THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SCREEN VERSIONS OF THE RAMAYANA EPIC IN THE CULTURE OF MODERN INDIA IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIO-POLITICAL EVENTS

Abstract

The ancient Indian epic “Ramayana” despite its venerable age is of great significance to Indian cultural heritage, and the issues that are touched upon in it are still relevant in contemporary India. "Ramayana" is an integral part of modern Indian culture, a source of inspiration in various areas of creativity. In the article, the author examines and compares the ancient Indian epic Ramayana and its screen adaptations of the 20th and early 21st centuries, also reveals the changes that appeared in the context of historical reality. Particular attention is paid to gender issues, namely, the status of women in India, and the appeal of the creators of film versions to this problem. Sita and Rama, being the protagonists of the epic, are revered in India not only as gods, but also as an ideal married couple. In the course of the study, it became clear that the creators of mythological film versions, referring to the authority of the main characters, were able to show both the pressing problems of the society during the filming and to become in some way a harbinger of certain events and changes in society. To cover a wider range of issues, the authors of the films address not only the original text of the epic, but also various local versions. The material for the study was the most significant literary and film sources. The identification of the influence of historical and social processes on the plot of film versions is the main goal of the study.