British filmmaker to exalt the love story of Ram and Sita

AYODHYA: When someone blesses a newly wed to live like Ram and Sita, elders in most families prompt in to replace the simile with Shiva and Parvati. But British film-maker Antonia Filmer differs.
"What I gathered was that people do not find it a perfect love story because Ram and Sita could live happily ever after like Shiva and Parvati. But there is surely a love story between them that needs to be told to the world outside," Antonia told TOI.
Deeply convinced with her idea, Antonia is out to tell the love story of Ram and Sita through her film.She visited the temple town recently to get a feel of Ram's birthplace, experience the common man's life, meet relevant people to gather inputs for her project titled 'The Perfect Man'.
Talking to TOI, Antonia said, "the historic love between Rama and Sita defied separation and disorder and attracted devotion ever since." Antonia found it ironical that everyone knows about Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, Troilus and Cressida but the story of Ram and Sita remains limited to Indian diaspora.
Often asked to compare the stories of Romeo and Juliet vis-a-vis Ram and Sita, Antonia said, "To me the Romeo and Juliet story is the opposite of a moral example -- their love was a young passion. But Ram and Sita imply a more mature love story especially after all the delights and tribulations they experienced. And above all, it was not fiction."

Citing their final separation as the highest expression of love, Antonia added, "Ram chose a moral path and respect from his people over his love for Sita. He did his duty as King and she followed his wish. Both behaved with dignity possibly in spite of personal suffering which does not come easily and can only be done out of love."
Antonia, who was deeply thankful to her guide Ravi, found her visit extremely meaningful. She would also be shooting for the documentary in Ayodhya. "Twin cities of Faizabad and Ayodhya would be the starting and end points of my work," she said. About the status of work, she said, "No project can take off without funding and I am in negotiating for sponsorships these days. But the concept and action plan is in place."
About her experience of Ayodhya city, she said, "I was very moved by the living devotion still practised every day, making the past so vivid. Here faith is a daily routine and way of life. I like the concept of tradition uninterrupted and undisturbed; but some modern facilities can surely benefit residents and pilgrims here."
Antonia has been the fashion editor with the Vogue Magazine for ten years in London and regularly makes brand image videos. Sharing more about her life so far, she said, " In 2012 I realised my first documentary on the recollections of Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma of erstwhile Travancore (royal family). The next project was related to Padmanabha Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The Perfect Man would be my third project related to India."