Vol. 5 No. 2 (2021)
Articles

Intertextuality Between the Ramayana and Selected Films, Chosen Discourses

Published 2021-09-01

Abstract

This research looks at how the Ramayana, one of India's two major epics, is intertextually borrowed in the 21st century Indian movies Ravanan in Tamil (Ravana in Hindi) RavanaPrabhu. (Malayalam)and Judgementall Hai Kya (Hindi, 2019) and 20th C Autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi.The study also delves into many of its adaptations, interpretations and excerpts in Indian as well as World Literature and fine arts of the ancient times as well as contemporary works.The film Ravanan takes use of a number of well-known episodes from the epic and adapts them to the contemporary Indian context. The filmmaker Mani Ratnam's treatment of intertextuality with the Ramayana, as well as contextualizing it to meet the needs of modern society, is very impressive. Scenes from the Ramayana are recalled, yet there is also a sense of freshness. The majority of the lines also make many allusions to other Ramayana versions. Ravana Prabhu too has relied only on the concept of Kidnapping a lady who is already in relation to another. Ravanan of Judgement all Hai Kya like Rananan of Mani Ratnam is killed multiple times: The former one is shown in multiple mirrors and the latter receives multiple shots. In short these three films like millions of other texts have intertextuality with the great epic The Ramayana and thereby proves Oropeza, B. J’s  (2016) concept on inter-textuality that structural as well as post-structural techniques of intertextuality is found in cross-disciplinary texts.