Sultan :: The Warrior

Question: Which is “India’s Biggest 3D Animation Film – Featuring India’s Biggest Superstar”?

If you thought it was “The Return of Don” starring Amitabh Bachchan, you’re wrong! In fact it is Sultan :: The Warrior featuring none other that Southern Superstar – Rajnikanth! Touted to be the biggest 3D animated film ever to be made in India, Sultan will star the animated version of Rajni in the title role and also voiced by him. The film is being produced by AdLabs and will be directed by Rajni’s daughter Soundarya Rajnikanth. Other biggies behind this project are art director Thota Tharani and Music director A.R.Rahman. The budget of the movie is said to be somewhere in the range of 40-50 crores and it will have Chennai-based Ocher Studios doing the bulk of the animation with International help as well. [Wikipedia]

I first heard of this project quite some months ago, but it never occurred to be until I noticed a full-page ad in yesterday’s ToI supplement of Hyderabad Times. I guess animation would be a better option to maintain youthfulness and fairness rather than resorting to skin-grafting or digital-film-enhancement! Also, the action and gestures can be made to look believable in case of an animated movie. No one would exclaim WTF!!! but instead will reassure themselves by saying Its a cartoon yaar!!!

More: Official Site | Wikipedia | Times Of India Ad |

P.S: Is it just me or does this movie remind one of Prince of Persia??

Happy Bhogi, Pongal and Sankranthi!

Three-in-One Wishes Here’s wishing everyone a crackling Bhogi, a Happy Pongal and a Cheerful Makar Sankranthi!

Today is the first day of Pongal and is traditionally celebrated as Bhogi. I’ve observed that it is less common in Hyderabad as compared to in Vizag or in my hometown. Bhogi is celebrated by throwing away or destroying old clothes and materials by setting them on fire, signifying the end of the old and the emergence of the new. It is celebrated with much fervor and gaiety. I remember the days when we used to get up as early as 4 AM to light the bonfire and tumble in all sorta old materials – logs, broken furniture, wood chips, dry leaves etc. Once the flames die down, we’d plant kandamullam or sweet potatoes amongst the embers/coals and let them roast….to be eaten later. Mmmmm!

Kite Festival is the more popular mode of celebrating Pongal here and though I like watching those myriad colored kites fluttering about in the skies, the art of flying them has been long forgotten! Checkout some of them colorful kites over at Lazybug’s Flickr page. One of them is this: