Harry Potter may have vanquished Voldemort but the Hogwarts hero has a pint-sized challenger from Dholakpur in the popularity stakes.

Chhota Bheem has been going strong at the plexes in his second big-screen appearance, so much so that some little fans lining up for the weekend shows feel he is better than Harry!

The verdict from the young audience at the premiere of Chhota Bheem and the Throne of Bali, presented by Telekids and City Centre Salt Lake, at INOX, City Centre, was loud and clear. “Be it fighting spirit or sheer strength, Chhota Bheem is better than Harry Potter any day,” chorused sisters Anoushka and Archisha Dwivedi, students of Class IV and Class I at Delhi Public School-Megacity. “Potter fought for his own school. But Bheem saved the kingdom of Bali, where he had gone just as a visitor. That makes him a real hero,” Anoushka said.

The plex figures match Chhota Bheem’s muscle-flex. The afternoon show of Chhota Bheem and the Throne of Bali on Saturday and both shows on Sunday were sold out at INOX, Forum, as well as Fame, South City Mall. The morning show on Saturday saw 90 per cent bookings at INOX, Forum, and 85-90 per cent at Fame, South City, officials said.

While the boy from Dholakpur has thrown a challenge to Dumbledore’s favourite student, the two also have a lot in common. Harry has Ron and Hermione by his side in every battle, Chhota Bheem has Chutki, Raju, Kalia, Dholu and Bholu to help him. And Bheem may not have Hedwig the owl, but Jaggu the talking monkey is no less smart an ally.

Harry had the Death Eaters to tackle before Voldemort and Bheem too has to fight the Leyaks, who help Rangda the villain destroy the kingdom of Bali. “The Chhota Bheem movie reminded me of Harry Potter instantly. But I found Bheem more realistic. I could relate to him,” said Ansh Arya, a Class IV student at La Martiniere for Boys. “And I would prefer Tun Tun Mausi’s ladoos any day to weird-tasting potions,” he quipped.

Bheem and his friends’ kung fu and karate moves have also had the kids impressed. “I loved the karate scenes. I would like to learn kung fu or karate,” said Ansh.

From adventure to comedy and even a dash of romance, the film has all the ingredients for a hit. “Arjun’s journey to the temple and Bheem’s journey to the palace to save the king and queen were action-packed,” said Stuti Seekha Raut, a Class IX student at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Education, who loved the scene where Indumati kisses a frog in her dream and the frog turns into a prince.

And how was it like watching their favourite hero on the big screen? “We are regular followers of the Chhota Bheem shows on TV. But watching it on the big screen was a different experience,” said Shreeyash Kejriwal, a play school student at Lakshmipat Singhania Academy who loves imitating Bheem with sister Aashna, a Class III student at Sushila Birla Girls’ School, playing Chutki. “I want to watch it again,” gushed Aashna.

The kids almost rolled on the floor laughing during the comedy scenes, watched from the edge of their seats and cheered for Bheem as he strode the battleground and sang along and shook a leg when he went Jumping jhapak.

Many parents felt their children had much to learn from Chhota Bheem. “My sons have learnt to differentiate between good and evil,” said Viral Shah, father of Jashan and Vansh Shah, KG students who came in Chhota Bheem T-shirts. Sonalika Dwivedi, a mother of two, added: “The story teaches values such as friendship, trust and truth.”

A few parents, especially those of toddlers, wished the film wasn’t violent. “The villain was too scary for my three-year-old. She started crying,” said Sweta Agarwal, from Ultadanga.