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Issue 7 Vol I, January 15, 2006 Art & films
Animation Film lends
Charm to the Monkey King
Bollywood is going through a transition where moviegoers are open to challenges as long as they are well made and entertaining. And Hanuman, India’s animated mythological flick offers the perfect combination. Further the popularity and success of Hanuman, created by Kerala-based Toonz Animation, can open up a whole new genre for the Indian market which so far had not been too receptive to Indian animation films. In comparison, Hollywood has produced qualitative animation films, among which The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Shrek, The Jungle Book and Shark Tale have been extremely successful. Hanuman, which as the title suggests is based on the life of the mythological super-hero, has got an amazing response from the audience. Apart from the quality of animation, the narrative too is gripping throughout the 90 minutes length. Moreover, the Hanuman legend is known not just in India, but throughout Asia. In China, he is called Shun Wu Kong, the wind monkey; while in Thailand, he is the central character in Ramakiya, the country's most popular folk tale. In a way the movie is Ramayana retold, narrated by the adult Hanuman in a flashback. The story begins with the birth of Hanuman, reincarnation of Lord Shiva who came into the world to rid it of the negative forces and reinstate peace and harmony. Born to Anjani, a female Apsara and the God of wind (Vayu), Hanuman also known as Pavanputra was blessed with supreme intelligence, strength, divine powers and immortality. The first part of the film is specially a favourite with the kids wherein the toddler Hanuman uses his powers to pester the saints living in the nearby forest. Once, when he was hungry, he even leapt to catch the sun thinking it was a fruit. In fact, the baby Hanuman reminds one a lot of Mowgli, another popular animation character, as he swings from tree to tree, saves bear cubs from crocodiles and lifts elephants on his finger-tips. The second half of the film portrays how Hanuman helps Lord Ram during his vanavasa to rescue Sita by defeating Ravan in Lanka. The movie revolves around five principal characters of Ramayana - Ram, Sita, Laxman, Ravan and Hanuman. Indian epics and myths are replete with adventures and vivid fantasies but this is the first time that a film has been dedicated to this popular mythological hero. There have been efforts earlier to encourage animation in the Indian mainstream but it is Hanuman which has managed to herald an era grossing an initial business of over Rs 12 crore. The film has been recorded officially as India’s first indigenous animation film in the Limca Book of Records’ 2004 edition. What’s worked this time is the fact that Hanuman, unlike any other animation film, is that it has been released as a commercial film and has an exceptional soundtrack composed by Tapas Relia. Leading playback singers like Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Palash Sen, Kailash Kher, Saapna Mukherjee, Madhushri and Sneha Path have sung for the film. The voiceover for Hanuman has been done in Mukesh Khanna's baritone voice. Hanuman is a Sahara One Motion Pictures animation epic directed by V.G. Samant and traces the extraordinary journey of the mythical superhero. And it is a movie with a message which teaches one not to misuse one’s power but to use it for the betterment of the weak and the downtrodden. Be it his super powers, or the religious angle or the Indian culture and values or for that matter the character's antics as a child, Hanuman is a very appealing subject and connects to the Indian audience at various levels. Hanuman can serve as an excellent vehicle for exposing the Indian masses to the multi-artistic medium. Small wonder then that following the success of Hanuman, another animation movie made on Lord Ganesha has already hit the Indian market. | |||||||||||||||||
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SOUTH ASIA POST INC. |
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MOVE over
Spiderman, Superman, Batman and Pokemon. This time it is our
desi mythological hero Hanuman which has become
a craze with the kids who seem to never get enough of him in
the film by the same name. While kids love it and do not mind
watching it all the time, the adults too have enjoyed the
animated version of our very epic Ramayana where
Hanuman has always been a favourite character.