Page 54 - seniors today november 2020
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to take Sita to the forest.
Sita is clueless about what has happened,
and is not particularly disturbed when Ram
refuses to see her when she sets out on the
journey. When they reach the forest and
Laxman tells her that she has been cast off
by Ram, she is devastated. Some impressive
special effects for the time show volcanoes
erupting to indicate her state of mind.
After sending a grief-stricken Laxman on
his way, she seeks shelter with Rishi Valmiki Shobhana Samarth and Prem Adib were hailed for their
portrayal of Sita and Ram
(G Badri Prasad).He sympathises with her
but also admires Ram for proving to be a his side. This yagya is an empire-building
true Maryada Purushottam. one, under which a horse is let loose, the
Sita takes on the name of Vandevi, so kingdoms that let the horse pass accept
nobody in the ashram knows who she really Ram’s dominion; if anyone stops the horse,
is. She gives birth to twins, Luv (Yashwant) it is taken as a declaration of war with Ram,
and Kush (Madhusudan), who grow up and who would be foolish enough to risk
without knowing about their father’s true that?
identity, and are cruelly taunted for this Luv and Kush visit Ayodhya, and impress
by the other kids. Rishi Valmiki, who has Ram singing from Valmiki’s epic (the
written the Ramayan by then, teaches the memorable Bharat ki ek sannari ki hum
boys warfare and also the story of Ram’s katha sunate hain) , but when they hear that
celebrated victory over evil. Ram abandoned his innocent wife, they leave
Back in Ayodhya, Ram punishes himself in a huff. By this time, the people of Ayodhya
by living the life of an ascetic, eating simple repent their error and want their king to be
food sleeping on the floor. When it’s time for reunited with his queen.
him to prove his supremacy over other kings When the horse reaches their home in
and perform the Ashwamedha yagna, which Dandkaranya forest, Luv-Kush stop it
requires a wife to be present, he refuses and take on Ram’s mighty army. Again,
to remarry and places a statue of Sita by the special effects were extraordinary in
those pre-CGI times, as arrows fly, fires
rage, lighting strikes and rain lashes the
battlefield. When Laxman is injured, Ram
rides out himself, to see who is fighting
his men, and is astonished to see two teens
enjoying their exploits. Sita hears that a
confrontation between her husband and
her sons is imminent, and rushes to stop it.
Ram is elated to find that the brave boys are
his sons and offers to take Sita back, but the
earth opens up and she descends into its
Luv and Kush prove their lineage depths. In many retellings of the Ramayan,
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