Bal Ganesh

Bal Ganesh is a 2007 animated musical religious feature film directed by Pankaj Sharma based on Holy Hindu scriptures. The faith film is about the divine adventures and sacred tellings of Lord Ganesh, the Hindu elephant-headed God, when he was in child form.

Plot
Great Father Lord Shiva and Goddess Great Mother Parvati live on Mount Kailash. One day, Ma Parvati asks Nandi to guard the palace and prevent any visitors from coming in while she takes her bath. Lord Shiva enters the palace anyways, which upsets Ma Parvati. She wants an attendant of her own who would obey her above all else. While she is bathing, she creates a mold from sandalwood paste. Her love and prayers give the mold life, and he comes to life as Lord Ganesh. As a child, Lord Ganesh is playful, engaging in mischief with Nandi Maharaj.

One day, Ma Parvati asks Lord Ganesh to guard the palace while she bathes, and he promises not to let anybody in. When Lord Shiva comes by, Lord Ganesh does not allow him in because he will not disobey his mother under any circumstances. Even Lord Brahma is unable to get Ganesh to budge. Lord Shiva begins his Tandava (Divine Dance of Destruction) in extreme divine play of fury and wrath. From the ocean, the ultimate power, God Bhagwan Shree Hari Vishnu and Goddess Mata Lakshmi decide to go to Kailash to calm Lord Shiva down. They arrive to Kailash just as Shiva cuts off Ganesh's head with his trident.

When Ma Parvati hears what Lord Shiva did, she tells Lord Shiva that she wants her son returned as is or else she will give up her life, too. Because Lord Shiva's trident is all powerful, Brahma says the only way to revive Lord Ganesh is to attach the head of another child onto Lord Ganesh's body. Lord Shiva orders his attendants to bring him the head of another child so they can revive Ganesh. Lord Shiva's attendants come back with the head of a baby elephant. They attach the head and Lord Ganesh is revived. He is eternally existent in such form, however this is a divine play for all. Ma Parvati becomes sad thinking that everyone will mock him, but Lord Brahma promises that for eras to come, people will worship Lord Ganesh. Mata Lakshmi gives a boon that Lord Ganesh will be worshipped at the beginning of any auspicious occasion, and God Bhagwan Vishnu gives a boon that Lord Ganesh will be the symbol of wisdom and wealth, and that everyone will offer him ladoos. Lord Shiva appoints him the head of his warrior army.

Lord Ganesh grows up an engages in mischief with Mooshak (his vahana) and Nandi Maharaj. One day, Lord Rishi Parshuram comes to visit Lord Shiva, and Ganesh tells him he cannot because Lord Shiva is amidst prayer. In anger, Lord Parshuram throws a weapon at Lord Ganesh, which breaks his tusk.

One time, a demon (asura) named Surkdaman pleases Lord Shiva with his devotion, so Lord Shiva offers him a boon. Surkdaman asks for the power so that no entity can defeat him. With his invincibility, the demon begins to torment the Gods in the heavens and holds them hostage. Surkdaman threatens Water-God Varun to stop bringing rainclouds to South India because Indra is hiding somewhere there. Without rain, South India suffers from a drought, and Sage Agastya prays to Lord Brahma to bring an end to Surkdaman's torment. Pleased with Holy Sage Muni Agastya's devotion, Lord Brahma appears and advises Sage Agastya to visit Lord Shiva in Kailash, as Holy Mother Ganga flows from Lord Shiva's hair. Lord Shiva gives Sage Agastya holy water from Ganga. Lord Ganesha is intrigued by the sage and secretly follows him back to South India. Back in South India, when Sage Agastya sits for rest, Lord Ganesh becomes impatient and worries for the animals and people living without water. Lord Ganesh disguises himself as a crow and tips over the pot with the Holy water. Sage Agastya becomes angry and begins cursing the crow, so he transforms into Lord Ganesh again and shows Sage Agastya a flowing river emerging from the fallen pot of water. Lord Ganesh promises Sage Agastya that water will flow from this River Kaveri for years to come.

Lord Ganesh loves his little brother Lord Kartikeya, who is a fierce warrior. One day, Sage-of-the-Gods Narad Muni sets up a competition between the two brothers to see who is more powerful. He challenges them both to circle the world three times; whichever brother completes the task first will be deemed the winner. Lord Ganesh circles around his parents three times, explaining to Sage Narad that sacred circling of his parents in respect is akin to circling the world as that is what they are. He gives the winning garland to Lord Kartikeya, impressed by his strength.

One night, Lord Ganesh is riding on Mooshak, who trips on a snake and causes Lord Ganesh to fall. Moon-God Chandra laughs at the incident, mocking Lord Ganesh's large belly. Lord Ganesh curses him that he will never shine bright again. Lord Chandra begs for forgiveness, and Lord Ganesh explains to him that it is not becoming of a deity to make fun of others' appearance. Lord Ganesh cannot undo the curse, but tells Lord Chandra that his light will gradually appear and disappear.

Lord Kuber (Keeper of Divine Wealth) comes to Kailash to invite Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati to visit his palace for a dinner. Lord Shiva realizes that Lord Kuber only wants to show off his wealth, so he declines the invitation. Lord Shiva tells Kuber Maharaj that Lord Ganesh can visit, and so Lord Ganesh goes back with Kuber Maharaj to his palace. There, Lord Ganesh keeps eating and Kuber Maharaj becomes scared he will run out of food. He apologizes to Lord Shiva for becoming prideful about his wealth, having learned his lesson.

One day, Tarkasur challenges Lord Kartikeya in a battle. God Lord Ganesh says that Lord Kartikeya will destroy the demon. Lord Kartikeya battles Tarkasur, and with Lord Ganesh's help, defeats him in battle.

Voice cast

 * Ashar Shaikh as Bal Ganesh
 * Adarsh Gautam as Lord Shiva
 * Namrata Sawhney as Parvati
 * Jai Prakash Singh as Lord Brahma, kuber, snake
 * Jignesh as Lord Vishnu/ Lord Narayana
 * Neshma Mantri as Lakshmi
 * Taran as Bal Kartikeya
 * Dhananjay as Varun Dev
 * Pankaj Sharma as Tevaraj Indra Dev
 * Rajanika Ganguli as Mooshak
 * Jitendra Jaiswal as Nanti
 * Mihir Chakraborty as Agastaya The sage
 * Nitin Malhotra as Narad The sage
 * Bharat Swatantra as Tarkasur
 * Vikas Goswami as Parshuram
 * Parminder Ghumman as Surapdaman

Soundtrack
Soundtrack was composed by Shamir Tandon.
 * Aao Sunaata Hoon Sabko - Hariharan
 * Ganaa Ganaa Di - Shankar Mahadevan
 * Haathi Ka Bal Hai - Sanchita Bhattacharya
 * Adhabhut Sankalp - Hema Desai
 * Nanha Munna Bal Ganesh - Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar
 * Shankarji IKa Damroo Baje - Kailash Kher
 * Teeno Lok Me Pooja Jaye - Asha Bhosle, Amaanat, Aneek

Critical reception
Ameeta Gupta of Rediff.com gave the film 2.5/5, writing "Overall, Bal Ganesh is a good effort, and worth a watch." Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, writing "On the whole, BAL GANESH is an interesting celluloid experience that should attract kids by the dozens."

Sequels
A sequel directed by Vijay S. Bhanushali, Bal Ganesh 2, released on 23 October 2009. Another direct-to-video sequel by Bhanushali, Bal Ganesh 3, was released on 18 September 2015. The film Bal Ganesh and the PomZom Planet, also by Bhanushali followed in 2017. A web series, titled Bal Ganesh Ki Paathshala, was released in 2020 which shows Ganesha explaining various Indian festivals and traditions to kids.