Animated films have started with their tryst with the Indian markets. Quite a number of animated movies are being released every year along with the staple number of Bollywood releases. Last weeks release Ghatotkoch, was again an animated film. The time to release it was right as the vacations are on; children budge their parents regularly for outings, picnics and trips to the nearest mall. Thus, Ghatotkoch might have a chance at the box office window. It is an animated movie about a mythological character from Mahabharata; Ghatotkoch was Bhim's son from the giantess Hidimba. Thus, being half giant and half human, Ghatotkoch had magical powers.
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Animation films don't have a mile stoned history in India. The
Japanese filmmaker Yugo Sako came up with an animated version of
the great Indian mythological epic Ramayana in 1992 by the name
'Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' which got a
lukewarm response in India. Later on many film makers inculcated animation as an ingredient in the films. Main Prem Ki Diwani Hu, Raju Chacha, Hum Tum etc were the few films that had incorporated animation in the story lines. |
Pentafour Graphics, based in Chennai, is credited with the making of first full length animated features. It created India's first computer animated feature film, Sindbad: beyond the Veil of Mists, and one of the first 3D animation films in the world. They followed it up with Alibaba, and the recent Son of Alladin. A movie with the Pandavaas as the leading heroes was also made. These films met with almost no or minimal success at the box office. They were segmented and shown as episodes on the cartoon network. Despite being dubbed for by eminent film stars, these films met with an uninterested audience.
| The Incredibles (Hum Hain Laajawab) was released with a lot of hype because of the fact that it had our very own Shah Rukh Khan dubbing for the role of Mr. Incredible as well as his son for the role of Dash. Still the film could not salvage a decent opening. A partially animated film Bhagmati could also not survive at the box office despite having Tabbu in the star cast. The legend of Buddha was India's official entry at the Oscar's in the animated films category. |
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Things changed fairly
after the release of Hanuman. After the film success, the entire
animation industry has seen a boom. It was hurriedly followed by
many other animated ventures. The film was admired audience over
all age groups. Schools took students for the film trips specially
to see the film. First time, a mythological character became a hero
for children. Such was the response that the makers decided on to
make a sequel also, called hanuman returns, a la batman
returns.
After the success of Hanuman, Bal Ganesha was released, trying to
bank on the hype and success of the former. Some other films
released at that time were Bal Krishna, etc. but not all had luck
similar to hanuman.
Hanuman created a market for animation films in India. Animation
now sounds like an upcoming career option. Many animation
institutes have mushroomed post hanuman, promising youth that
animation is the new it career prospect.
Yashraj films are also venturing in the field with their next film
Roadside Romeo. The film has voice overs by Saif Ali Khan and
Kareena Kapoor and is being mad ein collaboration with Disney.
Karan Johar is remaking his first film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai as Kuchi
Kuchi Hota hai, with 3 dogs as lead characters. The film, no
wonder, will be an animated one.
But yet, animation has a long way to go in India. Firstly all the
animators are obsessed with mythological characters. A hanuman can
be accepted, a Ganesha is also understood, but a Ghatotkoch is an
unlikely hero. And myth won't always be liked by the audience.
Secondly, the targeted market always the children and those
children whose parents have time and money to spend on them in
multiplexes. Apart from the summer vacations, the children seldom
go to watch the cinema.
Mostly upper middle class children are now occupied with their
computers, XBOX's and play stations. The
sort of animation they see in these games is far better than the
movies.
Thirdly, this generation is growing fast. And the next will grow
even faster, so it will be wiser to market these films to other age
groups as well. A lion king, or a shrek or a ratatouille does just
that.
Fourthly, the quality of animation has to cover many milestones.
The technology we have isn't sufficient enough. Nor is the amount
of money and dedication that goes into the industry. The films made
by the western counterparts look fresher by eons.
Thus while these changes might or might not take place, the kids
are at the mercy of the good old Cartoon Network.
