RAMAYANA: THE EPIC (2010)

Summary:

Ramayana: The Epic is a visually stunning animated film that brings to life one of India's most revered ancient Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana. The narrative follows the journey of Prince Rama of Ayodhya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as he faces immense challenges to uphold Dharma (righteousness). Exiled from his kingdom, Rama, along with his devoted wife Sita and loyal brother Lakshmana, embarks on a fourteen-year sojourn in the forest, where their peace is shattered by the malevolent demon king Ravana.

The film meticulously chronicles Ravana's cunning abduction of Sita and Rama's subsequent quest to rescue her. Aided by the valiant monkey general Hanuman and an army of Vanaras (forest dwellers), Rama wages a formidable war against Ravana's powerful demon forces in the island kingdom of Lanka. The epic culminates in a climactic battle between good and evil, the triumphant return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya, and Rama's coronation, establishing an era of unparalleled peace and justice known as Ram Rajya.

Keywords: Ramayana, 2010, Manoj Bajpayee, Juhi Chawla, Animation, Mythology, Adventure, India.

Plot:

The epic begins in Ayodhya, the prosperous kingdom ruled by the benevolent King Dasharatha. Despite his wealth and power, Dasharatha grieves his inability to have an heir. He performs a grand yagna (fire sacrifice), and as a divine blessing, his three wives conceive. Queen Kausalya gives birth to Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu; Queen Kaikeyi to Bharata; and Queen Sumitra to Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama, imbued with divine qualities, grows up as a virtuous and skilled warrior, beloved by all.

Years later, the sage Vishwamitra arrives in Ayodhya, seeking Rama's assistance to protect his sacrifices from demonic interference. Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana, readily agrees. During their journey, Rama slays the demoness Tataka and her son Subahu, and liberates Ahalya from a curse. Vishwamitra then leads them to the kingdom of Mithila, where King Janaka has organized a swayamvar (a ceremony for a princess to choose her husband) for his beautiful daughter, Sita, who is an incarnation of Lakshmi. The challenge is to string the divine bow of Shiva. Many mighty kings fail, but Rama effortlessly lifts and breaks the bow, thus winning Sita's hand in marriage. The two are married in a grand ceremony, along with Lakshmana to Urmila, and Bharata and Shatrughna to Mandavi and Shrutakirti, respectively.

Back in Ayodhya, King Dasharatha decides to crown Rama as his successor. However, his youngest queen, Kaikeyi, influenced by her wicked maid Manthara, demands two boons promised to her long ago by the king. The first is that Bharata be made king, and the second is that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years. Bound by his word, a heartbroken Dasharatha reluctantly agrees. Rama, upholding his father's honor and the principles of Dharma, accepts his exile without protest. Sita, despite Rama's pleas for her to stay, insists on accompanying him, declaring that a wife's place is by her husband's side. Lakshmana, fiercely loyal, also vows to join them, leaving behind his wife Urmila. The trio departs for the Dandakaranya forest, leaving Ayodhya plunged in sorrow. King Dasharatha, unable to bear the separation from his beloved son, soon passes away.

Bharata, upon learning of the events, is enraged at his mother's actions and refuses the throne. He goes to the forest to persuade Rama to return, but Rama steadfastly refuses, determined to fulfill his father's vow. Bharata, honoring Rama, places Rama's sandals on the throne and rules Ayodhya as a regent for the next fourteen years. Meanwhile, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana lead an ascetic life in the forest, encountering various sages and occasionally battling rakshasas (demons) who disturb the peace.

Their peaceful existence in Panchavati is disrupted by Surpanakha, the sister of the powerful demon king Ravana of Lanka. Infatuated with Rama, she attempts to seduce him. When rejected, she turns her attention to Lakshmana, who, in defense of Sita and himself, disfigures her by cutting off her nose and ears. Humiliated and enraged, Surpanakha flies to Lanka and incites her brother Ravana to seek revenge. Ravana, notorious for his immense power, ten heads, and twenty arms, and driven by lust for Sita, devises a cunning plan. He enlists the help of the demon Maricha, who transforms into a beautiful golden deer to lure Rama away from their hermitage. Sita, captivated by the deer, pleads with Rama to capture it. Rama, sensing treachery but unable to refuse Sita, pursues the deer, leaving Lakshmana to guard Sita.

As Rama hunts the deer, Maricha cries out in Rama's voice, feigning distress. Sita, fearing for Rama's life, implores Lakshmana to go to his aid. Lakshmana, though reluctant and knowing it's a trick, draws a protective line (Lakshmana Rekha) around the hermitage and reluctantly leaves. Seizing this opportunity, Ravana, disguised as an ascetic, appears before Sita. As soon as Sita crosses the protective line to offer him alms, Ravana reveals his true form and abducts her, flying away in his Pushpaka Vimana (flying chariot). The old eagle Jatayu, a friend of Dasharatha, attempts to rescue Sita but is mortally wounded by Ravana. Rama and Lakshmana return to find their hermitage empty and Sita gone. Overwhelmed with grief and despair, they embark on a desperate search for Sita.

Their quest leads them through dense forests and across rivers. They encounter the wise ascetic Shabari, who offers them berries and guidance. Eventually, they arrive at Rishyamukha mountain, where they meet Hanuman, the devoted and powerful general of the Vanara army, and Sugriva, the exiled king of the Vanaras. Hanuman, recognizing Rama's divine aura, pledges his unwavering loyalty. Rama helps Sugriva regain his kingdom by defeating and killing his tyrannical brother Vali. In return, Sugriva promises to help Rama find Sita. Hanuman, blessed with immense strength and the ability to fly, takes a mighty leap across the ocean to Lanka.

In Lanka, Hanuman meticulously searches for Sita, finally finding her imprisoned in the Ashoka Vatika (a beautiful garden) under constant guard, tormented by Ravana's threats and advances. He reveals himself to Sita, delivers Rama's signet ring as proof, and receives a chudamani (hair ornament) from Sita as a token for Rama. To gauge Ravana's strength and to leave a message of Rama's impending arrival, Hanuman wreaks havoc in the Ashoka Vatika, kills many rakshasas, and allows himself to be captured. Brought before Ravana, he bravely declares Rama's might and warns Ravana to release Sita. As punishment, Ravana orders Hanuman's tail to be set on fire. Hanuman, using his divine powers, expands his tail and sets the entire city of Lanka ablaze before leaping back across the ocean to report his findings to Rama.

Upon Hanuman's return, the Vanara army, filled with renewed hope, prepares for war. Under the guidance of the divine architect Nala, they begin constructing a massive bridge, the Rama Setu, across the ocean to Lanka. Vibhishana, Ravana's righteous younger brother, tries to persuade Ravana to return Sita and avoid war, but Ravana dismisses him contemptuously. Vibhishana, disillusioned, defects and seeks refuge with Rama, who welcomes him with open arms. The mighty Vanara army, led by Rama and Lakshmana, crosses the bridge and lays siege to Lanka.

The war that ensues is fierce and devastating. Many valiant warriors fall on both sides. Ravana's formidable generals and sons, including Indrajit (who had defeated Indra himself), Kumbhakarna (Ravana's giant brother), and Meghanada, unleash their might. Lakshmana is gravely wounded by Indrajit's potent arrow, the Shakti Astra, which leaves him near death. Hanuman is dispatched to the Himalayas to fetch the Sanjeevani herb, which alone can save Lakshmana. Unable to identify the specific herb, Hanuman brings the entire mountain back, saving Lakshmana's life just in time.

The climactic battle sees Rama confront Ravana himself. After a prolonged and brutal duel, Rama, with the aid of a divine arrow given by sage Agastya, pierces Ravana's heart, ending his tyrannical reign. With Ravana's death, Vibhishana is crowned the new king of Lanka. Rama sends Hanuman to inform Sita of his victory. Sita is brought before Rama, but to prove her purity after her captivity, Rama asks her to undergo an Agni Pariksha (ordeal by fire). Sita enters the flames, and the fire god Agni himself emerges, affirming her unwavering chastity. Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and the victorious Vanara army return to Ayodhya in the Pushpaka Vimana, where Bharata joyously welcomes them.

Rama is crowned king of Ayodhya, ushering in a golden age known as Ram Rajya, characterized by justice, peace, and prosperity. However, the happiness is short-lived. Public rumors and gossip about Sita's time in Lanka begin to circulate, challenging her purity and Rama's reign. To uphold his duties as king and maintain the trust of his subjects, Rama, with a heavy heart, makes the agonizing decision to banish Sita, who is pregnant, to the forest. Sita finds refuge in the ashram of Sage Valmiki, where she gives birth to twin sons, Luv and Kush. Valmiki raises them, teaching them the Vedas and the story of the Ramayana.

Years later, Valmiki brings Luv and Kush to Ayodhya during Rama's Ashwamedha Yagna (horse sacrifice). The boys, unaware of their parentage, recite the Ramayana, captivating the audience with their melodious voices and the epic's poignant narrative. Rama recognizes his sons and is reunited with them. He sends for Sita, hoping to bring her back to Ayodhya. However, Sita, heartbroken by the repeated trials and public scrutiny, makes a final plea to Mother Earth (Bhumi Devi), her mother, to take her back. The earth splits open, and Bhumi Devi emerges, embracing Sita and taking her into the earth, ending her earthly suffering. Rama, having fulfilled his duties as king and husband, eventually ascends to his divine abode, Vaikuntha, concluding his incarnation.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Manoj Bajpayee as Rama (voice)
• Juhi Chawla as Sita (voice)
• Ashutosh Rana as Ravana (voice)
• Mukesh Rishi as Hanuman (voice)
• Sachin Khedekar as Lakshmana (voice)
• Kunika Lal as Surpanakha (voice)

Crew:

• Director: Chetan Desai
• Producers: Chetan Desai, Sandeep Desai
• Screenwriter (Dialogue): Rahul Singh
• Screenwriter (Story Adaptation): Chetan Desai
• Music Composer: Vijay Prakash, Amar Mohile
• Editor: Chetan Desai

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: 15 October 2010
• Language: Hindi
• Genre: Animation, Mythology, Adventure
• Running Time: 120 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.