This film could mean cinematic and box office redemption for Nikhil Advani after the hat-trick of disasters — “Salaam-e-Ishq,” “Chandni Chowk to China” and “Patiala House”— since his 2003 debut “Kal Ho Naa Ho.”
At a press conference Aug. 9, Govinda, making a late entry; Boman Irani, child artist Swini Khera (doubling up as emcee), director Nikhil Advani, composers Shankar Mahadevan and Loy Mendonsa, officials from PETA and Sanctuary magazine editor and ace environmentalist Bittu Sehgal attended the first look of “Delhi Safari” (incidentally being made since 2007-08) at Mumbai’s PVR Juhu. The 3D trailer, which shows the film meeting international animation standards despite a fraction of their budgets, was very well-received. A group of students from two city schools were also present.
The film, a very Bollywood-style masala entertainer, has a powerful message. When the animals’ existence is threatened as a national park makes way for a housing complex, the motley bunch of critters decide to protest.
They come to know that they have to reach Delhi and Parliament, and the only animal who can “speak” the human language is a parrot. The five representatives set off on an adventure- and fun-filled voyage to Delhi, but will they make it? And even if they do, will their case get a sympathetic hearing and action?
The film has already won the FICCI-FRAMES 2012 award for Best Animation Film and will be released with dubbed versions in English, Turkish, Chinese, Italian and Russian. The Hindi version has Govinda as the militant monkey (who turns villain and finally rescuer), the know-all bear (Boman Irani), a lioness (Urmila Matondkar) and her male cub (Swini Khera), and a wily parrot (Akshaye Khanna). Suniel Shetty and Deepak Dobriyal (who was also present) are among others in the voiceovers cast. Sameer writes the lyrics.
Irani narrated how his wife, on hearing the script, had almost commanded him to do the issue-based film, even if they did not pay him! He also revealed how the voice cast spent three years on it instead of the initially promised “three days of dubbing,” he said.
“Nikhil first made us hear the script together,” he said. “We had a table reading and attacked the script to raise pertinent points. Then we were locked in a room with a five-camera setup and the animators. It is here that we all ‘acted’ out our parts by actually walking, running, falling and behaving like the animals in the film besides exaggerating all of this as it was for an animation film. For me, this film is a benchmark and a revolution, and I will support the film all my life!” he said passionately.
Seconded Govinda, “If something momentous can be conveyed as one is being entertained and while one is laughing, that’s really great.”
India-West asked Advani how he cast his actors, some of whom he has worked with in his past films, when there was no human persona to guide or match the actor.
“My inspiration was the genie from ‘Aladdin,’ played by Robin Williams. I thought of why he was cast — because he was a standup comedian and did not need props.
“And so came the idea of casting true actors with unique voices. Everyone had valued inputs to make to enrich the character and their work. Boman, for example, changed the bear from Punjabi to a zone that was more comfortable for him, though he has acted as a Punjabi brilliantly in films. Swini is a male cub because I remembered Daisy Irani playing boys.”
Mendonsa added that the songs and background music had to be perfect to the second. “There were no live actors here whose frames could be re-shot, added or deleted. In animation, every such frame change means so much time and much more money,” he pointed out.
The film, if all goes well, will be premiered at Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary with 5,000 children watching it. Meanwhile, Aug. 15 is also being declared as a Pledge Day, starting a campaign of signing postcards physically or online to make India’s prime minister aware of the environment.
Advani announced that the film would be released Oct. 19, the same day as his mentor Karan Johar’s “Student of the Year,” since the producers have fixed the date. “After you watch his film, please go for the next show of ‘Delhi Safari,’” he quipped.
“We feel very privileged that through this highly entertaining film, we are able to pass on a message that is very important to the sustenance of life of animals, forests and thereby humans on earth. It’s an honor to have Bittu Sehgal and PETA endorsing our film and the cause,” said Nishit Takia, co-founder and director of Krayon Pictures, which produces the film.