Mickey Mouse Short: Mumbai Madness

Season 2, Episode 8: “Mumbai Madness”
Starring: Mickey Mouse
Cameos by: Buzzie, Flap, Ziggy, Dizzy, King Louie, Flunkey and Bandar-log
Setting: Mumbai, India

Plot:
Mickey's taxi cab picks up a mysterious elephant passenger who wishes to be driven to the top of a distant mountain.

Short Stuff:
The languages spoken in this short are Hindi and Punjabi.

That fancy looking train station is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Mickey’s three-wheeled taxi cab is known as an “auto rickshaw.”  They actually aren’t allowed in the southern part of Mumbai due to traffic issues. 

The overabundance of cows in the streets is due to the Hindu religion regarding the beasts as sacred animals.  Because of this, many Hindus are vegetarians and the selling of beef is even prohibited in some Indian cities.

We get a double dose of The Jungle Book (1967) cameos with the mop topped vultures (Buzzie, Flap, Ziggy and Dizzy) and King Louie with his monkey goons (Flunkey and Bandar-log).

The elephant traveler appears to be Hindi deity, Ganesha.  Adding credence to this theory is the fact that Ganesha is known as the “remover of obstacles” and is often depicted riding a mouse.  Also, the elephant has one half tusk and one full - just like depictions of Ganesha.

I’m no expert in Bollywood or its music but it seems that this short has been heavily influenced by the Indian film industry.

Final Grade:  A+
I don’t want to get ahead of myself but it’d be difficult to imagine there being a better looking and sounding short this season.  With its funky music and flashy artistic sequences, the episode plays like a Bollywood music video.  The story is also great with its twist ending seemingly revealing the elephant passenger as Ganesha.