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Indian answer to Lion King?

`Hanuman' showed the way and more animation films are to follow. Sangeetha Devi. K reports

TOON TUNE A still from `Lava Kusa', which is being produced by a city-based firm

By the end of June, Hollywood's much-awaited movie Superman Returns and Krrish (sequel to Koi Mil Gaya), starring Hrithik Roshan, will lock horns at the box office. With special effects and graphics thrown in for good measure, these biggies will be doing whatever it takes to grab the eyeballs. In the same breath, it's not only the big spenders who will get the attention of children and young adults in a few months from now. A slew of animation films are in the offing both regionally and nationally, after the success of Hanuman, produced with a moderate budget of Rs. 3 crore.

An improved version

Animation expert and filmmaker V.G. Samant, who directed Hanuman, is ecstatic. "A section of the film industry thought that mythological themes might not go down well with children who are used to Harry Potter. All that's changed now. Whatever may be the theme, as a film-maker you need to do justice."

Samant's team is now developing the storyboard for Hanuman2. For this venture, Percept Picture Company has joined hands with Toons Animation. "More than 150 animators will be working on this film. Hanuman was shot on a nominal budget. The sequel will have better production quality.

The film should be ready by October 2007," he adds. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Production houses like Adlabs, Sahara One Motion Pictures and UTV are also jumping into the fray. And some of them are eyeing the regional markets as well.

A leading production house is in talks with Tamil superstar Rajnikant's daughter Soundarya for an animation film in Tamil.

Tribute to Mayabazaar?

Since Hyderabad already has a number of firms working on animation projects for international production houses, it's not a surprise that a number of animation films are being made here. One of the first will be Kittu, which will release later this month. "It's got a social theme and centres around a mischievous monkey," says the film's producer K. Bhargava. 2006 marks the 50th year since the all-time hit Mayabazaar released. Bhargava will be producing a film that will have the original characters of Mayabazaar in an animated version. "It will be a fitting tribute to the legendary film and will be released in English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil," he says. Call it sheer co-incidence but director Singeetham Sreenivasa Rao is also making an animation film on Mayabazaar!

Apart from these animation flicks, Hyderabad-based Rayudu Vision Media is working on Lava Kusa. Says Rudra Matsa, project in-charge for this film, "Animation firms in India are no longer considered as sweatshops for international projects. Plus, we have an edge while dealing with Indian mythological theme. While countries like Japan are doing a wonderful job with science fiction, we are taking a leaf from the past." Nearly eight months were spent doing the pre-production work for Lava Kusa. The film, to be released in English, Hindi and Telugu, is being produced at a budget of five million US dollars and will release next summer. About 100 animators are working on the film. This is not all. Production houses are known to lap up successful trends and we might see more animation films. Apart from full-fledged films, there are others who have one or two animated characters in a regular commercial film. Example: Friends Forever, a movie that stars Ashmit Patel, has a 3D animation character called Zampano!

Up next...

Kittu: A mischievous monkey grabs all the attention in this flick produced by a city-based firm.

Luva Kusa: Again, produced by a Hyderabad firm, the film will try to capitalise on the popularity of Indian mythology.

Mayabazaar: Two animation films are being made simultaneously by producer Bhargava and director Singeetham Sreenivasa Rao.

And there's more: Yet untitled projects from Adlabs and Sahara One Motion Pictures are to set rolling.

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