I want to write about two Indian films for children that may interest those who like to offer their kids a multi-cultural perspective.

I just saw this movie, which has the title Behind The Mirror in English. I was by myself, as Antonia and Mike decided they were too tired to trek to a cinema out of town. It’s probably just as well, as I would recommend it more for older children (10+) and teenagers. It’s a relatively slow moving film that depends on complex ideas and immerses the viewer completely in Indian culture. Really young kids may not get so much out of it, unless they already have some contact with India. This is really a ‘thinking film’, about the loss of ancestral cultures and the mitigated advantages of modernity that affect many of us to various extents. The film also raises interesting questions about the education of children and their autonomy in choosing their own path in life.

I also regretted seeing this film with the French voiceover. I thought it clashed badly with the Indian mannerisms of the actors. But watching subtitled films is obviously a much harder proposition for young children. That’s why the film was voiced-over in the first place: the organiser’s were aiming at the 6+ crowd.

The theme of the film is the clash of cultures between generations. The little boy, Anirudh, has grown up in the big city. His parents both work all hours, and so does he, at school! The father abandoned his ancestral culture, which he’s inclined to see as primitive and backward. But circumstances force him to take his son back to his home town and leave him with his mother for a while. Anirudh is fascinated by the painted havelis and learns that his grandfather was a painter. He aspires to learn to paint and draw himself. This does not fit in with his father’s vision of the boy’s future.

I’d give this film 5 stars as a serious film for older kids, teenagers and adults. Now, you just have to find it!
And now for some unashamed enjoyment for younger kids. Antonia and I saw Bal Ganesh at the cinema in India, and we are looking forward to getting the DVD, which is available. Bal Ganesh is a nicely animated film, complete with Bollywood style song and dance, that tells the most popular myths of Ganesh. Most of these can be found easily on the Internet in various places. I don’t know if the DVD comes with English voiceover, but Antonia enjoyed watching it in Hindi, though she had been pre-primed with most of the stories before hand. There are other animated films dealing with aspects of Indian mythology for children, though I hear Bal Ganesh may be one of the best. When I saw it, I was at a loss to understand why a film of this quality wouldn’t be much better known internationally. Having said that, we are talking about fun and a basic education in mythology, not an intellectual experience as in Behind the Mirror.