to be silent and it drives me crazy when people mispronounce it.
ChaoticMoira 3 years ago
It's about an American cartoonist whose husband moves to India and later divorces her. Heartbroken, she saw themes about man/woman relationships she could relate to in the legends and imagery of India, as well as old blues songs from the 1920's. So she combined these two very different cultural elements throughout the film. It's supposed to be a "very personal" film according to an interview (in other words, not trying to be canon about the subject matter).
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago 6
either way, silent or pronounced, there is no hard and fast rule. the benefit of hearing transcendental sound and pastimes of the Supreme are all good.
edhani369 3 years ago
cartoni animati: Ramayana - The legend of prince Rama [1]
Another you tube vedio. Which gives a good description of Ramayana in ENGLISH. This video is in parts and shows the whole Ramayana story. Just watch it in your spare time and if you have kids, show it to them too. I am sure they will enjoy it.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
All though there are some errors as compared to the original Epic but still the element of senstivity is there.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
Watch "Ramayana - Prince of Light" video on you tube. This too is an animation about Ramayana and this is exactly how it should have been depicted.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
You do not see this as ridiculing Hinduism because you are not as familiar with Ramayan and the characters depicted in it as we are. Ram and Seeta and Hanuman are deeply revered figures. Any description showing them to be jerks (and yes she has used the word "jerk" for Lord Ram and "doormant" for seeta on her website) is humiliating.
Ram, Seeta and Hanuman are revered as deeply wise and here they are all depicted as some dumb jokers and this is what is infuriating.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
Well, yes, sometimes Americans can be unwittingly insensitive towards other cultures. That is because as a culture, Western society tends to be a little more irreverent in attitude. Just about everything gets made fun of in America (look up "The Simpsons"). That does not always mean there is a hateful intent. What *will* cause Americans to hate something is to threaten their liberties. This is why presidential candidates who speak against Communism or terrorism tend to get elected.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago 4
If you do not mind my asking, did you watch the Ramayana vedio I suggested.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
Yes, I looked at some of the scenes, although did not have time to watch the whole thing. It's very beautiful, more like anime or Disney. Thanks for sharing.
I admit I do not know that much about the Hindu religion although I hear that there are various sects and that there are various ways the story has been told and interpreted, as is the case with many other religions.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
Just to rephrase what I meant, I meant that the cartoon did not lead me to want to make fun of Hinduism. It did not cause me to think of revered Hindu figures as silly cartoons. The movie you cited is understood to be a sincere representation. This isn't. My impression was that it had much more to do with the experience and viewpoints of the person who made the film (whose American husband was working in India). Just to answer your concerns about how it would influence Western audiences.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago 2
I am sure if somebody's mother is depicted in a vulgur manner, he or she will feel like killing the artist.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
You have a right to be offended; however, going back to the cross-cultural aspects, I do not think it was Paley's intent to make fun of the story by depicting them as cartoons, since cartoons of all forms are a part of American culture. So, perhaps she was just being naive. In fact most Americans have affection for 1930's style cartoons since it is something most of us watch in childhood. She used the 1930's style to go with the 1930's music in some of the scenes.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
But here's the thing: talking about killing and harming someone is a highly negative response, and rather contradictory for one who claims to hold peace and open-mindedness as a virtue. Perhaps you have not yet mastered the discipline of learning the most peaceful and positive ways to approach a problem. Because otherwise, it just ends up making *you* look bad -- no better than an Islamic fanatic. And that is far worse for your side than a little cartoon that was done on a computer.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
(con't) But as you saw, becoming more reasonable enabled more of an open dialogue. So, I learned more about the ways Hindus are oppressed, and you possibly learned more about American culture, that there may be an entirely different context for interpretation.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
Point accepted, as long as the person being spoken to is sensitive enough to understand (for example you), but when not then I do not think there is an option.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
If you care to read the Ramayana, Lord Hanuman and Sita have a relationship of Mother and Son and Sita is an epitome of chastity. She revered as the devine mother by all Hindus. But just recently a famous muslim painter, M.F. Hussain, painted Hanuman and Sita in nude and embarassing positions and that too all in the name of artistic freedom. Do you think artistic freedom gives them the license to show mother and son in an incestuous relationship. Or the Divine mother in nude....
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
In America, yes, there is that kind of artistic freedom under law, as long at is it by private individuals and not government-sponsored. Of course the offended religion also has the right to denounce the artist (See "Andres Serrano") and people are free to discuss the merits of the work (or lack of).
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
There have been plenty of outrageous and blasphemous depictions of Christian figures in Western culture. (Ken Russell's "The Devils" is one I can think of. Look it up, it's on here.) The Christian response is generally, "God will judge him for that"
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago 2
If you had cared to watch "Bad Manna" whenever some poor hindus are converted to christianity, they are told to step upon and spit upon Hindu dieties. How open minded is that?
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
I don't agree with everything evangelical Christians do. FWIW I am more of a rationalist and freethinker. In fact, my nick refers to fundamentalist Xtians (+ Muslims) and their attitude towards the world. Just another form of "our side is better than yours".
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
The world remembers Jews being persecuted by Hitler, but is ignorant that Hindus are the most perscuted people in the world, millions of hindus have been killed either at the hands of islamists or at the hands of christians. And persecution of Hindus is still going on, like for example in Kashmir where more than 500000 Hindus had to leave their home and hearth behind for fear of losing their lives to muslim terrorists.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
the Hindus were denied certain employments, while the Christians were preferred; it was ensured that the Hindus would not harass those who became Christians, and on the contrary, the Hindus were obliged to assemble periodically in Churches to listen to preaching or to the refutation of their religion."
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
... various viceregal and Church council decrees banished the Hindu priests from the Portuguese territories; the public practices of Hindu rites including marriage rites, were banned; the state took upon itself the task of bringing up Hindu orphan children.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
.... at least from 1540 onwards, and in the island of Goa before that year, all the Hindu idols had been annihilated or had disappeared, all the temples had been destroyed and their sites and building material was in most cases utilized to erect new Christian Churches and chapels.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
Or only Hindu God is true god and the gods of other religions are false gods. But look at what christians and islamist propogate. For christians only Jesus is true god (true savior) and Hindu gods are devils personfied and therefore Hindus should be converted to christianity (And mind you this is big on the Vatican's agenda). Same goes with islam (for them only Allah is true god and Hindus and people from other religions should be either killed or converted by force).
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
As far as open mindedness is concerned let me give you some insight into Hindu philosophy. Hinduism says that if you believe in Christ good for you, pray christ and you will achieve salvation, if someone else beleives in Allah then good for him he will achieve salvation praying allah, if some one believes in Rama or Krishna then good for them him he will achieve salvation by praying to Rama and Krishna. You will never hear stories about Hindus saying that only Hinduism is the true path......
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
Read about the history of Hinduism which has survived 10,000 years of history, you will know how strong hinduism is. It is not a question of foundation but a question of respect.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
I think there has been a cross-cultural misunderstanding, just to reiterate. As an American I know that Nina Paley has been drawing cartoons for a long time. It is just an American thing. The style of the Sita cartoons in is similar to the style of American cartoon that was popular in the 1930's, which was the same era of the old jazz songs that accompany the scenes. The cartoon scenes are set to old 1930's jazz songs sung by a woman who is heartbroken over a man. (con't)
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
So I think the whole idea of doing the Sita and Rama segments in this style, set to American music, is to show that the same kinds of themes in human relationships can be found across different cultures and eras. The reason she used the Hindu stories is because she had spent time in India with her husband, and it was a new culture to her, but when her husband divorced her she saw similarities in the theme of the heartbroken women in that story, as well as in the old songs.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago
Plus the beauty of hinduism is that reforms are encouraged. We have had reformes both legally and socially where people are discouraged to do some thing as henious as bride burning just for some dowery. Where as I have never heard about reforms being encouraged in bigoted faiths such as Islam. Where their archiac shariat law is the only law which is to be followed.
yakhudatumachuda 3 years ago
It is a good thing to hear that reforms are encouraged, especially when times are different now, with more people and knowledge, than they were many generations ago. I agree with you about Islam (or at least, radical Islam, where negative people use religion to justify their negativity.) I looked up "Afghan women" on this site and it is worse than I realized. Thousands of artists all over the world should collaborate and do a movie against that.
FundiesRStupid 3 years ago