Green Gold Studios’ Chhota Bheem And The Curse Of Damyaan is the story of Chhota Bheem and how he goes back in time and annihilates Damyaan, thereby bringing peace to the people of Sonapur.
Niraj Vikram and Sridisha Dilip have written a story and screenplay, which could appeal only to the kids. The drama is too simplistic to really hold the audience’s attention. The excitement and thrill elements in the script are subdued and, therefore, the proceedings don’t really engage the viewers. Besides, the pace is quite slow. The duo’s dialogues are routine.
Yagya Bhasin is earnest as Bheem. Sumit Keshri is quite good as Damyaan. Anupam Kher goes through his role of Guru Shambhu quite disinterestedly. Makarand Deshpande is average as Skandhi. Navneet Kaur Dhillon is so-so as Takshika. Sanjay Bishnoi fails to impress as Raja Indravarma. Kabir Sajid Shaikh is fair as Kalia. Aashriya Mishra is okay as Chutki. Advik Jaiswal is alright in the role of Raju. Divyam Dawar (as Dholu) and Daivik Dawar (as Bholu) lend ordinary support. Megha Chilaka (as Bheem’s mother), Chandrashekhar Dutta (as Singhala), Mukesh Chhabra (as Gulab Chacha), Shaji Choudary (as Chooran Singh), Swarna Pandey (as Indumati) and Surbhi Tiwari (as Tuntun) lend decent support.
Rajiv Chilaka’s direction is so-so. His narration relies too heavily on the popularity (among kids) of the character (Bheem) but doesn’t do much to make the film exciting. Raghav Sachar’s music is ordinary. Song picturisations (by Bhanu and Vijay Binni) are routine. Suryaa’s camerawork is average. Computer graphics are not very polished. Animation is alright. Pruthvi’s action and stunts would appeal to the kids only. Kaizar Mandal’s production designing, and J.K. Murthy’s art direction are okay. Junaid Siddiqui’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Chhota Bheem And The Curse Of Damyaan is unexciting fare which can hope for some patronage from families because of appeal for children, that too, limited.
Released on 31-5-’24 at Inox (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru UFO Cine Media Network. Publicity: quite good. Opening: average (due to low admission rates, thanks to Cinema Lovers’ Day today). …….Also released all over. Opening was ordinary at most of the places.