Date:29/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112957510200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

MGR to hit silver screen again... in animation film

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Special Arrangement

Eternal hero: A promotional still of ‘Puratchi Thalaivan.’

CHENNAI: The realm of animation is expanding at a steady pace - now, to include former chief minister M.G.Ramachandran too.

Mayabimbham Media, the makers of ‘Inimey Naangathaan V4’ are now coming up with their next project ‘Puratchi Thalaivan,’ a 3D animation film starring actors MGR and Sarojadevi in the lead. ‘Puratchi Thalaivan,’ being directed by Venky Baboo, promoter and managing director of Mayabimbham, is produced by Sridevi Rao. The trailer of this film will be ready by January 17, MGR’s birthday.

“The film will be about 100-minutes-long. It is a big budget film and we are trying to make it as entertaining as possible, like a typical MGR film,” Ms.Rao told The Hindu on Friday. Good mimicry artistes will be chosen to dub for the lead pair, she said.

Mayabimbham first made a short animation film titled ‘Pulli Raja.’ Its second venture ‘Inimey Naangathaan V4’ had veteran technicians, including Ilaiyaraja, Valee and B.Lenin working for the film. “We are yet to finalise the technicians for ‘Puratchi Thalaivan,’” Ms. Rao said.

Looks like Kollywood is in for an interesting line up of animation films featuring top heroes. Soundarya Rajinikanth had sometime ago announced that ‘Sultan,’ an animation film made by Ocher Studios starring actor Rajinikanth, would be dedicated to her father on his birthday in December 2008.

Now, fans of ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’ and ‘Superstar’ have quite a bit to look forward to.