Maya in talks with WB, Disney for overseas release of 'Ramayana'

Even as Ramayana The Epic, an animation film inspired by Valmiki’s Ramayana, is set to hit the Indian screens this October 15, film’s producer Maya Digital Media Production is gearing up for its international theatrical release.

“We are expecting Ramayana to be released in more than 600 screens in three languages — Hindi, Telugu and Tamil — in India. We are in the process of dubbing the movie in English, French, German and Spanish as well. Talks are already on with Warner Bros (WB) and Disney for overseas distribution, and the film will have an international release by early next year,” Ketan Mehta, chairman of Maya Digital, told Business Standard.

In its first theatrical 3D computer-generated imagery feature, Ramayana The Epic, Maya has invested close to Rs 20 crore. The 108-minute film, which will see Bollywood actors Manoj Bajpayee, Juhi Chawla and Ashutosh Rana lending their voices to the lead characters of Ram, Sita and Ravan respectively, will be distributed in India by WB.

Maya’s animation and visual effects studio’s chief creative officer for eight years now, Chetan Desai, who makes his debut as a director with Ramayana, said the production house had invested four years involving 400 animators in the making of Ramayana, including over 100 students from the Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics.

“Plans including merchandising of T-shirts and toys, and the movie-based games for Facebook are already in place. We are also looking at converting the movie into a series for mobiles shortly,” he added.

While declining to disclose the number of screens that the film will be released in the global market, Mehta said, “Since Ramayana is the most popular story ever told, I believe that the creative imagination of Valmiki and Chetan Desai will really communicate with the global audience. We expect the overseas release to become a major earner for us, and give us 100 per cent returns – Rs 40 crore – over the next three years.”

Mehta said the company was currently working on two international animation co-productions — one science fiction and the other historical — and one computer-animated live-action Bollywood adventure together with an investment Rs 90 crore.

“All the three films will be released by the end of next year and will be funded through a mix of project finance and bank debt,” he said, adding the company intended to produce about five films a year.