With their colourful frames and guileless storytelling, animation movies have always been a big hit among children, a major segment of our cine-viewers. So to pep up kids, the target audience of the fantasised film versions, a desi animation movie titled ‘Once Upon a Time’ is all set to hit the theatres, this vacation. The film that narrates the tale of a wonderstruck boy who makes an ethereal trip to an unknown world is sure to win the hearts of children, believes the makers.
A creative team lead by Binu Sasidharan, who had earlier helmed ‘CID Moosa 007’, the animated version of the Dileep-starrer movie in 2003 is directing the film. The film has been made completely using gaming technology, which is a rarity in Indian films itself, claims the makers. “Though there has been many animation movies, and games inspired from films, (the most recent being a facebook game inspired from the Malayalam movie ‘3 Dots’, this is for the first time, a full-length movie is being made using gaming technology,” says Binu.
Another highlight of the film is the presence of the animated figure of actor Salim Kumar. “The minister’s character has stark similarity with the award-winning actor.” Certain other characters also have some similarities with actors like Mala Aravindan, Narayankutti and Machan Varghese. The actors themselves have given voice to the characters.
In the film, Rahul, the protagonist is an avid reader who is interested in holy chants. The boy who gets a magic book from a sage understands that a fictional character has similarity to him. And from there starts the dreamy journey of the boy who reaches and unknown country. The films narrates the spellbinding incidents that happens in his life later.
The film has a simple subject that can be enjoyed by both children and elders alike, says Anil Perumbalam who has written the screenplay and dialogues of the film. Anil who had earlier written the script of animation movies like ‘CID Moosa 007’, ‘Kuttichathan’ and ‘Kuttipattalam’ says, “In Kerala, there is great scope for an animation film. It requires lesser cast and crew and more imagination. A team with right vision can make a good animation film,” he observes.
Renowned music director Biji Pal has composed the music of the film and Sujatha has sung one of the five songs. The editing has been done by Mentos. The film produced by Fx3 productions will hit the theatres by May second week.