Chalo Festival Time

Using the chroma key technique (in which actors are filmed against a blue or green screen and the background is later digitally inserted), Chalo Festival Time combines live action with animation as two children take a magic carpet ride, visiting India's festivals through the year to learn about traditional customs, food, and crafts associated with celebrations such as Holi (festival of colors), Indian Independence Day, Rikhi (celebrating brothers and sisters), Diwali (the festival of lights), and Kolu (festival of dolls). Offering a choice of four narrated languages—Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, or English (though the English subtitling doesn't always match the voiceover—in one scene, the narrator exclaims, “Oh no! We're so late to the market!”, while the subtitles read, “Oh good, we're not that late”)—viewers can learn original Hindi songs, watch two brief how-to segments on making kites and rakhis (bracelets), and take a short quiz at the end of the program. Libraries that own the earlier Chalo Hindi Bolay (VL-3/05) will also want to consider this one. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Reagan)