Did you know that the iconic animated series, The Jungle Book, featuring the adventures of Mowgli and his animal pals that captivated '90s kids in India, is actually an anime?
Back in the day, cable television wasn't as accessible, so every household tuned in to the same channel, and one beloved show was The Jungle Book. Every Sunday at 9 AM, this beloved series would grace our screens, accompanied by its unforgettable Hindi song, “Jungle jungle baat chali hai pata chala hai… Arre chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai phool khila hai.” It was a show that resonated not only with children but adults alike. But have you ever wondered about the fascinating story behind this catchy tune?
The Jungle Book anime, officially titled Jungle Book Shonen Mowgli in Japan, made its debut in 1989 and consisted of a total of 52 episodes. This anime was an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s original collection of stories by the same name and was brought to life by the creative minds at Nippon Animation and Italy-based Mondo TV studios.
However, the enchanting Hindi song of The Jungle Book holds an interesting tale of its own. In an interview on Ahutosh Pratihast’s The Rich podcast, The Hidden Hindu author Akshat Gupta shared some intriguing insights about this beloved song.
Gupta unveiled that Doordarshan, the Indian broadcasting network, desired a Hindi title song for The Jungle Book to cater to the Indian audience. With the show’s TV debut looming, there was limited time to compose a suitable song. In those conservative times, Doordarshan executives expressed their reservations about a particular part of the song — the word “chaddi.” They suggested alternatives like “kachha” or “lungi,” deeming “chaddi” somewhat inappropriate, which is a colloquial term in Hindi that means “underpants” or “briefs.” The Doordarshan executives opposed the use of the word in the song because they considered it somewhat vulgar and inappropriate for a children's show.
Despite the executives’ expectations that the song’s writer would eventually make the changes, the writer remained steadfast and refused to alter the “chaddi” part. Even after numerous discussions and negotiations, he remained resolute. When Doordarshan informed the writer that the song couldn’t be accepted with the contentious line, the writer retorted, saying he would keep his “chaddi” while they could keep their Mowgli.
With limited time to craft a new song, Doordarshan had no choice but to air the song as it was. However, the intriguing twist is that the song was penned by none other than the renowned lyricist, Gulzar.
The Hindi opening song of The Jungle Book was completely original, and featured music by Vishal Bharadwaj. Nana Patekar lent his voice to Sher Khan. Gulzar, who is a celebrated Urdu poet and one of the most eminent figures in the Indian film industry, has won numerous awards, including five Indian National Film Awards, an Academy Award, and a Grammy Award. It's no surprise that the Jungle Book song has left a lasting impression in people's hearts, with its iconic lyrics by Gulzar continuing to echo through the years.
Image credit: Mondo TV Studios
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Rayan Sayyed is a staff writer for IGN India with a primary focus on Asian entertainment spanning from anime, manga, games to films and dramas from the East. You can reach out to him at rayan_sayyed@ign.com, or find him on Twitter @rayanaver.
