Jungle Book

When we were driving into the theater, I was surprised to hear Diksha say 'I'm so excited to be going'. Surprised because this was her third time in the two weeks since release (and in the theater).

Once done, I understood why. It's still so aligned to the original Rudyard Kipling story,  so clear in it's story telling......in creating this deep connect between jungle and human, like completing a circle and you almost think it's how the world should be......makes you feel like a ten year old who believes it's all possible. Simply enchanting. And second, it was her own deep fondness for the movie that she had pretty much grown up on.

As story, it's about the man cub Mowgli who is brought up by wolves (Raksha, the mother wolf was my favorite) as one among them, until threatened by the fierce and ruthless Shere Khan. That's when his friend and mentor, the panther Bageera decides he needs to return to his own kind. 

One of my crying moments too

The journey back, through the perils of the jungle, his escapade from the seductive and hypnotic python Kaa, his fun and frolic with the free spirited and friendly Baloo, a misadventure with the ape monkey Louie, and finally the big battle with Shere Khan makes the rest of story.

A wildebeast stampede and a baby elephant rescue warrant special mention...they were stunning sequences. Though Col Hathi was kind of serious and overawing, unlike in the earlier one.

Also loved the ethics of the jungle, a water truce when there's a famine, a solidarity through a pledge, they all becomes like jungle ethics. Also clear messages of courage, loyalty, teamwork, love, family (even acquired) and friendship.

Had to put in how menacing the jungle was made out

And I must mention the end credits sequence against backdrop of the song 'Trust in me'. It seemed as intricate and detailed as the movie itself. I'm so glad we sat through it all, it was simply spectacular.(And this I kind of make it a point to do, after all it's the one way we can show our gratitude to all the makers of the film).

I believe the movie's even better in Hindi. Go watch, hindi or english, whatever age you are :)