Exclusive | After Krishna comes Shaktimaan: Reliance Animation's Ashish Kulkarni

Shaktimaan, the popular superhero serial by Mukesh Khanna in the late 90’s is now an animated series in a new format with new stories and contemporary yet futuristic settings. Courtesy Reliance Animation, the new animated Shaktimaan is currently on air since May 7 on  Nickelodeon and Sonic channels. Adgully spoke to Ashish Kulkarni, CEO, Reliance Animation to find out more behind the new animated series. Following are the excerpts

 

 

Ashish Kulkarni (AK): Sure. The experience has been very gratifying. Since a long time we had been in discussion with Mukesh Khanna to make Shaktimaan into a new animated series. Finally we came to an understanding in 2008. The theme of the earlier series which was aired on Doordarshan was very India centric. We looked at the present situation and ways to take the new series global which appeals to the kids at the same time.

 

Although there have been a few variations in the original concept the basic idea remains the same. The Gangadhar –  journalist photographer has been changed to Vihaan Arya, a 21 year old IT engineering graduate from the Himalayas and a believer in the Guru-Shishya parampara. He gets his powers from the yoga. India has given yoga and also made strides in information technology (IT). So we have kind of married both. By repositioning Shaktimaan in the contemporary world with software and yoga as the central theme we have ensured that it will appeal to the kids in India and overseas. Each series is a new story but the theme of victory of good over evil remains unchanged.

 

 

AK: Yes off course. Reliance Animation has worked with animation in creating Indian concepts. So Little Krishna first and now Shaktimaan animation. Even our other properties like Big Bees Jr are based on the wonders of nature. We feel with entertainment there has to be education also and some where we should ensure that our cultural content does not get vanished completely. One needs to do a lot of research and give the kids the right content which is our very own yet of international standards. Animation is very expensive so one has to create a way that is should work global.

 

 

AK: Every single project in animation is expensive and ambitious because of the process. At the same time it is also a long lasting process and a property which can be used the way one wants to- it can be dubbed in any language, in that sense it becomes a global property. But we have to ensure that what comes out is made very well in terms of every aspect right from storytelling to animation and production values.

 

 

AK: During the process of making the new series and while doing research for the same we met a lot of mothers who have grown up on Shaktimaan. The feedback we got was that they would love to see their kids watch the new animated Shaktimaan. SO we thought the look and feel of the new series has to be contemporary and the canvass has to be much broader something global because the kids are exposed to many things today and to much larger things. Therefore the content has to be long lasting.

 

 

AK: Yes the canvass and the imaginary are larger and the storyline is much better. You must watch it to believe it. We have created it in a futuristic scenario but on neutral grounds. Like for instance there was an episode on saving Tajmahal and within which there are issues like pollution etc. The idea is to deal with huge problems that kids of today are dealing with and are aware of; otherwise they will not be interested in old problems.

 

 

AK: Yes. In case of kids to today, we have to ensure that every episode has to be a standalone episode. They don’t understand sequels. Also we don’t show any blood or killings etc so the script writing is the most important thing n creating such content.