Ghatothkach - Master of Magic
Of late, we have seen some remarkable development in desi animated films like Hanuman Krishna, Ganesh and the likes. Not depending on Disney films anymore for their cute fairy tales from Anderson, we have our own animated films based on our rich mythology that are not only good to watch but are pretty entertaining as well.
Rating: 2.75/5
No doubt it is quite a difficult task to judge an animated film with the scale borrowed from Hollywood films. Though Ghatothkach has been deeply inspired from Disney films, the standards are poles apart so it will not be justified to compare Disney’s films with the Indian films. It is a tricky thing to speak about animated films but at least one thing is clear, the younger generation will not see the monopoly of western films. They might learn mythology in a playful manner.
Ghatothkach is not exactly a kid’s film, to rightly say, it is a film for the under thirteenish ones. Ghatothkach has released in seven languages English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali with a budget of 20 Crores! The vibrant eye-pleasing colors and the skillful combination of 3D and 2D animation create enough magic to please the young one, though it would have been even better to go for one format rather than making a cocktail. The film shows Ghatothkach from childhood to adulthood with lot of charm, which is yet another attraction.
Director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, the director of the famed silent film Pushak, a film that retains its position among the 100 best films chosen by the Gentleman Magazine, has given us some out of the box films. This is way Ghatothkach doesn’t come as a surprise. The film has been taken fairly well by the audience in Cannes and with Shemarro’s publicity it will reach the broader public as well, probably it is one of the most hyped animated films so far. The only negative scores in the film are the parts that it becomes evident that it has been consciously made for all, not only aiming at a younger audience.
Taken from Mahabharat, possibly an episode that hasn’t been talked about much, Ghatotkach or Ghattu is the son of mighty Bhim and Hidimba. He is left alone with his loving mother to grow up in a forest. As he grows up, it becomes evident that he has unfathomable power and magic.
While still a young kid, he saves a young elephant and names him Gajju. The two then become great friends and their jungle adventures begin. Learning that he can have future trouble with Bhim’s son, the Kaurava prince Duryodhan send two demons to kill young Ghattu. Mighty as he is Ghattu kills one and the other returns to his master lying in fear of his life that he has killed the child.
With lot of fun, frolic and magic, Ghattu grows up and becomes a bosom friend of Abhimanyu, the son of Arjun. While Abhimanyu and Surekha, Balram’s daughter are engaged to be married, out of rivalry Duryodhan wants Surekha to marry his son Lakshmana. Ghattu unites Abhimanyu and Surekha after taking the shape of Surekha during the marriage with Lakshmana.
The film has many funny and charming moments. Another biggest scoring point of the movie is its music. The music has been taken to compliment the story and adds some extra colors to the narration. With a mixture of bhangra and pop from various musical forms, the music is definitely pleasant to the ear. Especially, the title song, Ghatothkach, Angalika bangalika and Maya bazaar are pretty good to hear and watch.
The film has everything in it, magic, romance, adventure and looks more filmy than a epic but it can be forgiven keeping in mind that we are looking at a fictitious work.
Finally, the film is a good watch with the family and comes in the final week of holidays, which means some more fun with the family before the kids pack their bags to school.
Rating: 2.75/5
