New Delhi: Disney’s latest offering Mufasa: The Lion King arrives with the pomp and grandeur you’d expect from the House of Mouse. But it leaves you wondering if the roar is loud enough to be heard over the echoes of its predecessors. Directed by Barry Jenkins, this prequel attempts to peel back the layers of the iconic Mufasa, charting his rise from an orphaned cub to the regal king we know and admire.
For Indian audiences, the Hindi-dubbed version is elevated by Shah Rukh Khan and AbRam Khan lending their voices to Mufasa at various stages of life. While their familial bond translates well into vocal chemistry, does it decode into cinematic magic? Scroll down to know!
Mufasa review: Performances
Let’s start with the positives. Shah Rukh Khan’s deep and resonant tone brings a gravitas to young Mufasa. Aryan Khan as the youthful Simba delivers with an ease that belies his relative inexperience. Sanjay Mishra and Shreyas Talpade as Pumbaa and Timon inject much-needed comic relief. Makarand Deshpande’s Rafiki has a theatrical flair, and Meiyang Chang’s Taka—Mufasa’s first ally and eventual adversary—stands out. Each of them weaves subtle layers of vulnerability into their respective characters.
However, the visuals are the true heroes of this film. Disney’s live-action movie has never looked more enchanting. The sprawling forests shimmer under golden sunrises while cascading waterfalls and moonlit grasslands transport you straight into the heart of the Pride Lands. Every frame feels meticulously crafted, as if painted by nature itself. Watching it on IMAX is worth every penny.
WTF: Where’s the Flaw?
But a great voice cast and breathtaking visuals cannot save a film from its narrative pitfalls. The story told through Rafiki’s flashbacks to Simba’s daughter Kiara is serviceable but not gripping enough. The script treads familiar ground, relying on themes of destiny and goodwill that feel like reheated leftovers from The Lion King.
The songs are forgettable and lack the emotional depth to carry the story forward. Though competently written, the dialogues in the Hindi version occasionally veer into melodrama, missing the subtlety that Jenkins is known for.
As the credits roll, one can’t help but feel the film is paradoxical. It dazzles with its visuals and entertains with its quirky characters, yet it feels oddly hollow. The prequel raises a question no one asked: How did Rafiki get his stick? And offers answers that don’t add much to the lore.
Mufasa: The Lion King review – Final verdict
For fans of the original Lion King and younger audiences, Mufasa: The Lion King is a delightful watch and a comforting nostalgia trip with a Hindi twist. But for those hoping for the cultural resonance of the first part, it may be a missed opportunity.
Watch it on IMAX if you can. You won’t regret it then.
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