Baal Betal, or Chhota Betal, is a character created by Shrikant Vishwakarma for his story Chhota Vikram Baal Betal. The story introduces a unique concept that, to date, has not been explored in the traditional Vikram-Betal tales: a child version of Betal.
Until now, the stories of Vikram and Betal have generally centred on the adult King Vikramaditya and the enigmatic Betal, most famously associated with Vikram and Betal ascribed to Somadeva Bhatta. Shrikant Vishwakarma, an Indian mythology and fantasy writer, reimagines this timeless world through the eyes of childhood. In his creation, both central characters are young: Vikram becomes Chhota Vikram, a young prince, while Betal appears in his mischievous child form as Chhota Betal, or Baal Betal—a tiny, playful and troublesome spirit who might aptly be described as a naughty little Betal.
Baal Betal is not introduced merely as an additional character. His existence grows naturally out of the story itself.
The ancient Betal is under a mysterious curse. On every full-moon night, the powerful old Betal is transformed into a mischievous child—the little Baal Betal. In this form, his supernatural powers are greatly diminished. A powerful tantric seeks to capture him and perform a dark ritual sacrifice, believing that the sacrifice of such a supernatural being will grant him immense power.
But Baal Betal possesses something far more valuable than his diminished supernatural abilities: the nine sacred jewels of Ujjayini.
These nine jewels are desperately needed by Chhota Vikram, a young prince who lives in the Shivalaya Palace of Ujjayini with his two mothers and his brothers and sisters. Ujjayini is under threat from the Shak ruler, and the young prince is determined to protect his kingdom and his people.
Under normal circumstances, the old Betal is immensely powerful, possessing numerous supernatural abilities and occult powers. But when the curse transforms him into Baal Betal on the night of the full moon, his strength is reduced by almost half. He becomes smaller, weaker—and considerably more mischievous.
Chhota Vikram begins following him.
Yet there is another mystery hidden within the curse. Whenever the little Betal eventually transforms back into his older form, he remembers nothing of his time as Baal Betal. He does not remember the young prince who has been secretly following him or helping him.
And so, the strange cycle begins again.
The old Betal encounters Chhota Vikram and begins telling him one of his mysterious stories. But these are not stories that can simply be heard and forgotten. Chhota Vikram must enter the world of the tale itself and solve the riddle hidden within it.
Only when he succeeds does Betal reward him with one of the nine jewels.
But time is running out.
Another fifteen days pass, and once again the full moon approaches. The ancient curse takes hold of Betal, and the powerful old spirit transforms once more into the mischievous little Baal Betal.
Thus begins an extraordinary cycle of mystery, magic, riddles and adventure—where a young prince and a mischievous child-spirit are bound together by a secret that neither of them fully understands.
