Bandar-log facts for kids

Bandar-log (Hindi: बन्दर-लोग) are a group of monkeys from the Seeonee jungle. They appear in Rudyard Kipling's famous book, The Jungle Book. Kipling described them as noisy and irresponsible.

What "Bandar-log" Means

The name Bandar-log comes from two Hindi words. Bandar means "monkey" and log means "people." So, the term simply means "monkey people." This term is also used to describe any group of people who chatter a lot without being responsible.

Bandar-log in Movies and TV Shows

The Bandar-log have appeared in many different movies and TV shows based on The Jungle Book.

Disney's 1967 Film

• In Disney's animated movie The Jungle Book, the Bandar-log have unique hairstyles and tails that can grab things. Real monkeys from the Old World (like those in India) do not have these types of tails.
• In Kipling's story, the Bandar-log do not have a king. But in the Disney film, they have a leader named King Louie. He is an orangutan, even though orangutans do not live in India.
• The Bandar-log capture Mowgli and take him to King Louie. They all sing the song "I Wan'na Be Like You". During this song, King Louie tries to learn the secret of the "red flower" (which is fire) from Mowgli. Baloo and Bagheera try to rescue Mowgli.
• Some of these monkeys also appear in the TV show TaleSpin. They work at Louie's Island-Bar.
• The Bandar-log return in The Jungle Book 2. King Louie is not with them in this movie. They are seen dancing with Baloo, Mowgli, and other animals during the song "W-I-L-D."

Other Adaptations

• In Jungle Book Shonen Mowgli, a monkey army led by Louis/Alba is based on the Bandar-log. They are allies with Shere Khan and give him information. But they also fear him. After they destroy Mowgli's hut, they decide to stop being allies with Shere Khan. They then act as their own group.
• The Bandar-log also appear in the Russian series Adventures of Mowgli. Just like in the books, they kidnap Mowgli and take him to their city. Later, Kaa the python defeats them with his hypnotic dancing.
• In the 1994 live-action Disney movie, the Bandar-log are shown as tricky thieves who steal treasure. They are also connected to King Louie, who is an orangutan again. Their sounds in the movie come from chimpanzees and siamangs.
  • One day, a monkey steals a bracelet from Mowgli. Mowgli was raised by wolves. The monkey runs away with Mowgli and his wolf brother, Grey Brother, chasing him. They reach an old, empty city called "Monkey City."
  • Mowgli enters the city and finds the monkeys gathered with King Louie. King Louie wears a crown. Mowgli demands his bracelet back, but King Louie refuses. He calls his treasure guardian, Kaa the python.
  • The monkeys watch a fight between Mowgli and Kaa. Mowgli wins by hurting Kaa with a dagger. The monkeys become afraid of Mowgli. King Louie gives the bracelet back and cheers for Mowgli. The other monkeys cheer too.
  • Later, when Captain Boone and Kitty find the treasure, King Louie and the monkeys watch a sword fight between Mowgli and Boone. Mowgli wins again. The Bandar-log cheer loudly. King Louie then calls Kaa again.
  • Mowgli and Kitty leave. Boone stays to take treasure. Kaa surprises Boone and makes him fall into a moat. Boone drowns because of the heavy treasure. The Bandar-log and King Louie are happy and cheer when Boone dies.
• The Bandar-log appear in the 2010 TV series. They are led by a female langur named Masha, who is their queen.
• In the 2016 film, the Bandar-log are different types of Indian primates. These include lion-tailed macaques, northern pig-tailed macaques, langurs, and Hoolock gibbons. They kidnap Mowgli again and take him to their leader, King Louie. In this version, King Louie is a giant ape called a Gigantopithecus. They want Mowgli to tell them the secret of the "red flower" (fire).
  • Unlike some other versions, they do not speak in this film. Their sounds come from chimpanzees and gibbons. When King Louie gets trapped under rocks, the Bandar-log work to dig him out.
• The Bandar-Log are also seen in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Like in the anime, they work with Shere Khan. The Bandar-log kidnap Mowgli so Shere Khan can try to kill him. But Bagheera, Baloo, and Kaa stop them.
• Charles Koechlin wrote a piece of music called Les Bandar-Log (1939-40). It is part of his Jungle Book Cycle.

• Road Song of the Bandar-Log