Jumbo is an animated film based on a Thai film – Khan Kluay which is about a baby elephant named Khan Kluay who wanders away from his mother and eventually becomes the war elephant.
It has voice over by superstars Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Dimple Kapadia, Rajpal Yadav, Gulshan Grover, Asrani, Yuvraj Singh and others. Akshay Kumar has lent his voice for the central character of an elephant and also shot for an exclusive music video – ‘Everything Is Gonna Be Alright’.
A young blue elephant, Jumbo (Akshay Kumar’s voice) grows up with his mother (voiced by Dimple Kapadia). He loves to play with other animals in the jungle. At times, other elephants of the herd would confront him as he is fatherless.
His mother never reveals anything about his father, except that his father is missing since some time. Naturally, Jumbo gets more curious about his father, and he gets the information that his father is a warrior elephant for the king.
Keen to know about his father, the young elephant wanders off and sets out to the camp, and manages to locate a tent that houses the royal elephant of that army. He is soon captured by a raiding party. During his attempts to escape from the camp, the young elephant is befriended by a prisoner who is boy prince of a captured kingdom. The wise prince helps him into thinking clearly which succeeds in escaping only to realize that he is now separated from his mother and is lost in the jungle.
Jumbo then comes upon a village where he meets a cute pink elephant Sonia (voiced by Lara Dutta) and her wise old mahout. This mahout is also Sonia’s guardian and they teach him the art of war which instills confidence in him. Jumbo grows up into a well built strong elephant.
There is a competition for selection of the royal elephant where Jumbo takes part. He is noticed by his mother who now finally tells him the story of his brave father who never returned after a war. Jumbo then serves the king as a personal war elephant.
The local kingdom is now at war with opponents. During the battle, Jumbo sneaks into the tents of ex-royal elephants hoping to locate his father. An old royal elephant recalls knowing his father and tells him the fact that his father was killed by Bakhtavar – the enemy’s royal elephant after a fierce battle.
Jumbo sets out with his king to avenge the death of his father. He is as strong and skillful as his father. Jumbo challenges Bakhtavar for one on one combat which turns into a fierce battle where Jumbo kills his opponent and avenges his father death and brings black glory to his kingdom. .
Jumbo has a well choreographed song featuring Akshay Kumar. The voiceovers by Akshay Kumar, Dimple Kapadia, Rajpal Yadav and Gulshan Grover and even Asrani infuse life in the characters. It is a sweet, sincere and simple film that entertains all ages, not just the kids.
CREDITS
Voice-overs in the film Jumbo:
Akshay Kumar – Jumbo
Lara Dutta – Sonia
Dimple Kapadia – Devi
Rajpal Yadav – Dildaar
Gulshan Grover
Yuvraj Singh
G. Asrani
Other Credits of Jumbo:
Producer: Percept Picture Company
Produced by Shailendra Singh
Directed by Kompin Kemgumnird
Original Music by Ram Sampath
Lyrics: Munna Dhiman, Asif Ali Beg & Israr Ansari
Sound Editor – Dwarak Warrier
Playback Singers – Sonu Nigam, Joi Barua, Kunal Ganjawala, Krishna, Sona Mohapatra, Sukhwinder Singh
Cassettes and CD’s on: T-Series Music Records
Jumbo, movie review