There is a lot of knowledge and power associated with our culture, traditions and mythology. These impart crucial life lessons to everyone, irrespective of their age. In the present day, the vehicle to pass on these beloved evergreen stories are through animated films and shows. If your kid loves hearing about gods, showing them Lord Ganesha’s stories would be a good idea!
The Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations or festive fervour may not be at its peak, unlike previous years, but that shouldn’t stop you from celebrating or enjoying the festival with your loved ones. In fact, if you choose to stay indoors, you can spend more time with family while gorging on some lip-smacking modaks and binge-watching these Indian mythological content online!
Here are eight filns/shows that will empower you with more knowledge about the Vighnaharta and his deeds:
1) Bal Ganesh
The film has three parts: Bal Ganesh 1, 2 and 3.
The premise of the first film is about the fact that the elephant God, adored and loved by millions worldwide, was once a little child. As an endearing, intelligent child, he had his own set of adventures in which he had a lot of fun. The movie presents Ganesha as a naughty prankster whose childhood antics are spiced with foot-tapping music, delicious modaks and a naughty mooshak (mouse). The narrative is endearing to the target audience of kids.
After the success of Bal Ganesh, the makers decided to turn it into a franchise and started introducing unique storylines, featuring the young Lord Ganesha who can be seen continuing his mischievous acts, while dealing with different situations. To keep the kids entertained, the third instalment features a group of alien kids from the planet Zeba, who visit Earth to learn more about Bal Ganesh.
Where to watch: The full movie is available on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
2) Hamara Dost Ganesha
This was one of the first animated movies in the Hindi language about the adventures of Ganesha and his band of kiddie friends. The film was aired on India’s Cartoon Network channel when it first released and received great response.
Lord Ganesha is revered as the God of good luck. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesha, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.
Where to watch: The entire film is available for free on YouTube.
3) My Friend Ganesha
The film was made in three parts: My Friend Ganesha 1, 2 and 3.
The first part was made in 2007 as a full fledged feature film that had an animated Ganesha interacting with an eight-year-old boy whom he befriends to counteract his loneliness. The live-action film with animated Ganesha revolves around a family of four members that includes the parents, an eight-year-old boy and their maid. The parents are busy with their lives and that leaves the boy lonely. He only has the maid as company. The maid, Gangutai, being a devotee of Ganesha, tells him that Ganesha is a friend whom everyone can count on. This propels the boy to deeply believe so.
Through the movie’s various twists and turns, everyone in the family turns to be a devout Ganesha follower believing that the God is always there to help. The popularity and success of this subject has led to the creation of a second and third instalment of films – My friend Ganesha 2, and My friend Ganesha 3.
Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
4) Ganesha
Ganesha is made by Pen Movies. The elephant-head God Ganesh is one of the most admired and colourful Indian deities, and his story is also one of the most entertaining one. This animated feature brings to life the adventurous story of his birth and his confrontation with Lord Shiva, thus leading to him receiving his elephant head.
The film also weaves highly entertaining yet little-known episodes from his life, culled from various folklore, making for a unique and fluid introduction to Lord Ganesh for the young and the young-at-heart alike.
Where to watch: YouTube
5) Gadget Guru Ganesha
Gadget Guru Ganesha was released on 17 August 2020. Guru, an eight-year-old boy, is best friends with his soft toy, Ganesha. Together they create various gadgets to help them in everyday situations but land themselves in trouble constantly.
The TV program shows a reflection of the problems faced in real life by both children and adults. Gadget Guru Ganesha is a fun animated story where Ganesha is a toy in front of the adults but transforms into a person in front of the kids.
Where to watch: Zee5 and Disney channel
6) Bal Ganesh and the Pomozon Planet
The one hour 20 minute film was made in 2017 and is directed by Pankaj Sharma.
Bal Ganesh’s friend Mooshak plans to go to a planet named Zeba with his friends, but his spaceship crashes and they land on a planet named Pomzom where his group is held captive, until Bal Ganesh saves the day.
It is endearing to watch Mooshak along with Topi, Dhoti and Suit Boot caught in the debacle until the heroic Ganesha sets out to rescue them. The film also explores how Bal Ganesh and his brother Kartikeya find a way out of every tricky situation.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, YouTube
7) Vighnaharta Ganesh
The mythological television series is based on Hindu scriptures revolving around Lord Ganesha. It was launched on Sony Entertainment Television in India on 22 August 2017.
When Lord Shiva beheads Lord Ganesha, unaware of the fact that he is his son, Goddess Parvati asks Shiva to resurrect him. Lord Ganesha is then renamed as Vighnaharta.
The show keeps the audiences engaged with its powerful VFX and graphics. Although it is a live-action show, motion capture technology was used for the first time in Indian television. The music and special effects have also garnered a lot of attention, making it one of the most fascinating devotional shows. The illustrations, scenes, and filming is spectacular and fans particularly love how the different avatars have been created to perfection.
Where to watch: SonyLiv
8) Special Mention: Maha Ganesha
With the demand for exclusive content for kids, Green Gold Animation has tied up with over-the-top (OTT) content player aha to produce Maha Ganesha. The show will be launched on 10 September 2021 during Vinayaka Chaturthi festival and will have eight episodes.
Maha Ganesha is a story featuring the Achintya (beyond thought), Avyakta (beyond expression), and Ananta (eternal) Lord Ganesha in a new and distinctive avatar. The show isn’t just a mythological tale. It goes a step beyond, will speak to the kids, and clear their doubts and questions regarding their deity.
Where to watch: aha Kids
~ Ganpati Bappa Morya!