The Jungle Book

In the beginning there were jungle animals; Bat, Camel, Peacock and Woodpecker, all happily living together in harmony, deep within the Indian Jungle.

Our narrators, Buffalo and Jackal, look on as Man comes to the jungle. Unfortunately, Shere Khan also notices the stranger and his son nearby and pounces on the young boy's father, killing him!

The Wolf Family, led by Akela, find the young Indian boy and vow to take him in, protect him and treat him as one of their own. 

With the Black Panther, Bagheera's, help, the Wolf Family teach Mowgli everything they know about the jungle. He becomes a Man Cub. But Shere Khan is determined to rid the jungle of humans and vows to hunt Mowgli down. Mowgli leave the Wolf Family and return to the Man Village. 

The Medicine Woman, 'Nangir' and her assistant, 'Darzo' ask other jungle animals to help Mowgli with his journey. They promise to protect him along the way. 

Bagheera tries to help Mowgli but he gets angry with her and runs away deep into the jungle. In the meantime, Kaa, the Boa Constrictor, hypnotises the young jungle animals to tell him where Mowgli is hiding. 

Kaa quickly locates Mowgli and lures him into his trap singing the song, 'Trust in Me.' Before Mowgli knows what is happening, he is placed into a deep trance and Kaa is preparing to devour him for 

supper!!

Luckily, Baloo, the Bear is close by and scares Kaa away. She entertains Mowgli with her song, 'The Bear Necessities' and he realises that he enjoys her company They soon become friends. 

Bagheera finally finds Mowgli, tells Baloo that Shere Khan is after Mowgli's blood and convinces her to help talk Mowgli into continuing his journey to the Man Village. This plan backfires and Mowgli runs away again, this time towards the Ruined Village of the Bandar-Log.

When Mowgli arrives, he notices monkeys hiding amongst the sandstone blocks. They pounce at him and take him captive.

She tells him that she wants to be like him and asks him to continue on his journey to the Man Village, retrieve the powerful red flower of fire and bring it to her. She promises to make him King of the Bandar-Log. 

The monkeys and Mowgli join in a wonderful dance routine to 'I Wanna Be Like You.'

Upset and confused, not knowing who he can trust, Mowgli decides to complete his journey to the Man Village on his own. "Am I a man or am I a wolf?" he asks of himself in despair. 

As Mowgli approaches the Man Village, he sees a woman collecting water by the stream. She hears him and soon recognises him as her son. She embraces him and is happy to pass on the red flower to him so he can defeat Shere Khan and avenge his father's death.

Mowgli rushes back to the Wolf Pack and waits for Shere Khan. He holds the red flower now and is no longer afraid of the tiger who killed his father. Shere Khan approaches and Mowgli stands his ground. Mowgli lashes out with the fire stick and the flames burn Shere Khan's face badly. He cowers; he is hurt badly and realises that he has lost. 

The Law of the Jungle

Now this is the Law of the Jungle –

As old and as true as the sky;

And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper,

But the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk

The Law runneth forward and back –

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf,

And the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

By Rudyard Kipling