Watch Sita Sings the Blues

Sita Sings the Blues is a charming and whimsical animated film that tells the story of one of the oldest and most well-known Indian epics, The Ramayana. The movie primarily revolves around the relationship between the hero of the story, Rama, and his wife Sita. The epic has been retold in multiple forms, including books, television series, and movies, but Nina Paley's version of The Ramayana presents the story in a novel and refreshing way.

Sita Sings the Blues has an innovative approach to the story's narrative, as it follows the personal and often hilarious experiences of the filmmaker, Nina Paley, as she goes through a break-up with her husband. She relates her heartbreak to that of Sita's, who was abandoned by her husband Rama after being kidnapped by a demon king. Paley manages to weave these two narratives together seamlessly, which gives the movie a modern and relatable edge.

The highlight of the movie is its stunning animation, which has an unusual style that is both modern and traditional. Paley's animation is a combination of various techniques, including rotoscoping and vector graphics. The use of these techniques gives the movie a unique and eye-catching aesthetic that is accentuated by the colorful and vibrant backgrounds.

Another standout feature of the movie is the score, which is a mix of traditional Indian music and jazz. The music is performed by Annette Hanshaw, a popular jazz singer from the 1920s, and it's been used as a soundtrack to retell the story of The Ramayana. The music perfectly complements the story and adds a touch of nostalgia to the movie.

Overall, Sita Sings the Blues is an excellent movie that blends the personal story of the filmmaker with the timeless classic of The Ramayana. The combination of animation, music, and storytelling makes this movie a unique and engaging experience. The movie will appeal to people who are fans of Indian culture, animation, and those who are looking for a well-crafted modern retelling of a classic epic.

Sita Sings the Blues is a 2009 animated movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 93.