Here is a fun story targeted to and completely appropriate for a child audience, yet intelligently written and engaging enough for adults, too.
"Main Krishna Hoon" is a heartwarming tale which ties the rich tradition of ancient Indian culture surrounding the god Krishna with the very real-world challenges of a very real little boy also named Krishna.
One dark and rainy night, the kindly proprietors of a small orphanage – Kantaben (Juhi Chawla) and Nattubhai (Paresh Ganatra) – rescue an abandoned baby boy from the floodwaters. They name him Krishna, because the way they found him parallels the legend of how the god Lord Krishna came to live with his adoptive parents as a baby. Orphan Krishna (Namit Shah) lives happily in the orphanage with Kanta and Nattu and the other foundling children. But over the years, as one by one his other friends are adopted out to families but he remains, young Krishna comes to believe that he is unadoptable, unwanted, and will never find a family. In despair, all alone one night he goes to a temple and prays to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna (animated) then comes to Earth in his mischievous childhood 'butter thief' avatar and befriends the young orphan Krishna. Many adventures then ensue, as Krishna-from-Heaven helps Krishna-from-Earth discover his family.
The 'makhan chor' Lord Krishna is charmingly designed and animated. He may be a god, but he never lets you forget that he is also himself a mischievous little boy, too. Animated Krishna's dual-level interactions with his new friend, orphan Krishna (well-played by debutant child actor Namit Shah), are not only engaging and believable but genuinely fun. The business with the kheer (rice pudding), for instance. Or what becomes the obsession of both Krishnas with their namesake Krishna character who becomes a superhero, as played by actor Hrithik Roshan in the "Krrish" movies.
Juhi Chawla's performance here is outstanding, as the kindly headmistress of the orphanage. Even at her most perky and deliberately positive, you feel Kantaben's genuine love and caring for her young charges. Paresh Ganatra as her male counterpart is played more for comedy. But as the story progresses, the audience see and feel that he, too, shares her deep-seated concern for the orphans' longterm future.
Adults will particularly enjoy how ingeniously two real-world Hindi film superstars – first Katrina Kaif, later Hrithik Roshan – are cleverly worked into the story in 5-minute appearances as their actual selves.
(First-time producers Nandan K. Mahto & Promila Hunter are the longtime spot boy and hairdresser, respectively, of Mr Roshan and Ms Kaif, which is why the two superstars both readily agreed to support and be a part of their old friends' debut movie. In industry terms such high-profile commitment would have been key to securing both funding and distribution for the project.)
But throughout "Main Krishna Hoon", experienced children's director Rajiv S. Ruia (the "My Friend Ganesha" movie series) keeps the focus on children and completely child-friendly for all ages.
For instance, when actual villains are introduced into the story (in reference to the legendary battle of Krishna with the tyrant Kans) director Ruia presents the historic Krishna-Kans battle solely as animation, which lessens the potential fear factor to a child audience. The live action equivalent 'Kans' – gangleader Angar Singh (Raj Premi), his lieutenant Paddu Singh (Rajan Verma), and their goons – are kept light and played for comedy. Even the gang's crimes are deliberately made crimes with which child audiences can instantly identify.
This is the sort of refreshingly straightforward movie where, if 'The Hero' doesn't exactly ride into town on a white horse, he at least rides in on its 21st century equivalent!
The music by Amjad–Nadeem is generally good.
Juhi Chawla herself beautifully sings 'Om Namo Namah' over the opening credits, as we watch the infant orphan Krishna grow into the boy (Namit Shah) we will follow for the rest of the story.
The title track, 'Main Krishna Hoon', is catchy and stays with you.
A particular highlight is 'Govinda Aala Re'. The song is choreographed by ace dance director Ganesh Acharya against a traditional dahi handi human pyramid festival celebrating the birthday of young Lord Krishna. Aspiring stars Rajneesh Duggal and Misti Mukherjee appear briefly as the featured male and female dancers for this song.
Hindi cinema badly needs more good movies for children, which their parents can also enjoy. "Main Krishna Hoon" delivers!
