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Animation industry comes of age in India(Gulf News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)The Indian animation industry is no child's play. Cashing in on the roaring commercial success of Hanuman, which grossed Rs150 million (Dh12.5 million) last year, Indian animators are busy churning out films based on mythological characters targeting the children. First off the drawing board is Lord Krishna, set for release by the end of this year. Lava Kusa, the warrior twins, releases in the summer of 2007 and the much-anticipated Hanuman sequel will be in cinemas around Diwali (October) next year. So what makes these cartoon characters give reel life heroes a run for their money? Indian epics have colourful characters and offer a mix of rich mythology, dramas and fantasies, the right content for animated cartoons, said Sudhish Rambhotla, chairman and managing director of Color Chips, Hyderabad, creators of the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Lord Krishna. "The shelf lives of these tales are an added bonus. These stories have been there for thousands of years and still enjoyed by children and adults," he said over the telephone from Hyderabad. Blockbuster The films are made keeping the children in mind. "They enjoy the naughty characters," Rambhotla said. The child Hanuman was the main draw of the 2005 blockbuster. And the producer Percept Picture Company is joining hands with Toonz Animation India to bring him to life again. The sequel will be made with a combination of 2D and 3D. Hanuman 2 will see an investment of $2 million (Dh7.34 million) and is targeting a October 2007 release. In the film, Hanuman will interact with children in the modern world and finish off evil in society. Hanuman the first animation film written, produced, created and directed by an all-Indian team raked in more than Rs150 million last year, much more than the earnings of big banner Bollywood films such as Kyun Ki, Neal n Niki, and Ek Ajnabee. Another film to look forward to is, Lava Kusa, the warrior twins. With a whopping budget of $5 million (Dh18.35 million), it is hoping to create Indian history. The film produced by RV Sashank of Kanipakam Creations in association with Rayudu Vision Media Ltd (RVML), Hyderabad is set for release in 2007 summer. About 300 animators are working on the film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana. "We have a winner in our hands," said Praveen Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of RVML, over the telephone. He was confident that his venture would triumph over Hanuman 2. Lava Kusa is the story of two determined warrior brothers, who team up to bring a powerful dynasty to its knees. The adventure reaches its climax with Lava and Kusa fighting the Lord Rama, who they don't know is there father. It is 90 minutes of action-packed drama. The animation industry in India began with outsourcing for foreign productions, but with the success of Hanuman the focus has shifted to producing films for the home market. The nascent industry is finally starting to stand up on its feet. |