Journalism of Courage
With Akshaye Khanna as the rogue parrot and Shaktimaan returning as a cyber junkie animation in India is ready for big-time action
Arnab Chaudhuri was sure of one thing: when he would spin the yarn,it would be of epic proportions. Putting in three years with a team of 300,and plots from the Mahabharata,he is ready with Arjun The Warrior Prince,his directorial debut. The film releases on May 25.
Choosing an animation over a live action feature has its advantages. Animated characters have more freedom and space,and can be experimented with, agrees Shaktimaan Mukesh Khanna,now prepping for a 3D film and a 3D TV show.
We started with Shaktimaan in 1997,and ran it for seven years. Now,its time to bring back the hero in a new avatar, says Khanna. So,out goes Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri and in comes Rihaan Arya. Rihaan is no longer the bumbling photographer; he is a cyber junkie, says Khanna. The animated version airs on Nickelodeon and Sonic.
On the other hand,Pune-based Krayon Animation has produced Indias first first stereoscopic 3D animation feature film,Delhi Safari. A slice of famous animation Madagascar,this one has five jungle inmates on a misson spiced with all the ingredients of a Bollywood blockbuster. Theres Akshaye Khanna as Alex,the rogue parrot; Govinda as Bajrangi,the militant monkey and Urmila Matondkar as the Queen, says Rashmi Ahad,producer of the film. While Delhi Safari releases this year end,Ahads next project is Govind Nihalinis Kamlu,the story of a flying camel.
With rapid changes in technology and increase in multiplexes that showcase 3D cinema,animation is one genre where one can explore beyond imagination, says Ahad.
