NRI UK group's
idea of "Hanuman" animation film,
open the doors for Indian producers
Director: V G Samant
Prajith Namboodiri
Hindi: (U) PVR Cinemas, Innivative Multiplex
The success of the Hanuman, the animation film, has opened
up new vistas for enterprising individuals, according to V
G Samant, director of Hanuman, the first indigenous animated
film. Metrolife caught up with Samant recently when he was
in Bangalore in connection with a seminar on the future of
animation organised by Animaster, an animation school in the
city.
The idea of making an animation film on Hanuman
was mooted by an NRI group, who
wanted to cover all aspects of Hanuman for the television
audience in Britain.
the original movie is of a two-hour duration and the one
that was released is of a ninety-minute duration. Initially,
it was meant for TV audience in Britain, but seeing the quality
of the film, the producers decided on a short duration film
to be released in theatres. So, we had to edit a lot.
The work on the film started in 1998 and was complete in
2002 and was released only in 2005. We had to compromise on
certain things so as to get back the money invested in it.
Mr. Samant said, "I will make only films for children
for the next three years. Your advise to those who want to
take up animation as a career... Animation involves drawing
sketches of characters and giving them a rhythmic movement
using technology. It is a skill that can be learnt over a
period of time. It cannot be learnt in just 15 or 20 days.
A lot of devotion, patience and interest is required for a
career in animation "
Evil forces have made life on earth miserable. When too many
rishis get killed and asuras have too much of a say, the nobler
men up there decide enough is enough, and it's time for counter
insurgency.
In the first part, Director V G Samant deals with Maruti's
birth. The Dev-gan approach Vishnu, but the 'preserver' is
busy with his homework on the imminent role of Sri Ram. The
divine folk now plead with the 'terminator'. Parvathi, as
always, offers to play a support cast, but the three-eyed
sura is all business this time. And, the only 'bachelor-avatar'
of Lord Shiva takes birth.
The second part is Hanuman's childhood. The little vayuputhr
is a cutie and just steals the show. He takes off from the
cradle straight for the sun, taking it for a mango! Bestowed
with all the powers in the world, young Maruti does a Tarzan
on the trees, an Asterix with an elephant, skis on the stars
and surfs on rings of Saturn... and the divine pranks just
do not stop. Soon, he meets his lord - Sri Ram. Hanuman chants
Ram-naam all the way to his adulthood and there you lose the
cutie. But with Mukesh Khanna rendering voice to the grownup
Hanuman, who narrates the whole story, there is no let down.
Ram and Lakshman are now in their 14-year ordeal. Hanuman
meets them in the jungle searching for Sita, and the chronic
bachelor is out on the mission he was born for.
Background scores blend with wonderful work of animation.
It took 1,50,000 drawings to complete the film, and the total
process took over four years. Over 120 people were involved
in this Converge Media production. And it shows.
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