The show is set in the lush and verdant village of Vrindavan, on the banks of the river Yamuna. Each episode deals with a different adventure in Little Krishna’s life, but the larger arc of the story of course deals with Krishna and his confrontations with his evil uncle Kansa. It’s the story of how destiny’s child Krishna became the well-loved leader of people.
The show has a cast of all the usual suspects in any show involving the baby Krishna — his older brother Balram, friends Madhumangal, Sabala, Radha, Vishakha and Lalita, father and village chief Nanda, mother Yashoda and the arrogant king of Mathura, Kansa. There are also the animals — playful calf Hamsi and mischievous monkey Dadiloba. No story in Indian mythology is complete without a complete cast of the divinities —including the whiny and arrogant Indra, the wise Brahma and the demons —Putna, Bakasura and the five-headed serpent king Kaliya.
India, with its vast collection of folklore and myths is a treasure trove of stories, just waiting to be adapted to animation. This is indeed the perfect format for Indian myths, given that they’re full of fantastical events and creatures. That the creators of Little Krishna have done so is highly commendable. The script development is such that all the characters are highly relatable — very essential since the primary audience will be children.
The animation is good, but not good enough. The motions are still a wee bit jerky and sometimes the landscapes end up looking straight out of a video game. Another grouse would be that Little Krishna is not little enough. He comes across as precocious and one often ends up wondering why everybody always listens to Krishna. It’s like they already know he’s divine, unlike in the original myth, where the fact of his divinity only slowly dawns upon his family and friends.
VERDICT:
This show is a good introduction to Indian myths for young kids. The language is a little tough at times, but parents can sit with their children and explain it all. With each episode lasting only half-an-hour, it is certainly not a drag.
