Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious project Ramayana: Part One has been generating massive global buzz for its grand scale and star-studded cast. Featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles of Ram and Sita, the film has received immense love from audiences everywhere, but a particular sequence showing Mata Sita engaged in combat has sparked widespread debate. While viewers hold diverse opinions on this artistic choice, Deepika Chikhalia, who famously essayed the role of Sita in Ramanand Sagar's legendary television series, has finally weighed in with her perspective.
A Departure From Familiar Versions
In Nitesh Tiwari's cinematic adaptation, Sai Pallavi is portrayed fighting in battle as Sita. While some viewers have praised this striking visual depiction, others have questioned whether it deviates from the traditional narrative they grew up knowing. Deepika Chikhalia belongs to the group of people who found themselves taken aback by the combat sequence. She noted that she does not recall encountering such battle scenes in any of the versions of the epic she has either read or worked on throughout her career.
Reference to Valmiki and Tulsidas Texts
During an interview with a media publication, when asked about the action sequence, Deepika Chikhalia admitted that she had spotted the clip on Instagram. She explained that according to Valmiki's Ramayana and Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, which served as the foundational texts for their iconic television adaptation, she simply cannot remember any instances where Sita took up weapons and fought battles.
Over Three Hundred Versions Exist Across India
Despite her personal recollection, the veteran actress did not completely dismiss the filmmakers' creative choices. She acknowledged that there are more than 300 different versions of the Ramayana existing across the country, with each narrative carrying distinct variations. She reasoned that the creators might have drawn inspiration from a lesser-known text or alternate manuscript that she personally was not familiar with.
Planning to Watch the Full Film After Diwali
Interestingly, Deepika revealed that she has not yet watched the entirety of Tiwari's film. Her reaction was based solely on the action sequence circulating on Instagram, and she expressed her intention to watch the complete feature film once the festive season of Diwali concluded.
The Debate Over Khara and Dushana's Army
The discussion surrounding the epic intensified when audiences caught glimpses of Sai Pallavi's Sita performing action sequences, which reportedly included a confrontation with the army of Khara and Dushana. While critics questioned the alignment of such a portrayal with popular mainstream lore, supporters defended the decision to showcase an unexplored, fierce facet of Sita's character.
Inspiration From Adbhuta Ramayana
Addressing creative liberties prior to the film's release, director Nitesh Tiwari had previously discussed his artistic choices during an interaction with global media at a Los Angeles premiere. He explained that this specific sequence draws inspiration from the Adbhuta Ramayana, wherein Sita is depicted as a powerful manifestation of divine feminine energy, taking on a fierce Mahakali-like form to defeat a thousand-headed Ravana, although the battle depicted in the film differs from that specific text.
