Navratri marks the nine nights that Rama and Ravana battled in the Ramayana, all culminating to when l Rama defeats Ravana on the tenth day and restores peace and harmony to India. This battle marks the climax of the Hindu epic the Ramayana, which tells the story of Prince Rama, who is the seventh reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, who was born on Earth to help preserve peace in the world.
Considering the Ramayana is work of art that defines Indian culture, it has been rewritten and reenacted a countless number of times; however, one of the best interpretations of this classic is the 1992 anime movie Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama. That’s right, an anime movie. As a symbol of the 40 years of friendly diplomatic relations India and Japan had, a group of Indian and Japanese animators came together to retell the Ramayana in anime style, and in the end, they have truly done justice to the epic and have demonstrated what makes this story one that is so integral to Indian culture.
For starters, I love the fact that this in an animated feature and not a live action film; It was the best way to capture all the mythology involved in the story without making it appear cheesy and fake. As with all Japanese animated features, the animation of this epic was top-notch. Hindu mythology is known for having many characters with supernatural abilities and features- and the animation could capture all those aspects. It was evident that the animators payed intricate attention to detail to the time that the story takes place, the complexity of the characters, and have done their research regarding how the story plays out.
They were also able to capture the mythical and magical nature of the Ramayana yet make the story seem relatable and logical at the same time. After all, the Ramayana at its foundation is the story of triumph over evil- a universal message that anyone and everyone can relate to- and that message is delivered loud and clear in the film. Also, I’m a fan of movies that, while are targeted towards kids, are enjoyable for adults as well. After all, just because a film is made for a younger audience doesn’t mean it can’t be just as high-budget and well-executed as an adult film. This film, while for children, doesn’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of the tale like the violence, and it demonstrates a certain trust in the maturity of the audience that I’ve come to appreciate.
Therefore, for those who aim to learn a little bit more about Indian culture, or are just in a festive mood and want a holiday to celebrate, this animated feature is in your alley. The feature is easily available on YouTube in English, and if you’re feeling daring, it’s available in Hindi and Japanese as well.
Featured image credit: Sahibdin [Public domain]