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Mickey Mouse Short: Mumbai Madness

11/19/2014

2 Comments

 
Mumbai Madness // A Waltz Through Disney
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. 


2 Comments
ABohemiansMom
3/22/2015 01:30:04 am

This has to be one of my 5yr olds favorite shorts. She recognized the elephant as Ganesha immediately. And, while we are actually Jewish, my daughter has always loved Ganesha. In fact, she informed us at age 3 that she knew Ganesha and loved him. I Think we have watched this short no less than 9 times in the last hour. And we've watched it that often on a daily basis since discovering it about a week ago.

Reply
A Waltz Through Disney
3/22/2015 02:26:46 am

That's one smart five-year-old! I had to do a google deep dive to figure out the elephant was Ganesha. Thanks for reading! :)

Reply



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