Before we move on to Caesar,  a few items related to the Ramayana:

Becoming a contemporary sensation: Sita Sings the Blues 

Many of the references I made to Alan Watts' comments on Hinduism are from this set of transcribed lectures, now out of print, but may be available used: Philosophies of Asia (P) (Alan Watts Love of Wisdom)

Also, consider Huston Smith's classic study of comparative religion: The World's Religions (Plus)