Strings ATTACHED

Ajay: U Me Aur Hum was drama while Toonpur 8230; has comedy along with lots of animation. It was fun doing it.

Since your first film almost 15 years ago,you have done just about 7-8 films together. What is the reason for this?
Kajol: It is very rare that we agree on scripts so I guess that is the reason why we do only a few movies together. What Ajay thinks of as very workable,I may find it boring and may not agree to work on it.

Hasnt the process changed?
Kajol: Well,we got married..Laughs

How is it working together today?
Ajay: There is definitely a comfort level.

Kajol: I think as years go by you get more comfortable and get used to the way the other person works. It becomes more of a team spirit than anything else.

What was it about Toonpur 8230; that made you want to work together? Does it cater only to kids?
Ajay: I think Toonpur 8230; was a fabulous script. I would put it as a comedy film which will make you laugh throughout. In our country,even today animation films are being made to target children. Unfortunately,the humour is sometimes not understood by the children. The general notion is that kids are stupid,which is wrong. But when we watch a Hollywood film based on animation,we enjoy it as it is made keeping both kids as well as adults in mind. So why are we trying to make films,that only some kids will like and others will have outgrown? As for Toonpur 8230;,our first intention was to make a universal comedy. Secondly,we were sceptical as no one has made such a film in India. Yet we decided to go ahead.

Kajol: I remember,as a kid,I thoroughly enjoyed watching Chhota Chetan wearing those 3D glasses. The film did well even at that time.

Ajay: Thats because it was good right from the scripting level.

Kajol: It was also made really well.

Ajay: But why are these films targeted only at kids?

Kajol: Today kids are so intelligent that so many times we have no answers to their queries. Also they have access to internet,TV,and so much.

Ajay: We did not have that kind of exposure when we were children..

Talking of children,Toonpur 8230; also has some kids. Were they precocious or intimidated?
Kajol: The kids in the film were never precocious. In fact they were very cute. They have acted in some serials.

Ajay: Besides this,the animated characters in Toonpur8230; are very funny and their performances are as good. Only Kajol,the two kids and I are live,the rest,that is 80 per cent of the film,is animation.

So how tough was it to shoot an animation film?
Ajay: It was very tough as while shooting we had to interact with people who were invisible. Even for the action sequences,I had to beat up people who were not around. It was not easy as the body language and expressions had to be correct.

Kajol: We had to re-shoot some scenes as we could not get certain things right.

Ajay: Some members of the production department of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? were here to see the animation of Toonpur8230;

Kajol: That was the first film that had live action and animation together.

Ajay: They were fascinated by our work that they said they could not believe that such a film could be made in India. They even went to the extent of saying that Your actors deserve Oscars. This compliment came because they know how difficult it is to work in an animation film.

But do we have a market for animation films in India like Hollywood has?
Ajay: If Toonpur 8230; does well,about one lakh people will get jobs as it will be boost the animation industry. But if it doesnt work,then 5000 more people will lose jobs.

So what is being done to ensure that the film works?
Ajay: We cannot do anything now. But we know that we have made a good film. I can only hope that Toonpur 8230; will boost animation in mainstream commercial Hindi cinema.

Arent you apprehensive that Toonpur 8230; is releasing with Akshay Kumars much-awaited Tees Maar Khan?
Ajay: I think there is enough space for two films. Toonpur 8230; is a small but very different film.

Kajol: Both are different genres.

Ajay: Toonpur 8230;is releasing during the Christmas holidays so we are sure kids will go to watch it.

Why was Toonpur 8230; long in the making?
Ajay: We completed the shoot in three to four months. But animation does takes a long time to make. Avatar took five years to complete.

Kajol: Karan Johars Koochie Koochie Hota Hai is still being made. Its been four years. Where animation is concerned,everything has to be done properly as there is so much at stake.

What was the reason to work with Kireet Khurana,who is make his directorial debut with the film?
Ajay: Actually it was Kireet who came to me with the idea. He is very good at animation. Remember he was the one who created Fido.

Kireet gave me a test of the project before I gave my nod to produce it. The script was fabulous and I was pleasantly taken aback. However,I too was sceptical of producing an animation movie. But,from what I saw during the test,I realised that this project was as good as a Hollywood movie.

Who has been your superhero as a kid?
Kajol: I loved Superman. In fact,I read all the comics as a child,even Batman. They are eternal,classic and there is nobody to beat them. Not even you,Ajay. But only thing is that Superman is not real and Ajay Devgn is Laughs.

Ajay: I grew up watching Tom And Jerry. I still watch them with my daughter Nysa.

Kajol: I have also read a lot of Indian comics like Tinkle and Bahadur and even Phantom and Mandrake.

Of the toon characters in Toonpur8230;,which is your favourite character?
Kajol: Guppy. I love him and his gold chains. He is too cute.

What are you plans for the future?
Ajay: I have Dil Toh Bachcha Hain Jee,Priyadarshans Tez,Sanjay Dutts Rascals besides loads of other films.

Kajol: I am not doing anything for sometime at least. Later we can talk about my comeback film. Laughs. I shall keep making such comebacks. Right now I am only interested in taking care of my two kids,which in itself is a great task.

namita.nivasexpressindia.com