Ramayana: Before Sai Pallavi, Who Were The First Women To Play Sita In Films?

The

much-awaited first look of Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana, being produced by Namit Malhotra and directed by Nitesh Tiwari has already landed on social media. While the teaser focuses solely on Lord Rama and only offers a glimpse of Ravana (played by Toxic actor Yash), it is well known that Ramayana is incomplete without Lord Rama’s consort Sita (played by Sai Pallavi in the film). The tale of Sita on screen is as old as cinema itself. And long before contemporary actors like Sai Pallavi stepped into the role for this modern and ambitious adaptation of the Valmiki Ramayana, the character had already been shaped, reinterpreted and immortalised by generations of stellar performer, some of whom were not even women!

Earliest Portrayals Of Sita: When Men Played A Woman

When cinema was still young in India, social taboos prevented women from acting. As a result, female characters, including Sita, were actually portrayed by men. Perhaps the most fascinating example would have to be that of Anna Salunke, who plated both Rama and Sita in the 1917 silent film Lanka Dahan. In fact this was one of the first representations of Sita in cinema – and that too played by a male actor.

First Women to Play Sita on Screen

As cinema evolved and women started making inroads into what was still then a largely male-dominated industry, Sita’s portrayal also saw a transformation. One of the earliest known actresses to portray Lord Rama’s consort was Durga Khota in Debaki Bose’s Bengali film Seeta. Kote’s performance marked a turning point where a woman brought dignity and emotional depth to the character in early talkies. This was also the film which had Prithviraj Kapoor play Lord Rama, a role that his great-grandson Ranbir Kapoor is talking up in Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana.

Another early actress to take up the mantle of Sita was Prabhavati, who played the role in the 1936 Odia film Seeta Bibaha. Her role helped localise the epic for regional audiences and expand Sita’s cinematic footprint. However, perhaps the most iconic early portrayal came from Shibhna Samarth in the 1943 Ram Rajya. The film is a landmark in Indian cinema, reportedly for being the only one watched by Mahatma Gandhi.

Sita Across Regional Cinemas

With the diversification of Indian cinema, Sita found further life in new interpretations across industries. Padmini portrayed Sita in the 1958 Tamil film Sampoorna Ramayanam. Kusalakumari appeared in the Malayalam film Seeta, while Geetanjali played Sita in Sita Rama Kalyanam. Anjali Devi and Chandrakala also took on the role in Telugu adaptations through the 1960s and 70s. Even the late icon Sridevi played Sita in the 1976 Tamil film Dasavatharam.

Interestingly, these portrayals were predominantly rooted in classical style, drawing heavily from theatre and dance traditions with Sita being shown as the epitome of virtue, sacrifice and devotion.

Sita’s Evolution To Popular Culture Icons And Modern Reinterpretations

By the 1970s and 80s, Sita had become familiar and recurring presence in Indian cinema. Jaya Prada portrayed her in multiple Telugu and Hindi films, including Sita Kalyanam and Lav Kush. However, it was Dipika Chikhlia who truly turned Sita into a household name in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana on television.

In modern years, filmmakers have begun reinterpreting Sita beyond the traditional archetype. Contemporary portrayals often explore (or try to) her agency, emotional complexity and inner strength and turmoil. Actors like Mrunal Thakur in Sita Ramam brought a romantic and humanised dimension to the character, even if in a reimagined narrative inspired by the epic. Meanwhile, television and streaming adaptations have continued to revisit Sita with updated sensibilities. Kriti Sanon’s portrayal of Sita in Adipurush too was commendable, if only the Prabhas-starrer was panned for its representation of the epic. With Sai Pallavi’s casting in the new big-screen adaptation yet another evolution seems to have been signalled. Known for her naturalistic performances and emotional depth, one can only hope to see Pallavi move away from the purely devotional image and present Sita as a more layered figure.

Legacy of Sita on Screen

From being essayed by a man in the silent era to becoming a symbol of feminine strength interpreted by some of the finest actress in India, Sita’s cinematic journey mirrors the evolution of Indian cinema itself. While early portrayals emphasised divinity and idealism, mid-century adaptations brought regional diversity and theatrical richness. Where television made her a cultural constant, modern filmmakers today are attempting to rediscover her as a fully realised individual – one who is both human, and divine.