When Harry Potter
becomes a 'Harry Puttar'!
Mumbai, Aug 28, 2005
Subhash K. Jha
IANS
He's making a children's film and it's called 'Hari
Puttar'. But, according to its young NRI producer,
the film is not really a takeoff on Harry Potter but
his version of 'Home Alone'.
Harinder Singh Kohli, better known as Lucky Singh,
a London-based film producer and entrepreneur with
25 animation films to his credit, is now making a
feature film in Hindi.
'I grew up watching Hindi films. And I often wondered
why there was so little for kids. 'Harry Puttar' is
a homage to my childhood,' he says.
Singh has finalised the casting of all 10 kids who
are part of the film.
'Zen Khan, who has done a number of advertisements,
will play the role of the main kid. I want Paresh
Rawal to play the main adult role. He's also excited
over the idea of doing a children's film. We don't
have too many of them in Bollywood, do we?' Lucky
told IANS.
'But Rawal has a problem with dates and I want to
shoot in October. Ours is a small budgeted film. And
we've to finish on time,' the producer of the Harry
Potter-meets-Home Alone-meets-Bollywood film says.
South Indian producer Murli Mohan is also a part
of the film.
Does Lucky foresee any copyright problems with the
makers of Harry Potter?
'Not at all. We've already got the title. 'Puttar'
is an accepted word in Punjabi. Why should that create
a problem?' Singh asks.
