Introduction
Balaganapathy which ran on Asianet is a very popular Malayalam language children’s fantasy TV serial. It did very well at gaining attention for it’s unique story line which saw the divine intervention of Lord Ganesha in a young boy’s life. The serial did particularly well with families and children for its creative tellings, endearing characters and moral messages.
Produced by Ross Petals Entertainment Balaganapathy which broke the mold of traditional soap operas and had a large audience base during its run.
Plot Overview
In the story of Balaganapathy we follow young Ram as he tries to make his way through issues which present themselves in his school and at home. Very often Ram finds himself in tough situations because of his inexperience and truthfulness. By way of Ram’s faith and clean living Lord Ganesha comes down to earth as the child Incarnation Balaganpathy to guide Ram through his day to day issues.
Balagangadhay becomes Ram’s shadow companion which puts problems to rest, gives life lessons, and takes him through various trials. The show which is a fine balance of devotion, fantasy and real life issues does very well to entertain and at the same time uplift spirit.
Lead Cast
Rishi Prakash as Ram
Rishi took on the lead role as Ram, the young and honest schoolboy. He brought to the character a great deal of innocence which in turn made for a very successful show. At only that which is young in age Rishi proved with his natural talent and emotional range that he was a very impressive actor.
Ninad Nandkumar Mahajani as Balaganapathy (voice).
While in screen Balaganapathy appeared as a divine child which was a product of visual effects the voice of the character was what brought him to life. From Ninad Nandkumar Mahajani came the voice which gave to Balaganapathy a playfulness, wisdom and endearment.
Supporting Cast
Sabari Nath in the role of Gopalan (Ram’s Father).
Sabari Nath portrayed the strict yet loving parent of Ram. He brought to life a character which had issues in coming to terms with his son’s atypical behavior, but in the end came to value Ram’s innocence and good intent. The late actor’s performance was a hit with the audience.
Ramesh Nair as School Principal
Ramesh Nair played the role of Ram’s school principal a character which was a mix of the funny and the serious. He interacted with the students, especially Ram which brought humor and truth to the serial.
Maya also plays Radha (Ram’s Mother).
Maya Vishwanath played the part of Ram’s loving and kind mother. In which she brought to the show what was needed emotionally, particularly in family oriented and moral based scenes.
Devi Ajith as Teacher
Devi Ajith took on the role of a teacher which was that of a skeptic of Ram’s stories and also a quick to judge him. Her character was that of a contrast to Ram’s honest nature which in turn brought out the child’s inner fortitude and the import of divine intervention.
Creative and Technical Crew
Director – Gireesh Konni
Gireesh Konni did what he does best which was to direct the serial with a sharp eye for fantasy elements at the same time keeping it very much rooted in everyday emotion. In his direction we see the emotional tone and that element of child like wonder of the show brought to life.
Producer – Binu K. Ponnoose
Binu K. Ponnoose put forth a very key vision as the producer which brought this unique concept to life. He worked closely with the channel and creative team to see that Balaganapathy had high production quality although it was a children’s serial.
Drama and Play Suresh Babu.
Suresh Babu brought a simple, humorous and spiritual touch to his writing. He wrote for kids to easily understand, but also included deeper issues for adult audience.
Music – Sreejith Edavana
In Balaganapathy Sreejith Edavana was the composer for the musical score and title song. Also the background music which he played matched the mood of each scene very well thus enhanced the audience’s emotional connection to the characters.
Conclusion
Balaganapathy was a stand out in the Malayalam serials for its mix of fantasy, moral values, and child oriented themes. The cast and crew did a great job at putting together a show which entertained as it also gave life lessons which were rooted in Indian mythology and culture. Even years after it ended Balaganapathy is a favorite in many Malayali homes which also saw in the special bond between a young boy and Lord Ganesha.
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