Future Ventures and Elephant Capital-backed Amar Chitra Katha (also known as ACK Media), a household name in India for telling folk, historical and heritage tales on the comic format, is all set to hit the big screen.
The company is set to release its first 3D animation movie, Sons of Ram- Heroes will rise , in collaboration with Cartoon Network across over 325 screens in the major cities in November. It is already working on plans to put its famous characters, Supandi and Shikari Shambhu , in animation movies for the big screen.
Famous characters
Vijay Sampath, CEO, Amar Chitra Katha, and executive producer of
Our long-term vision is to release a movie every six to eight months and produce animation as well as live action movies.”
The company is already working on a feature film based on its character, Shikari Shambhu , which is expected to be released by the end of next year. Another film on Supandi is in the pre-production stage.
It is looking at partners for co-producing its live action movie, which it plans to make into a big budget franchisee movie, expected to be released in 2014. “We want to focus on the franchisee-movie model and make movies which not only appeal to the Indian but global audiences too,” he said.
For Sons of Ram , a Rs 5-6 crore budget movie, the company, in collaboration with Big Bazaar, will have its film-themed merchandise on sale in various categories, such as apparel, stationery and school products.
The company is also focusing on investing in the digital space by launching an Amar Chitra Katha app on the major operating networks this year. “We are not an animation studio but a dedicated content originating company and storytellers. We want to constantly provide our content to our readers and audiences in an engaging and contemporary manner,” Sampath said.
ACK has already tried its hand at animation series and a movie for television.
Meenakshi.v@thehindu.co.in