Film maker Aditya Chopra pioneered this trend of mixing real characters with animated cartoons in a song in his super-successful Hum Tum (2004).
Six years later, director Kireet Khurana has made India's first live action animation feature-Toonpur Ka Superhero (TKS) for Krishkika Lulla of Eros International and Kumar Mangat Pathak of Big Screen Entertainment, sys a media report.
Kireet, who is an animation expert, feels that this Christmas Eve (December 24) will be extra special for children because his film is exactly what Santa Claus would order for children in Bollywood.
He's proud that for the first time Bollywood has made a live action animation full-length feature with two superstars-Ajay Devgn and Kajol in the thick of it. The storyline is cute. There is trouble brewing in the sprawling city of toons just below the surface of the earth. And, yes you guessed right; apna Bollywood couple get in there to resolve issues.
Says Kajol, who plays a doting mother in the film, “I thought I had done it all, but honestly, the temptation to do a feature film that actually brings together real and animated characters in a full on confrontation had me super-charged. I have had a great time working on it. And I'm sure my daughter Nysa and all the other children are bound to go gaga over it.''
Ajay is equally charged. “Remember Who Framed Roger Rabbit? It was a cult offering from Hollywood. If you have loved that one, you are bound to enjoy Toonpur Ka Superhero.
Indian animation has reached stellar heights and the whole idea of getting live and animated characters together in one film is mind-boggling.” Krishika feels Indian cinema will be proud of this movie because it is technically sound; and something children and adults will enjoy.
And, of course, the man who should get the maximum kudos for this venture is Kireet, who is a very popular name in the world of animation.
“Besides getting mainstream Bollywood support for this film, I'm also doubly excited to have Jack Gill, who worked on films like Terminator to direct the action sequences. With this one, India will see a new genre of live action and animation,” says Kireet.
