Chhota Bheem Kung Fu Dhamaka

STORY: Motivated by greed and blinded by vengeful tendencies, princess Kia of the kingdom of China is abducted by her own kin – cousin Zuhu. Upon seeing her inconsolable father’s plight, Bheem (voice by Sonal Kaushal) and his friends take up the mission to rescue and get her home.

REVIEW: Bheem, who is now in China, to participate in an annual marital arts competition, is faced with the humungous task of bringing a princess home, by fighting her evil cousin Zuhu – who commands an army of slaves and soldiers possessing magical powers.

Anyone who’s watched animated movies from the West will agree that the 3D animation in ‘Chhota Bheem: Kung Fu Dhamaka’ is at par with its Hollywood counterparts. The script, too, imparts a positive lesson on life and the overall look and feel of this children’s movie is just delightful. All the animated characters, even the ones with grey shades, are relatable in their own ways and the background score elevates the impact of the story very well.

Also, Chota Bheem and his gang flying off to China to rescue a princess is an interesting idea to explore, given the current air of political hostility between India and her neighbouring country. But this film was made for children and young adults and in that respect, the length of the animated feature drags a bit too much. The narrative fails to hold your attention after a certain point. A few twists and turns introduced in the plot, especially in the second half, look forced and seem to drag on.

Despite the minor hiccups, ‘Chhota Bheem: Kung Fu Dhamaka’ largely works due to its strong emotional content. The film reiterates the fact that love and friendship should be based on the foundation of unconditional support and selflessness. Now that’s a worthy lesson for younger audiences for sure.