FILMS OF THE SPIRIT

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

 

Kanchana Sita (Malayalam; 90 min; 1977; dvd; English subtitles)

Directed by G. Aravindan

 

With Ramdas, Venkateswarlu, Chinna Pulliah, Kesava Panicker

 

Recipient of the National Film Award for Best Direction 

 

Aravindan’s film is a retelling of an episode from the Ramayana. Derived from Sreekantan Nair's play and Valmiki's epic, the film alludes to the golden image of Seeta which Rama sets by his side for the Ashwamedha Yagya, the ritual sacrifice of a horse to Agni, the god of fire. The film has been widely appreciated for the uncompromising exploration of the ancient epic through a new cinematic language, moving its focus from the central characters to Nature. Ram and Seeta represented here only as aspects of nature such as the rustling of the wind in the trees or as rain bringing harmony where discord threatens 

 

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of H.H. The Dalai Lama)