Guest guest Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 The miracle of Hanuman "But quite apart from the commercial breakthrough it has achieved, Hanuman has attained something that is less immediately visible but infinitely more far-reaching. The film has given Indian filmgoers an Indian hero from the pages of mythology, reinvented and served up to great effect for present-day audiences." Saibal Chatterjee November 16, 2005 When India's first-ever full-fledged animation theatrical release, Hanuman, arrived at the multiplexes, it seemed destined for oblivion. The example of the live action-animation celluloid love story, Bhaggmati, was too fresh in the collective memory of filmgoers to be ignored. Animation films, in the Indian context, were believed to be a micro-niche phenomenon at best. The first week of Hanuman seemed to confirm the worst warnings of doomsayers. And then, a miracle of sorts happened. Rapid word of mouth publicity turned what looked like a losing proposition into an outright winner. Growing popular support catapulted the Rs 2.5 crore Sahara Entertainment-produced, VG Samant-directed animation film into the big league. The production company of course showed every sign from the very outset that they had faith in the commercial potential of the project. So, Hanuman hit the multiplexes with more than 150 prints even as it was promoted in the manner of a full-fledged Bollywood film. The gamble has paid off – Hanuman is set to rake in Rs 10 crore or thereabouts in the course of its wonderful swing through the movie marketplace. The surprise success of Hanuman has, of course, come as a huge shot in the arm for the Indian animation film industry, which has hitherto predominantly played the role of an outsourcing hub entrusted with no more than backend work for international projects. The fact that Hanuman is now a certified box office hit could change all that for good. Enthused by what the film has achieved at the box office, Indian animators could now make bold to claim a larger share of the international animation film pie, which, as things stand, is growing at 30 per cent per annum. The industry is currently well on course to up scaling its worth to $ 15 billion by the end of the decade. But quite apart from the commercial breakthrough it has achieved, Hanuman has attained something that is less immediately visible but infinitely more far-reaching. The film has given Indian filmgoers an Indian hero from the pages of mythology, reinvented and served up to great effect for present-day audiences. Weaned on Superman, Batman and Spiderman, filmgoers in this part of the world have for far too long been compelled to make do with borrowed `superheroes'. Now, they have their own Hanuman, a character capable of pulling in the crowds with his bionic exploits. Can other animators build on the opening provided by this welcome success story? Popular Hindi cinema needs more films like Hanuman. The year 2005 has established beyond an iota of doubt that Indians are game for modes of entertainment that dare to break away from the run-of-the- mill. This year, unconventional films like Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black, Madhur Bhandarkar's Page 3 and Nagesh Kukunoor's Iqbal have hit the box office bull's eye. Even more significantly, all the big films that opened around the time that Hanuman was running in the theatres – the so-called explosive Diwali dhamaka releases – turned out to be damp squibs in comparison. Miracles do happen at the box office, but some miracles have tangible fallouts. Hanuman is certainly one such occurrence. Hard- nosed Mumbai showbiz players might do well to see the success of Hanuman as another sign of things to come, both for Bollywood as a whole and the Indian animation film industry in particular. It's one more piece of evidence to support the growing feeling that the entertainment market on the subcontinent is maturing and expanding fast enough to drain routine potboilers of some of their commercial clout, if not make them completely redundant. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1548468,001100030008.htm Hanuman a Super Hit (Wednesday, Nov 16, 2005 - 06:00 am) Televisionpoint.com Team Sahara One Motion Pictures' first animation venture Hanuman, made in association with Percept and Silvertoons at a cost of RS 2.5 crores, has been declared a hit by the trade. The 90-minute Hanuman, based on the life of the mythological hero, has grossed record earnings of RS 7 crores from all over India since its opening, including RS 3.5 crores from Mumbai alone. An impressive RS 1.5 crores had been collected in the first three days alone, a remarkable feat for an animation film. This is the first time that such a film had been promoted like a normal feature movie, with 150 prints circulated nationwide on the day of release. Says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, on the performance of Hanuman: "The box office collections of Hanuman are bigger and better then most other star cast films released in the last one month. It is a one of the best products to hit the screen recently." Sandeep Bhargava, chief operating officer of Sahara One Motion Pictures, adds: "This film has appealed to audiences of all age groups. The film has started well and will pace up in the coming weeks. With the Christmas holidays coming up shortly, Hanuman will get its audiences glued with its fantastic animation and screenplay." Hanuman is about the extraordinary journey of this mythical superhero — from his days as an adorable, miracle-working baby to his ultimate triumph in the army of Lord Ram. Says Shantonu Aditya, CEO of Sahara One: "Animation has always been viewed as kid stuff, but Hanuman has the complete package of songs, storyline and excellent animation that makes it engrossing, inspirational entertainment for both, kids and grown-ups alike. Hanuman has provided fans of animation a whole new entertainment experience." "This film has all the ingredients of a commercial film. It has music, drama, action — everything that the Indian audience would see in any other film. The film is a tribute to our own culture as it is not about a Spiderman or a Batman but our very own Hanuman, whose tales we have been listening to all our childhood. It was a treat for everyone during Diwali," said Shailendra Singh, MD of the Percept Picture Company. "Animation has always taken a backseat in Indian cinema. But Hanuman is going to set a new trend and create a boom in the animation industry." Animation veteran V.G. Samant has directed Hanuman. Mukesh Khanna has lent his voice to the adult Hanuman. The music has been composed by debutant Tapas Relia. The makers are optimistic that the phenomenal success story of Hanuman will set a precedent for many more animation films to follow. Hanuman has made waves in the animation industry with its numerous pioneering features. Animation guru V.G. Samant, a three-time national award winner and twotime international award winner, took two years and three months to create over 200,000 individual images along with 40 individual characters for the film. There were 108 artistes and 120 animation artistes involved. They painstakingly- created 40 digital ink and paint compositions and runs, and made around 17,500 background paintings. "We created around two lakh drawings and action drawings. There was no question of rejecting even a single painting. It was all planned since a huge amount of money and labour was involved in it," said Samant. http://www.televisionpoint.com/news/newsfullstory.php?id=1132141999 Hanuman becomes a superhero Nov 10, 2005 It`s a bird. It`s a plane. It`s … the superhero monkey god! While movie stars often achieve mythical status in film-crazy India, Hanuman, the star of India`s first animation feature film, is a genuine deity drawn from the Hindu pantheon. Over the years, India`s burgeoning animation and special effects industry has cut its teeth working for foreign production houses drawn to South Asia by lower costs. But Hanuman is its first full-length, homegrown animation feature. Hanuman monkey god statue in a temple in India In promotional clips being aired on Indian TV, Hanuman — in an orange loincloth, gold armlets and anklets, with his long hair held in place with gold beads — wields a mace as he battles fire- breathing dragons and ferocious demons. "Hanuman is like a super- superhero. "We have tried to go beyond Superman," director V.G. Samant said. "Which superhero can leap up and touch the sun or move mountains with one hand?" Samant, along with about 60 animators and researchers, studied Hindu scriptures for more than two years to adapt them to celluloid for the 90-minute film, being released this month in India in Hindi- and English-language versions. His team had plenty of experience animating stories. European, Australian and American production houses have for years sent detailed scripts to India to have local graphic artists and animators sketch, paint and digitalize the content. A 26-minute animated episode costs from C$94,680 to C$118,350 in India, compared with about US$250,000 in the U.S., Samant said. India`s animation production and special effects industry is estimated to be worth around US$778.2 million a year, and has grown by about 30 percent in the past few years, according to a study in March by the trade group Confederation of Indian Industry. But no Indian animated movies have been produced. At the box office, foreign animated hits have lagged behind the song- and-dance blockbusters churned out in the country, said Komal Nata, who runs the trade guide Film Information. "Indians are not captivated by animation,`` Nata said. "But if Hanuman touches them, people may change." That`s what animators are hoping for in India, home to the world`s largest film industry, nicknamed "Bollywood." In a bid to spread the animation genre`s popularity, the monkey god was selected as a film superhero because of his local and foreign appeal, said Sandeep Bhargav, chief operating officer of Sahara One Motion Pictures, which produced and distributed the film. Bhargav said research showed the character was well-known throughout Asia, "Hanuman may be a deity for Indians, but in China, Indonesia, Thailand, he`s known as the `Monkey King`," he said, referring to Chinese mythology`s similar figure, the mischievous Song Wu Kong. The English version will be released overseas later in the year, Bhargav said, adding that this should help draw in audiences in the United States, Britain, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand — countries with large South Asian communities. Creators said they wanted to draw on homegrown influences. "Indian kids are so tuned in to Superman and Spider-Man, they`ve forgotten superheroes in their own backyard," said Bhargav. Hanuman, revered by India`s Hindu majority, is known for his wisdom, superhuman strength and loyalty to the god Rama. Like Hollywood superheroes, Hanuman protects the weak. The movie`s plot follows the mythological story of the demon king Ravana, who kidnaps Rama`s wife, Sita. The hero sets out to find her, battling seven-headed snakes and confronting the 10-headed Ravana during the search. http://www.asianpacificpost.com/news/article/854.html Hanuman is a hit, smashes all records Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005, Mumbai: Sahara One Motion Pictures' first animation venture Hanuman, made in association with Percept and Silvertoons at a cost of Rs 2.5 crores, has been declared a hit by the trade. The 90-minute Hanuman, based on the life of the mythological hero, has grossed record earnings of Rs 7 crores from all over India since its opening, including Rs 3.5 crores from Mumbai alone. An impressive Rs 1.5 crores had been collected in the first three days alone, a remarkable feat for an animation film. This is the first time that such a film had been promoted like a normal feature movie, with 150 prints circulated nationwide on the day of release. Says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, on the performance of Hanuman: "The box office collections of Hanuman are bigger and better then most other star cast films released in the last one month. It is a one of the best products to hit the screen recently." Sandeep Bhargava, chief operating officer of Sahara One Motion Pictures, adds: "This film has appealed to audiences of all age groups. The film has started well and will pace up in the coming weeks. With the Christmas holidays coming up shortly, Hanuman will get its audiences glued with its fantastic animation and screenplay." Hanuman is about the extraordinary journey of this mythical superhero — from his days as an adorable, miracle-working baby to his ultimate triumph in the army of Lord Ram. Hanuman has made waves in the animation industry with its numerous pioneering features. Animation guru V.G. Samant, a three-time national award winner and two-time international award winner, took two years and three months to create over 200,000 individual images along with 40 individual characters for the film. There were 108 artistes and 120 animation artistes involved. Hanuman has been officially recorded as India's first indigenous animation film in the Limca Book of Records 2004 edition. Leading playback singers like Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Palash Sen, Kailash Kher, Saapna Mukherjee, Madhushri and Sneha Pant have sung for the film. (Source : Deccan Chronicle) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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