Thaindian News

May 31, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Where Indian animation films are still at a very immature stage in India, one man dares to make a difference. Anil Goyal talks to Sampurn Wire about his animated film Crackers, made on a budget of $150 million on the grave subject of 26/11, marking a great leap in the animation genre in India.

When did you begin directing?

I began directing almost 8 years ago. I have done an educational program too and I am also into production.

What is the film Crackers about?

Crackers is a film that deals with the 26/11 terrorist attacks. It is the first 3D animation film in India. The subject of the film has been chosen very carefully after putting in a lot of thought to it. The film is about four friends Roxy, Kate, Gopu and Bolly, who go for a summer camp and get caught in the terrorist brawl. It is not a monotonous subject and the film consists of the sophisticated action sequences that will keep the audiences on the edge of their seat.

How different is making animation films from the real cinema in India?

In India, a lot is yet to be explored in terms of the animation and the special effects. People are bored with the monotonous subjects in animation with the mythological characters. It is only in Hollywood that new avenues are being experimented and the legendary characters are being created. The Indian market has the potential but is failing due to negligence and I want to change this with my film Crackers. I want to introduce a new sophisticated genre which is as good as the Hollywood films.

The past record of animation films in India has not been so good, considering this don’t you think you are taking a risk?

No, I am not scared of my film failing at the box office. I am proud of this attempt to change people’s perception about the Indian animated films. The people will be able to relate to the characters in the film. Roxy, the mechanical master, is the main hero of the film who will be seen doing some great mechanical stunts and find a way out of the crisis. The plot is very interesting and I am sure the people will enjoy it.

What are the unique aspects about this film?

This film will be one of the first in its kind in the history of the Indian cinema. The plot is very unique and gripping. The film portrays various emotions like love, comedy, emotions and action, which we generally find in the real cinema. It is about how the youth enlightened by the power and knowledge fight with the terrorists. The film’s special effects will be something to look out for as we have used 4D effects too.

When is the film expected to release?

The film should release sometime during this November.

We have also heard that you are a big fan of the late pop star Michael Jackson and the film has a connection to MJ?

Yes, I am a huge fan of Michael Jackson and was one of the many people, who were extremely upset on his demise. I have paid tribute to the legend in the film. Gopu, one of the main male protagonists of the film, thoroughly enjoys dancing and is a big fan of Michael and will be seen doing some moon walks and other jigs inspired by MJ in the first half of the film.

What are your upcoming projects?

Four projects are lined up as of now. One of them will be full-fledged animation film while the other three will be a mix of animation and real life.

Is it only animation that you are concentrating on or you also plan to direct a real cinema?

My focus is mainly on animation films as they give you more liberty to experiment and that too cost efficiently. We have our skilled technicians, who take care of everything including the budget. I do not believe in signing big super stars like Shahrukh Khan spending about 500 crores and restricting myself in terms of creativity. What we are doing is very unique. We have studios that can convert comic books in 3D format and with this technology we will bring a revolution in the animation industry in India.

-Rima Wadhwa / Sampurn Wire