Chhota Bheem And The Throne of Bali Review

Love him or hate him, you can't ignore him. Your kids worship him, and why should the makers not take advantage of that by giving us a second movie? It is a successful franchise, after all. Besides, it's vacation time - the perfect opportunity to release Chhota Bheem And The Throne of Bali.

When we last saw Bheem on the big screen, he had proved his mettle as a brave young warrior, and strengthened his bond with his gang of friends - Chutki, Raju, Kalia and others - as well as with Princess Indu and her father, King Indraverma. Bheem spends his days having fun with his pals, and his nights saving babies from evil wild animals.

Now, the king has a sister, who is married to the monarch of Bali. Her son, Arjun, is about to be crowned, and she invites her brother and niece for the occasion. The king takes Bheem and gang along.

After hearing tales of the splendour and beauty of Bali, Bheem and his friends are shocked to find the land in ruins. They soon learn that a witch named Rangda, who was exiled long ago, has laid siege to the city and unleashed terror.

Arjun, the crown Prince, has escaped her clutches. With Bheem's help, he now hopes to restore Bali to its former glory, and to banish Rangda forever.

Although the narrative flows in a simple manner, a whole new bunch of characters are introduced in the middle of the movie. This may confuse the young viewer.

The language is basic Hindi, with a smattering of English, but some words are difficult to comprehend. Too much time and detail are spent on explaining powers and spells and conditions for boons, and then there are the mythical characters. The plot is simple, but the execution makes it seem lengthier and more tedious than it actually is.

The visuals are several notches superior to those in the previous movie. The colours and elements used for Bali are a treat for young eyes - softer and subdued. Although "Bali" is almost Indian in nature, in the movie, the makers have tried to incorporate architecture and costumes of the actual place.

The real hero of the movie is the music. It is catchy and fun, and kids will love it, especially the Bali song. The voice artistes have done a commendable job in bringing to life the characters that have become so popular with kids of all ages.

Your child will love the movie, which is enough reason for you to watch it. You can always catch Bombay Talkies once the kids have gone to bed.