A Slice From the Pai

This project,says Ruia,is an extension of their efforts to take the stories rooted in Indian culture to the people. “The animation feature Tripura and tele-animation series Amar Chitra Katha,both based on late Uncle Pai’s works,are already on air on Cartoon Network. We hope to take this tradition forward through new mediums. Animation aids the portrayal of larger-than-life characters from mythology,” he says. The film is a musical,and singer Sunidhi Chauhan has been signed on to play Sita. The cast also includes various theatre actors,such as Aditya Kapadia,who will play the part of Luv.

“Since it is an epic,the cast comprises 15 major characters,including many young children,” Ruia says. The film,scheduled to release next year,is a collaborative project with a Malaysian animation studio. However,it uses 2D hand-drawn animation,typical of Pai’s own style. “The traditional look has an appeal that no other technique offers,” Ruia adds.

Dipti Nagpaul-D’Souza