Set in the Indian Land........ the story is about the relationship of a father and his son. Jay North (dennis the Mennace fame) arrives in India on a mission. The mission is to meet his father , a retired hunter(played by Clint walker). After an argument the 14 year old son runs away from home. A teenager full of the spirit of adventure, wants to explore the land . He then meets an Indian Hindu bay, about his age. The Hindu boy is the son of a dying saddu(Indian priest). The Saddhu tells his boy to take MAYA ( Mother elephant) and Her sacred white , baby elephant to the scared temple in a far away valley. In India the white elephants are considered Holy and hence , Invaluable. The story weaves a plot where a friendship develops between two young boys.... a friendship that transcends race, religion and all cultural differences. On the other hand the Hunter father sets off to find his son. The saga takes us through an array of human emotions..... love, hate , greed , honesty and loyalty. Since the movie was shot in 1965, it used real animals and no camera effects. In a scene, the elephant picks up the bus and throws it at the villains to save its baby.The shot is remarkable. The tiger fight of Clint walker , at the end of the movie is breath taking considering there were no camera tricks nor animation. The music of the film is amazing. Maya also won the southern Californian family film award in 1966. This is a complete family movie. The values which we still hold true in todays world. A must see!!!
