MY FRIEND GANESHA
COFFEE WITH GANESHA.. ?
By Vishal Verma
Rating:- * *
What is it?
After Jai Bajrang Bali, now it’s time to chant Ganpati Bapa Morya ! Well, it is always difficult to even think of making a children’s film and Koffee Break Ltd. deserves a pat on their back in at least trying this possibility rarely seen in Bollywood.
Roger Rabbit meets Ganesha- the most loved elephant God amongst Hindus.
Rajiv S. Ruia’s experiment of a composite animation film (his definition, not mine) falls between the lines. It is 40% for kid’s 25% devotional and 35% animation. This outing with Ganeshji over a coffee is with some cheese so in the end we feel something is missing and the coffee badkismati se its not kafi for a wholesome entertainer.Whats it all about?
A typical metropolitan family, Aaditya (Kiran Jhanjani) a perfect example of a bank hoe. Aarti ( Sheetal Shah) a typical working mama next door. And their cute little 8 year old
Ashu ( Baby Ahsaas Channa) who doesn’t have a good friend and is also clueless about the elephant god whereabouts. Anyway this house also belongs to Gangubai (Upasana Singh) the maidservant with an amazing accent. She wears more ornaments than the malkin of the house. And also a buaji (Aarya ) bank hoe’s sister who dates some Mr. on a motorcycle. As usual, Ashu’s parents are too involved in their daily lives to give much time to the little boy thus making him feel very lonely. Therefore, the only person he can talk to is the maid of the house who is also a staunch devotee of ganapati bapa.
On parents day poor Ashu has to go with Gangubai to school and meet the principal – a not so happening individual dressed in badly designed suit and keeps on saying What’s happening, What’s happening?.... Not at all happening Guruji!
On one rainy day ( no july 26), Ashu saves a mouse from drowning and tells the maid about the whole incidence. The maid is very happy and tells the boy that he has saved Lord Ganesha's pet ride. The maid has to then explain him the full episode of Lord Ganesha & Mushakraj.
Now, after wasting not much of a time Ganeshji gives his darshan. Yeh ! but hey? What’s this Ganesha skates on the snowing Himalayas. Vow?
After getting all the gyan about Ganeshji and his savari, Ashu gets sad and tells Gangubai that he is also alone, and needs a friend. She makes Ashu understand that Lord Ganesha is his friend.
This is the period when the Family is going through crisis & Ganesha Chathurti is about to come. Bank hoe is framed by his colleague (played by a dude who has a wonderfully strange accent and attitude) whereas poor Mama also finds herself on the receiving end. She is fired by her no nonsense boss played by Mr. Anil Nagrath.
Gangubai somehow convinces everyone to bring Ganesha home this festival. Ganesha comes to their home and befriends Ashu, the elephant god dances, talks, eats and does everything required to save his buddy and his family from crises.
And I thought Ganesha only speaks to the astonishing astrologer called Bejan Daruwala.
What to look out for?
This composition is composed well to some extent by Rajiv S. Ruia. Radiant deserves all the praise in creating a cute liitle Ganesha, you again fall in love with the cute little elephant deity. Baby Ahsaas Channa is cute and Upasna Singh shines as Gangubai . Kiran Jhanjani is impressive. Sheetal Shah is competent. Newcomers Aarya and Saurabh Singh leave their mark. Production values are adequate.
What Not?
Bhaiya genre sahi kar lo! Either Kiddie or Biggie. No need to lie in between and give opportunities to other’s. The plot may not be convincible to some cinegoers. The MMS inclusion is totally uncalled for. Song’s are a hindrance while one is watching the film. And there is neither any one to chant out. The timing of this adventure is questionable it’s releasing when the fresh academics have just started.