Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya ( GGBB ) is a rare Indian animation film that doesn’t have anything mythological about it, no Hanuman and Bheem thankfully. Based on Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury’s iconic characters Goopy and Bagha and inspired from the first of Satyajit Ray’s trilogy— Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne —Shilpa Ranade’s GGBB was first screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. The years of wait for it to reach the theatres hasn’t taken the shine off it nor made it look dated. If at all it’s anti-war, pro-peace message resonates stronger this weekend, unintentionally so.
- Director: Shilpa Ranade
- Starring: Animation
- Storyline: The adventures of bumbling musicians Goopy and Bagha as they avert war between the kingdoms of Shundi and Hundi
GGBB holds true in today’s day and age—Hundi-Shundi (two neighbouring kingdoms) in conflict, with the king of Shundi bemoaning the fact that his own twin brother, and the ruler of Hundi, has let him down; the talk about fascism, greed for power, how a war results in women turning widows, kids rendered orphans and young men incapacitated. The important question is why should two people fight when they can be friends?
It’s for Goopi-Bagha then to change the perspective of a “cruel man”, avert war and help Hundi’s mute citizens get their voices back. Food is one weapon of peace—the dal khichdi, chokha, ghee, dahi, mango pickle and mint chutney—act as an unifying force. Then there are the fabulous songs—‘ Ishq Kar ’—asks people to reason, question, think and dissent, to fight helplessness and kill hunger, not to destroy what is in tact but mend the broken. It asks for pen and the hammer and sickle to be held up as against weapons. This song sequence could well be made mandatory viewing in today’s turbulent times. Not to forget another significant song—‘ Bas yehi kranti ho; sab jagah aman shanti ho ’ (Only revolution should be to have peace and harmony everywhere).
It all starts, however, with elements of folksy farce. Goopi (Rajeev Raj), a singer with no sense of tune, a farting king and the company of yet another musician Bagha who keeps hitting discordant notes. A ghost grants Goopi and Bagha (Maneesh Bhawan) four wishes, of which they save a crucial one for the future while asking for endless travels, food and appreciation for their music.
The look is mint fresh and distinctly “Indian”, so is the lingo and the music. The bright animation, colourful props, puppet-like human figures and the rich production design with abundant use of our textiles, is gorgeous artwork in itself. The film is enchanting not just for the children but can hold an adult in thrall. The witty, at times rhyming, lines, the lovely songs (music by Three Brothers and A Violin)—apart from ‘ Ishq Kar’ ,’ Hum to bas nachega gaayega bajayega ’ and ‘ Shundi ke raja ko salaam ’ and its polar opposite ‘ Hundi ke raja ko salaam ’ are earworms—that add to film’s appeal. As is the norm in the West, this animation film doesn’t boast of star names for voiceovers. But, it’s GGBB that is quite a star of a film, albeit an unheralded one. It deserves a lot of audience love.
