“Don’t shy away from clichés, the power of clichés demands new inventions and it really works!” is Habib Faisal’s advice to Whistling Woods students

Mr. Habib Faisal, Director of the critically-acclaimed ‘Do Dooni Chaar’ and writer of Bollywoods’s latest blockbuster ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ visited Whistling Woods International (WWI) recently to share his experiences and inspirations with an ecstatic bunch of students. He was thrilled to interact with the enthusiastic students, who were equally enamored by the enthralling film-maker.



Habib started his career as a cameraman with NDTV. An immensely qualified director armed with two Masters Degrees from renowned universities, he not only has an unique eye for detail, evident in ‘Do Dooni Chaar’ but also has proved that film-making is not only an art. According to him, it is about being able to relate reel-life characters and real-life characters with a never-ending passion for film-making.

He shared that his real-life incidents inspired him for ‘Do Dooni Chaar’, a middle-class family’s journey from a 2-wheeler to a 4-wheeler. Speaking about the movie and its casting, Habib said, “Your film has to be watched - there has to be an audience for it. I didn’t know who would be cast as the father and the mother. I could have cast two National School of Drama students but I wanted the characters to be real, therefore I chose Mr. Rishi Kapoor and Ms. Neetu Singh in the respective roles. Mr. Rishi Kapoor reminds me of my father and after I finished writing the script, I knew that only he could play the role to perfection. Ms. Neetu Singh was the most natural choice as she slipped into the character effortlessly and they both complimented each other beautifully.”

He regaled the students with his witty comments and narrated stories of how he and his family stayed in a one-bedroom kitchen flat and how all the day-to-day incidents of his life helped shape the four characters of ‘Do Dooni Chaar’. He explained the opening scene of the movie where the family is shown fighting, which could easily be related to middle-class family settings where everybody is fighting for personal space along with their personal dilemmas. He also stressed upon the fact that every movie has to have two climaxes. The movie should be accessible and the audience should enjoy it. “I don’t shy away from the fact that I am a mainstream person,” he added.

On being asked if ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ was a commercial film, he said, “Band Baaja Baraat was a commercial and very clichéd film. I wanted to take a clichéd idea and improvise on it. The power of a cliché is that it helps in accessibility. All of us like to see what happens in our lives transformed onto the screen, the movie was a typical movie which everybody would relate to at some point or another. I didn’t want to turn it into a spoof. But I had a ball with all the characters. It was totally exciting and a lot of fun.”

Upon being asked whether professional training helps future film-makers, he replied, “I totally value this training and having personally gone through it, I would recommend it to all film students. As a viewer, you are in total awe but as a film-maker it helps in demystifying the whole process and understanding finer nuances of film-making, which then helps the student as a film-maker to collaborate really well with other film-makers.”

At the end of the session, Habib said that he was happy to be invited to the institute and that he was very impressed by the students. He said “When I came to WWI, I instantly felt envious! The campus is magnanimous and spacious. This institute offers everything under one roof and it is the best place to learn. The kind of education and guidance WWI provides is remarkably outstanding. Apart from all aspects of film-making, it also teaches students the business aspects by offering an MBA degree. Any film student couldn’t ask for more.” He signed off by wishing them all the best for their future endeavours.

“Don’t shy away from clichés, the power of clichés demands new inventions and it really works!” is Habib Faisal’s advice to Whistling Woods students

Mr. Habib Faisal, Director of the critically-acclaimed ‘Do Dooni Chaar’ and writer of Bollywoods’s latest blockbuster ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ visited Whistling Woods International (WWI) recently to share his experiences and inspirations with an ecstatic bunch of students. He was thrilled to interact with the enthusiastic students, who were equally enamored by the enthralling film-maker.



Habib started his career as a cameraman with NDTV. An immensely qualified director armed with two Masters Degrees from renowned universities, he not only has an unique eye for detail, evident in ‘Do Dooni Chaar’ but also has proved that film-making is not only an art. According to him, it is about being able to relate reel-life characters and real-life characters with a never-ending passion for film-making.

He shared that his real-life incidents inspired him for ‘Do Dooni Chaar’, a middle-class family’s journey from a 2-wheeler to a 4-wheeler. Speaking about the movie and its casting, Habib said, “Your film has to be watched - there has to be an audience for it. I didn’t know who would be cast as the father and the mother. I could have cast two National School of Drama students but I wanted the characters to be real, therefore I chose Mr. Rishi Kapoor and Ms. Neetu Singh in the respective roles. Mr. Rishi Kapoor reminds me of my father and after I finished writing the script, I knew that only he could play the role to perfection. Ms. Neetu Singh was the most natural choice as she slipped into the character effortlessly and they both complimented each other beautifully.”

He regaled the students with his witty comments and narrated stories of how he and his family stayed in a one-bedroom kitchen flat and how all the day-to-day incidents of his life helped shape the four characters of ‘Do Dooni Chaar’. He explained the opening scene of the movie where the family is shown fighting, which could easily be related to middle-class family settings where everybody is fighting for personal space along with their personal dilemmas. He also stressed upon the fact that every movie has to have two climaxes. The movie should be accessible and the audience should enjoy it. “I don’t shy away from the fact that I am a mainstream person,” he added.

On being asked if ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ was a commercial film, he said, “Band Baaja Baraat was a commercial and very clichéd film. I wanted to take a clichéd idea and improvise on it. The power of a cliché is that it helps in accessibility. All of us like to see what happens in our lives transformed onto the screen, the movie was a typical movie which everybody would relate to at some point or another. I didn’t want to turn it into a spoof. But I had a ball with all the characters. It was totally exciting and a lot of fun.”

Upon being asked whether professional training helps future film-makers, he replied, “I totally value this training and having personally gone through it, I would recommend it to all film students. As a viewer, you are in total awe but as a film-maker it helps in demystifying the whole process and understanding finer nuances of film-making, which then helps the student as a film-maker to collaborate really well with other film-makers.”

At the end of the session, Habib said that he was happy to be invited to the institute and that he was very impressed by the students. He said “When I came to WWI, I instantly felt envious! The campus is magnanimous and spacious. This institute offers everything under one roof and it is the best place to learn. The kind of education and guidance WWI provides is remarkably outstanding. Apart from all aspects of film-making, it also teaches students the business aspects by offering an MBA degree. Any film student couldn’t ask for more.” He signed off by wishing them all the best for their future endeavours.

'Sherwani Kaha Hai...?': Talent Yaha Hai...!

'Sherwani Kaha Hai...?': Talent Yaha Hai...!

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The Making of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

Kishore Kumar apparently made 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' hoping it would flop. He wanted to show losses in his income and avoid paying a huge income tax to the authorities.



So he made two films ‘Lookochuri’ in Bengali and ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’ in Hindi…. and waited eagerly for them to collapse!

But the talent of the star cast, great music and fate conspired to make them both raging successes!

The Making of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

Kishore Kumar apparently made 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' hoping it would flop. He wanted to show losses in his income and avoid paying a huge income tax to the authorities.



So he made two films ‘Lookochuri’ in Bengali and ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’ in Hindi…. and waited eagerly for them to collapse!

But the talent of the star cast, great music and fate conspired to make them both raging successes!

The Making of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

Kishore Kumar apparently made 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi' hoping it would flop. He wanted to show losses in his income and avoid paying a huge income tax to the authorities.



So he made two films ‘Lookochuri’ in Bengali and ‘Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi’ in Hindi…. and waited eagerly for them to collapse!

But the talent of the star cast, great music and fate conspired to make them both raging successes!

The Reinvention of Maya: Exclusive interview with Super Stalwarts Subhash Ghai & Ketan Mehta

The announcement has just been made, but when companies led by two of the country‘s finest film directors, team up for an Animation Studio, the expectations are rocket sky high! In an exclusive interview with AnimationXpress.com Co Founder Anand Gurnani, the super stalwarts and legendary Subhash Ghai & Ketan Mehta spoke of their vision for Maya and their plan to create one of the world‘s best animation, vfx studios.



Ketan Ji, It‘s been a long journey for Maya right since the days of Captain Vyom, to Ramayana to the new collaboration with Mukta and the creation of a fresh new entity. We‘d like to know what the strategy was back then and what is it now?
KETAN MEHTA: Maya was a pioneer of computer animation and visual effects in India. It was created with the purpose of providing the new technology tools for filmmakers in India. At that time animation and visual effects were in their infancy and we had to make a beginning to introduce this new creative technology in India.

Over the years Maya has grown many fold, it has done high quality animation outsourced work for reputed international clients, it has created film and TV IPRs and provided Animation and visual effects content for Indian and international films. It has acquired skills to compete in the international market and a reputation for high quality work.

Now it is time to go to the next level, expand activities, bring in the latest technology, attract the best talent and turn Maya into one of the finest animation and visual effects studios in the world.

Ketanji & Subhashji, we‘d love to have your comments on the partnership? Also, Is the new studio going to be more focused on Services or will it focus on creating a slate of feature films?
KETAN MEHTA: Mukta Arts is one of the most reputed film production and distribution houses in India. Mr. Subhash Ghai apart from being one of the most successful Indian filmmakers of all time is also a visionary who pioneered the corporatization of the film industry. His contribution in the field of Cinema education is also path breaking with high quality cinema training institute like Whistling woods. The strategic partnership with Mukta provides Maya the platform to leap to the next level and become a major player in this field.

SUBHASH GHAI: As of 2010, the Mukta Arts Group was present in almost all verticals of the Motion Picture Industry. Right from High School education in Media Studies (Whistling Woods is designing the curriculum for the Media Studies elective for the 11th & 12th standard of the CBSE board) to Exhibition (our own chain of multiplexes - Mukta Cinemas - commences April 2011), we are present in all verticals of the Motion Picture industry. The only piece that was missing was Animation & VFX. Internally, over the recent past, we have been seriously considering a foray into Animation & VFX and have been discussing with several professionals / organizations in this industry and strategizing which is the best approach - should we setup a production facility of our own or should we invest in one, and we chose the latter.Mr Ketan Mehta is a highly artistic & creative filmmaker and has also proven to be a visionary when, almost a decade ago, he realized the potential of Animation & VFX as a key component of filmmaking and forayed in the same.

KETAN MEHTA: Maya plans to strike a fine balance between doing international outsourced animation and VFX work for Indian and International clients as well as develop its own projects both animated films as well as films mixing live action and visual effects and create a slate of high quality IPRs.

SUBHASH GHAI: We are looking at the new studio having 4 primary business lines - Original IP creation, outsourced Animation & VFX work for international projects, international co-productions & 2D to 3D conversion. We are confident that this partnership of Mukta Arts‘ tradition of path breaking cinema and Maya‘s potential of success in the fields of Animation & VFX will bear fruit, sooner rather than later.

Having Frank Foster as Senior Director and COO is certainly a great start to the fresh entity...and makes us anticipate lots of Hollywood projects coming in as well...?

KETAN MEHTA: Frank Foster was the pioneer of Computer Animation and Visual Effects in Hollywood. He has years of experience in running studios not only in USA but also in China. He brings with him all this international experience and contacts in order to achieve the best international standards and business practices to Maya.

You are expanding the studio in 3 locations? What kind of team strength are you targeting? Will each of the facilities cater to different markets or be focused on servicing different geographies? Will the studio have any kind of integration with the Whistling Woods School of Animation?
KETAN MEHTA: Currently we are relocating the Mumbai studio to a much larger facility at Mukta House at Film City, Goregaon, which will primarily focus on animation and Visual effects for films and Television for Indian as well as International clients and creation of our original IPR.

Another studio at Goa will primarily cater to the international outsourced service work. Another major vertical we are developing is conversion of 2D films to 3D.

Maya has been involved with computer animation training for a long time. So the synergies with Whistling woods are obvious. To begin with we will conduct workshops and training programs for film students and also initiate an apprenticeship program at the studio for the students of Whistling woods.

SUBHASH GHAI: The Whistling Woods animation program has proven to be highly successful over the past 4 yrs in creating employable animation professionals, with all the 70+ alumni being gainfully employed. Now that the WWI School of Animation has expanded into VFX as well, with the first batch commencing in Jan 2011, we look at the Maya partnership as a large boost to the education we are trying to provide.

With Ketan & Frank Foster, both being high regarded professionals in the fields of Animation & VFX and Maya having had a history of Animation education, the synergies will definitely be there. Both Ketan & Frank have already conveyed their availability to teach students & take workshops, which we are thrilled about. We are also working out the modalities of an apprenticeship program for students who graduate the WWI Animation & VFX courses.

Subhashji as per your vision, was an animation studio always part of your plan or is this more of a dynamic development?
SUBHASH GHAI: In the early 1980s, Mukta Arts was formed as a film production house - relying on transparency and great quality entertainment. Over the years, Mukta Arts has consistently taken new steps and broken new ground, leading the corporatisation of the industry. When Mukta Arts went public in 2000, the only film production house at the time to go public, we laid out strategies for the next decade. Since 2000, Mukta Arts has built business models in Film education (Whistling Woods International), Programming & Distribution (Mukta Movie Distributors), Exhibition (‘Mukta Cinemas‘ chain of multiplexes open in April 2011) and now in the Animation & VFX industry through Maya Digital Studios.

Animation and VFX have been on our radar for the past couple of years and we have been exploring the right entry point into this sunrise industry. So, while investment in Maya, has been a matter of timing, we have been considering this industry for a while.

Ketanji, you have certainly stood by the discipline and medium of animation and visual effects. We‘d like to know from you about your passion for animation and VFX?
KETAN MEHTA: The genesis of Maya was out of deep creative despair. In early 1990s I was doing a film called ‘Maya Memsaab‘ with Deepa Sahi and Shahrukh Khan. There was one visual effects shot in the film where Maya drinks a magic potion, bursts into light and disappears. At that time we didn‘t have the basic necessary technology to do even this simple shot. We filmed it over 10 times, I even went to Hong Kong to do the visual effect but could not get the effect we wanted.

I felt ashamed that in spite of claiming to be the largest film industry in the world we were so technologically backward.

Around the same time digital technology was emerging in the field of animation and visual effects. So we decided to take the plunge and bring in this new technology to India and it has been a wonderful journey of continuous discovery.

I believe that digital technology is dramatically changing the way we produce, distribute and consume cinema. It is going to drive the future of not only entertainment industry but education and communication as well.

Subhashji, what according to you, needs to be done to bring distribution and trade circles to have more belief in the potential of animation?
SUBHASH GHAI: Firstly let me talk about VFX. The visual effects industry, is by essence a secondary services industry. While ‘visual effects‘ can never be the reason that films are made, and it should never be, the availability of high quality VFX artists & techniques in India is able to allow filmmakers to visualize stories that otherwise would not have been possible and push the quality of filmmaking to a different high.

As far as Animated filmmaking goes, I have always considered it as just another, albeit a little more expensive method, of telling stories. While it is relatively expensive, it is also equally expansive, allowing us to imagine & tell stories that we could never do in live action filmmaking.

That said, Animated films in India, unlike the US, are only a decade old. While we have had some brilliant work done in the last century by Bhimsainji & RamMohanji, as an industry or a filmmaking tool, it has emerged only in the last decade. It has yet to break into the mainstream Indian film-goers mindspace and create a platform on par with live action films. My belief is that this will happen soon and when it does, we have to be ready with the content (writing), vision (direction) and technical excellence to capitalize on it.

We have to use Distribution as a strong tool to send out our content to the world. We have to stop taking the easy way out and selling all rights en-mass. We have to break up these rights into multiple sub-rights and go out to the film / tv markets around the world and monetise them. This is how distributors will create value, even if the story is inherently Indian. If we are able to write & create a story that appeals globally, then the sky is the limit.

The other advantage India has is that we are somewhat cost effective vis-a-vis some of the western countries, while being able to deliver comparable quality. We should use this asset, our technical excellence and enter co-productions while continuing to develop our storylines. All it needs is one Indian story to appeal globally and the snowball effect will push the Indian Animation industry to the forefront.

Any parting comments you would like to share with the readers of AnimationXpress.com?
KETAN MEHTA: Technology now is liberating creativity like never before. Now we can create what ever we imagine. The future is extremely exciting.

SUBHASH GHAI: I am confident that, sooner rather than later, we, at Maya, will be able to create globally appealing stories, have them executed by the best creative & technical talent in India, have the ability to import talent as needed and create a self sustaining ecosystem of animated motion pictures in India and take it out to the world.

Source: AnimationXpress

The Reinvention of Maya: Exclusive interview with Super Stalwarts Subhash Ghai & Ketan Mehta

The announcement has just been made, but when companies led by two of the country‘s finest film directors, team up for an Animation Studio, the expectations are rocket sky high! In an exclusive interview with AnimationXpress.com Co Founder Anand Gurnani, the super stalwarts and legendary Subhash Ghai & Ketan Mehta spoke of their vision for Maya and their plan to create one of the world‘s best animation, vfx studios.



Ketan Ji, It‘s been a long journey for Maya right since the days of Captain Vyom, to Ramayana to the new collaboration with Mukta and the creation of a fresh new entity. We‘d like to know what the strategy was back then and what is it now?
KETAN MEHTA: Maya was a pioneer of computer animation and visual effects in India. It was created with the purpose of providing the new technology tools for filmmakers in India. At that time animation and visual effects were in their infancy and we had to make a beginning to introduce this new creative technology in India.

Over the years Maya has grown many fold, it has done high quality animation outsourced work for reputed international clients, it has created film and TV IPRs and provided Animation and visual effects content for Indian and international films. It has acquired skills to compete in the international market and a reputation for high quality work.

Now it is time to go to the next level, expand activities, bring in the latest technology, attract the best talent and turn Maya into one of the finest animation and visual effects studios in the world.

Ketanji & Subhashji, we‘d love to have your comments on the partnership? Also, Is the new studio going to be more focused on Services or will it focus on creating a slate of feature films?
KETAN MEHTA: Mukta Arts is one of the most reputed film production and distribution houses in India. Mr. Subhash Ghai apart from being one of the most successful Indian filmmakers of all time is also a visionary who pioneered the corporatization of the film industry. His contribution in the field of Cinema education is also path breaking with high quality cinema training institute like Whistling woods. The strategic partnership with Mukta provides Maya the platform to leap to the next level and become a major player in this field.

SUBHASH GHAI: As of 2010, the Mukta Arts Group was present in almost all verticals of the Motion Picture Industry. Right from High School education in Media Studies (Whistling Woods is designing the curriculum for the Media Studies elective for the 11th & 12th standard of the CBSE board) to Exhibition (our own chain of multiplexes - Mukta Cinemas - commences April 2011), we are present in all verticals of the Motion Picture industry. The only piece that was missing was Animation & VFX. Internally, over the recent past, we have been seriously considering a foray into Animation & VFX and have been discussing with several professionals / organizations in this industry and strategizing which is the best approach - should we setup a production facility of our own or should we invest in one, and we chose the latter.Mr Ketan Mehta is a highly artistic & creative filmmaker and has also proven to be a visionary when, almost a decade ago, he realized the potential of Animation & VFX as a key component of filmmaking and forayed in the same.

KETAN MEHTA: Maya plans to strike a fine balance between doing international outsourced animation and VFX work for Indian and International clients as well as develop its own projects both animated films as well as films mixing live action and visual effects and create a slate of high quality IPRs.

SUBHASH GHAI: We are looking at the new studio having 4 primary business lines - Original IP creation, outsourced Animation & VFX work for international projects, international co-productions & 2D to 3D conversion. We are confident that this partnership of Mukta Arts‘ tradition of path breaking cinema and Maya‘s potential of success in the fields of Animation & VFX will bear fruit, sooner rather than later.

Having Frank Foster as Senior Director and COO is certainly a great start to the fresh entity...and makes us anticipate lots of Hollywood projects coming in as well...?

KETAN MEHTA: Frank Foster was the pioneer of Computer Animation and Visual Effects in Hollywood. He has years of experience in running studios not only in USA but also in China. He brings with him all this international experience and contacts in order to achieve the best international standards and business practices to Maya.

You are expanding the studio in 3 locations? What kind of team strength are you targeting? Will each of the facilities cater to different markets or be focused on servicing different geographies? Will the studio have any kind of integration with the Whistling Woods School of Animation?
KETAN MEHTA: Currently we are relocating the Mumbai studio to a much larger facility at Mukta House at Film City, Goregaon, which will primarily focus on animation and Visual effects for films and Television for Indian as well as International clients and creation of our original IPR.

Another studio at Goa will primarily cater to the international outsourced service work. Another major vertical we are developing is conversion of 2D films to 3D.

Maya has been involved with computer animation training for a long time. So the synergies with Whistling woods are obvious. To begin with we will conduct workshops and training programs for film students and also initiate an apprenticeship program at the studio for the students of Whistling woods.

SUBHASH GHAI: The Whistling Woods animation program has proven to be highly successful over the past 4 yrs in creating employable animation professionals, with all the 70+ alumni being gainfully employed. Now that the WWI School of Animation has expanded into VFX as well, with the first batch commencing in Jan 2011, we look at the Maya partnership as a large boost to the education we are trying to provide.

With Ketan & Frank Foster, both being high regarded professionals in the fields of Animation & VFX and Maya having had a history of Animation education, the synergies will definitely be there. Both Ketan & Frank have already conveyed their availability to teach students & take workshops, which we are thrilled about. We are also working out the modalities of an apprenticeship program for students who graduate the WWI Animation & VFX courses.

Subhashji as per your vision, was an animation studio always part of your plan or is this more of a dynamic development?
SUBHASH GHAI: In the early 1980s, Mukta Arts was formed as a film production house - relying on transparency and great quality entertainment. Over the years, Mukta Arts has consistently taken new steps and broken new ground, leading the corporatisation of the industry. When Mukta Arts went public in 2000, the only film production house at the time to go public, we laid out strategies for the next decade. Since 2000, Mukta Arts has built business models in Film education (Whistling Woods International), Programming & Distribution (Mukta Movie Distributors), Exhibition (‘Mukta Cinemas‘ chain of multiplexes open in April 2011) and now in the Animation & VFX industry through Maya Digital Studios.

Animation and VFX have been on our radar for the past couple of years and we have been exploring the right entry point into this sunrise industry. So, while investment in Maya, has been a matter of timing, we have been considering this industry for a while.

Ketanji, you have certainly stood by the discipline and medium of animation and visual effects. We‘d like to know from you about your passion for animation and VFX?
KETAN MEHTA: The genesis of Maya was out of deep creative despair. In early 1990s I was doing a film called ‘Maya Memsaab‘ with Deepa Sahi and Shahrukh Khan. There was one visual effects shot in the film where Maya drinks a magic potion, bursts into light and disappears. At that time we didn‘t have the basic necessary technology to do even this simple shot. We filmed it over 10 times, I even went to Hong Kong to do the visual effect but could not get the effect we wanted.

I felt ashamed that in spite of claiming to be the largest film industry in the world we were so technologically backward.

Around the same time digital technology was emerging in the field of animation and visual effects. So we decided to take the plunge and bring in this new technology to India and it has been a wonderful journey of continuous discovery.

I believe that digital technology is dramatically changing the way we produce, distribute and consume cinema. It is going to drive the future of not only entertainment industry but education and communication as well.

Subhashji, what according to you, needs to be done to bring distribution and trade circles to have more belief in the potential of animation?
SUBHASH GHAI: Firstly let me talk about VFX. The visual effects industry, is by essence a secondary services industry. While ‘visual effects‘ can never be the reason that films are made, and it should never be, the availability of high quality VFX artists & techniques in India is able to allow filmmakers to visualize stories that otherwise would not have been possible and push the quality of filmmaking to a different high.

As far as Animated filmmaking goes, I have always considered it as just another, albeit a little more expensive method, of telling stories. While it is relatively expensive, it is also equally expansive, allowing us to imagine & tell stories that we could never do in live action filmmaking.

That said, Animated films in India, unlike the US, are only a decade old. While we have had some brilliant work done in the last century by Bhimsainji & RamMohanji, as an industry or a filmmaking tool, it has emerged only in the last decade. It has yet to break into the mainstream Indian film-goers mindspace and create a platform on par with live action films. My belief is that this will happen soon and when it does, we have to be ready with the content (writing), vision (direction) and technical excellence to capitalize on it.

We have to use Distribution as a strong tool to send out our content to the world. We have to stop taking the easy way out and selling all rights en-mass. We have to break up these rights into multiple sub-rights and go out to the film / tv markets around the world and monetise them. This is how distributors will create value, even if the story is inherently Indian. If we are able to write & create a story that appeals globally, then the sky is the limit.

The other advantage India has is that we are somewhat cost effective vis-a-vis some of the western countries, while being able to deliver comparable quality. We should use this asset, our technical excellence and enter co-productions while continuing to develop our storylines. All it needs is one Indian story to appeal globally and the snowball effect will push the Indian Animation industry to the forefront.

Any parting comments you would like to share with the readers of AnimationXpress.com?
KETAN MEHTA: Technology now is liberating creativity like never before. Now we can create what ever we imagine. The future is extremely exciting.

SUBHASH GHAI: I am confident that, sooner rather than later, we, at Maya, will be able to create globally appealing stories, have them executed by the best creative & technical talent in India, have the ability to import talent as needed and create a self sustaining ecosystem of animated motion pictures in India and take it out to the world.

Source: AnimationXpress

The Reinvention of Maya: Exclusive interview with Super Stalwarts Subhash Ghai & Ketan Mehta

The announcement has just been made, but when companies led by two of the country‘s finest film directors, team up for an Animation Studio, the expectations are rocket sky high! In an exclusive interview with AnimationXpress.com Co Founder Anand Gurnani, the super stalwarts and legendary Subhash Ghai & Ketan Mehta spoke of their vision for Maya and their plan to create one of the world‘s best animation, vfx studios.



Ketan Ji, It‘s been a long journey for Maya right since the days of Captain Vyom, to Ramayana to the new collaboration with Mukta and the creation of a fresh new entity. We‘d like to know what the strategy was back then and what is it now?
KETAN MEHTA: Maya was a pioneer of computer animation and visual effects in India. It was created with the purpose of providing the new technology tools for filmmakers in India. At that time animation and visual effects were in their infancy and we had to make a beginning to introduce this new creative technology in India.

Over the years Maya has grown many fold, it has done high quality animation outsourced work for reputed international clients, it has created film and TV IPRs and provided Animation and visual effects content for Indian and international films. It has acquired skills to compete in the international market and a reputation for high quality work.

Now it is time to go to the next level, expand activities, bring in the latest technology, attract the best talent and turn Maya into one of the finest animation and visual effects studios in the world.

Ketanji & Subhashji, we‘d love to have your comments on the partnership? Also, Is the new studio going to be more focused on Services or will it focus on creating a slate of feature films?
KETAN MEHTA: Mukta Arts is one of the most reputed film production and distribution houses in India. Mr. Subhash Ghai apart from being one of the most successful Indian filmmakers of all time is also a visionary who pioneered the corporatization of the film industry. His contribution in the field of Cinema education is also path breaking with high quality cinema training institute like Whistling woods. The strategic partnership with Mukta provides Maya the platform to leap to the next level and become a major player in this field.

SUBHASH GHAI: As of 2010, the Mukta Arts Group was present in almost all verticals of the Motion Picture Industry. Right from High School education in Media Studies (Whistling Woods is designing the curriculum for the Media Studies elective for the 11th & 12th standard of the CBSE board) to Exhibition (our own chain of multiplexes - Mukta Cinemas - commences April 2011), we are present in all verticals of the Motion Picture industry. The only piece that was missing was Animation & VFX. Internally, over the recent past, we have been seriously considering a foray into Animation & VFX and have been discussing with several professionals / organizations in this industry and strategizing which is the best approach - should we setup a production facility of our own or should we invest in one, and we chose the latter.Mr Ketan Mehta is a highly artistic & creative filmmaker and has also proven to be a visionary when, almost a decade ago, he realized the potential of Animation & VFX as a key component of filmmaking and forayed in the same.

KETAN MEHTA: Maya plans to strike a fine balance between doing international outsourced animation and VFX work for Indian and International clients as well as develop its own projects both animated films as well as films mixing live action and visual effects and create a slate of high quality IPRs.

SUBHASH GHAI: We are looking at the new studio having 4 primary business lines - Original IP creation, outsourced Animation & VFX work for international projects, international co-productions & 2D to 3D conversion. We are confident that this partnership of Mukta Arts‘ tradition of path breaking cinema and Maya‘s potential of success in the fields of Animation & VFX will bear fruit, sooner rather than later.

Having Frank Foster as Senior Director and COO is certainly a great start to the fresh entity...and makes us anticipate lots of Hollywood projects coming in as well...?

KETAN MEHTA: Frank Foster was the pioneer of Computer Animation and Visual Effects in Hollywood. He has years of experience in running studios not only in USA but also in China. He brings with him all this international experience and contacts in order to achieve the best international standards and business practices to Maya.

You are expanding the studio in 3 locations? What kind of team strength are you targeting? Will each of the facilities cater to different markets or be focused on servicing different geographies? Will the studio have any kind of integration with the Whistling Woods School of Animation?
KETAN MEHTA: Currently we are relocating the Mumbai studio to a much larger facility at Mukta House at Film City, Goregaon, which will primarily focus on animation and Visual effects for films and Television for Indian as well as International clients and creation of our original IPR.

Another studio at Goa will primarily cater to the international outsourced service work. Another major vertical we are developing is conversion of 2D films to 3D.

Maya has been involved with computer animation training for a long time. So the synergies with Whistling woods are obvious. To begin with we will conduct workshops and training programs for film students and also initiate an apprenticeship program at the studio for the students of Whistling woods.

SUBHASH GHAI: The Whistling Woods animation program has proven to be highly successful over the past 4 yrs in creating employable animation professionals, with all the 70+ alumni being gainfully employed. Now that the WWI School of Animation has expanded into VFX as well, with the first batch commencing in Jan 2011, we look at the Maya partnership as a large boost to the education we are trying to provide.

With Ketan & Frank Foster, both being high regarded professionals in the fields of Animation & VFX and Maya having had a history of Animation education, the synergies will definitely be there. Both Ketan & Frank have already conveyed their availability to teach students & take workshops, which we are thrilled about. We are also working out the modalities of an apprenticeship program for students who graduate the WWI Animation & VFX courses.

Subhashji as per your vision, was an animation studio always part of your plan or is this more of a dynamic development?
SUBHASH GHAI: In the early 1980s, Mukta Arts was formed as a film production house - relying on transparency and great quality entertainment. Over the years, Mukta Arts has consistently taken new steps and broken new ground, leading the corporatisation of the industry. When Mukta Arts went public in 2000, the only film production house at the time to go public, we laid out strategies for the next decade. Since 2000, Mukta Arts has built business models in Film education (Whistling Woods International), Programming & Distribution (Mukta Movie Distributors), Exhibition (‘Mukta Cinemas‘ chain of multiplexes open in April 2011) and now in the Animation & VFX industry through Maya Digital Studios.

Animation and VFX have been on our radar for the past couple of years and we have been exploring the right entry point into this sunrise industry. So, while investment in Maya, has been a matter of timing, we have been considering this industry for a while.

Ketanji, you have certainly stood by the discipline and medium of animation and visual effects. We‘d like to know from you about your passion for animation and VFX?
KETAN MEHTA: The genesis of Maya was out of deep creative despair. In early 1990s I was doing a film called ‘Maya Memsaab‘ with Deepa Sahi and Shahrukh Khan. There was one visual effects shot in the film where Maya drinks a magic potion, bursts into light and disappears. At that time we didn‘t have the basic necessary technology to do even this simple shot. We filmed it over 10 times, I even went to Hong Kong to do the visual effect but could not get the effect we wanted.

I felt ashamed that in spite of claiming to be the largest film industry in the world we were so technologically backward.

Around the same time digital technology was emerging in the field of animation and visual effects. So we decided to take the plunge and bring in this new technology to India and it has been a wonderful journey of continuous discovery.

I believe that digital technology is dramatically changing the way we produce, distribute and consume cinema. It is going to drive the future of not only entertainment industry but education and communication as well.

Subhashji, what according to you, needs to be done to bring distribution and trade circles to have more belief in the potential of animation?
SUBHASH GHAI: Firstly let me talk about VFX. The visual effects industry, is by essence a secondary services industry. While ‘visual effects‘ can never be the reason that films are made, and it should never be, the availability of high quality VFX artists & techniques in India is able to allow filmmakers to visualize stories that otherwise would not have been possible and push the quality of filmmaking to a different high.

As far as Animated filmmaking goes, I have always considered it as just another, albeit a little more expensive method, of telling stories. While it is relatively expensive, it is also equally expansive, allowing us to imagine & tell stories that we could never do in live action filmmaking.

That said, Animated films in India, unlike the US, are only a decade old. While we have had some brilliant work done in the last century by Bhimsainji & RamMohanji, as an industry or a filmmaking tool, it has emerged only in the last decade. It has yet to break into the mainstream Indian film-goers mindspace and create a platform on par with live action films. My belief is that this will happen soon and when it does, we have to be ready with the content (writing), vision (direction) and technical excellence to capitalize on it.

We have to use Distribution as a strong tool to send out our content to the world. We have to stop taking the easy way out and selling all rights en-mass. We have to break up these rights into multiple sub-rights and go out to the film / tv markets around the world and monetise them. This is how distributors will create value, even if the story is inherently Indian. If we are able to write & create a story that appeals globally, then the sky is the limit.

The other advantage India has is that we are somewhat cost effective vis-a-vis some of the western countries, while being able to deliver comparable quality. We should use this asset, our technical excellence and enter co-productions while continuing to develop our storylines. All it needs is one Indian story to appeal globally and the snowball effect will push the Indian Animation industry to the forefront.

Any parting comments you would like to share with the readers of AnimationXpress.com?
KETAN MEHTA: Technology now is liberating creativity like never before. Now we can create what ever we imagine. The future is extremely exciting.

SUBHASH GHAI: I am confident that, sooner rather than later, we, at Maya, will be able to create globally appealing stories, have them executed by the best creative & technical talent in India, have the ability to import talent as needed and create a self sustaining ecosystem of animated motion pictures in India and take it out to the world.

Source: AnimationXpress

Maya Digital Media, Mukta Arts team up for animation studio; Rope in Ex Sony Pictures Imageworks VP Frank Foster

‘Maya Digital Media‘ promoted by renowned Indian Film Producer/Director Ketan Mehta and acclaimed Actress, Producer and Director Deepa Sahi has joined hands with veteran Film Producer, Director Subhash Ghai‘s Mukta Arts to create the state of the Art Computer animation and Digital Visual Effects Studio ‘Maya Digital Studios".



Ketan Mehta said, "Digital technology is completely changing the way we produce, distribute and consume entertainment. The concept of bringing the latest innovations in technology, combined with highly skilled manpower needed to provide the best available tools for Indian and International filmmakers to realize their illusions were the initial dream of Maya and now we are ready to deliver".

Maya, started in 1997, has over the last 14 years done high quality, award winning animation and visual effects for established international clients. With investments from Intel Capital and Enam Securities Maya expanded to be one of the largest computer animation facilities in India. During this time it also started a very successful Computer Animation education programme called MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics) which soon spread to over 70 centres all across India.

Last year the investors decided to split the studio and education divisions and Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, the original promoters, regained 100% ownership of the studio business. "We want to make Maya into a world class studio which can compete internationally and we zeroed onto Frank Foster the pioneer of Computer Animation in Hollywood to run the studio and take it to the next level" commented Mehta.

Frank Foster, American CG veteran, former original founding Vice President of ‘Sony Pictures Imageworks‘ USA, has taken over as Senior Director and COO of the studio operations of the company. Foster brings a wealth of experience in studio management having set up Sony Picture Imageworks USA, the first major CG school and studio in China (Shenzhen) and producing one of the first CG feature films in China with French comic book legend "Moebius". Foster also spent two years as CEO of Tigar Hare Studios in North Hollywood where he outsourced many projects to India.

Maya Digital studio is now on a rapid expansion mode and is adding state of the art studio facilities at Film City, Mumbai and Goa.

Mukta Arts Ltd, the leading Film production and distribution house in India headed by Subhash Ghai, one of the most well known film makers from India, pioneered the corporatization of the Indian film industry. It also operates the prestigious ‘Whistling Woods Film Academy‘ which plans to work closely with Maya on professional workshops and internships.

Ravi Gupta of Mukta said "The synergy between Maya and Mukta Arts will bring about a qualitative change in Indian film industry. Technology and creativity is going to drive the future of entertainment and this studio will be at the cutting edge of this trend for India."

When asked why he would be willing to shift his family to India Foster responded, "There are so many new opportunities now for digital filmmaking in India, when we started, outsourcing was considered too risky, now it‘s the other way around. Having done it in so many countries for these many years I‘m believe that India is unusually qualified because of its education system, the common use of English and through its large domestic film industry, which allows the actual understanding of Cinema. I’m convinced it’s becoming the international hub for Computer Animation and that Maya Digital Studios with nearly 14 years of experience can be the top destination for that international business".

Source: AnimationXpress

Maya Digital Media, Mukta Arts team up for animation studio; Rope in Ex Sony Pictures Imageworks VP Frank Foster

‘Maya Digital Media‘ promoted by renowned Indian Film Producer/Director Ketan Mehta and acclaimed Actress, Producer and Director Deepa Sahi has joined hands with veteran Film Producer, Director Subhash Ghai‘s Mukta Arts to create the state of the Art Computer animation and Digital Visual Effects Studio ‘Maya Digital Studios".



Ketan Mehta said, "Digital technology is completely changing the way we produce, distribute and consume entertainment. The concept of bringing the latest innovations in technology, combined with highly skilled manpower needed to provide the best available tools for Indian and International filmmakers to realize their illusions were the initial dream of Maya and now we are ready to deliver".

Maya, started in 1997, has over the last 14 years done high quality, award winning animation and visual effects for established international clients. With investments from Intel Capital and Enam Securities Maya expanded to be one of the largest computer animation facilities in India. During this time it also started a very successful Computer Animation education programme called MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics) which soon spread to over 70 centres all across India.

Last year the investors decided to split the studio and education divisions and Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, the original promoters, regained 100% ownership of the studio business. "We want to make Maya into a world class studio which can compete internationally and we zeroed onto Frank Foster the pioneer of Computer Animation in Hollywood to run the studio and take it to the next level" commented Mehta.

Frank Foster, American CG veteran, former original founding Vice President of ‘Sony Pictures Imageworks‘ USA, has taken over as Senior Director and COO of the studio operations of the company. Foster brings a wealth of experience in studio management having set up Sony Picture Imageworks USA, the first major CG school and studio in China (Shenzhen) and producing one of the first CG feature films in China with French comic book legend "Moebius". Foster also spent two years as CEO of Tigar Hare Studios in North Hollywood where he outsourced many projects to India.

Maya Digital studio is now on a rapid expansion mode and is adding state of the art studio facilities at Film City, Mumbai and Goa.

Mukta Arts Ltd, the leading Film production and distribution house in India headed by Subhash Ghai, one of the most well known film makers from India, pioneered the corporatization of the Indian film industry. It also operates the prestigious ‘Whistling Woods Film Academy‘ which plans to work closely with Maya on professional workshops and internships.

Ravi Gupta of Mukta said "The synergy between Maya and Mukta Arts will bring about a qualitative change in Indian film industry. Technology and creativity is going to drive the future of entertainment and this studio will be at the cutting edge of this trend for India."

When asked why he would be willing to shift his family to India Foster responded, "There are so many new opportunities now for digital filmmaking in India, when we started, outsourcing was considered too risky, now it‘s the other way around. Having done it in so many countries for these many years I‘m believe that India is unusually qualified because of its education system, the common use of English and through its large domestic film industry, which allows the actual understanding of Cinema. I’m convinced it’s becoming the international hub for Computer Animation and that Maya Digital Studios with nearly 14 years of experience can be the top destination for that international business".

Source: AnimationXpress

Maya Digital Media, Mukta Arts team up for animation studio; Rope in Ex Sony Pictures Imageworks VP Frank Foster

‘Maya Digital Media‘ promoted by renowned Indian Film Producer/Director Ketan Mehta and acclaimed Actress, Producer and Director Deepa Sahi has joined hands with veteran Film Producer, Director Subhash Ghai‘s Mukta Arts to create the state of the Art Computer animation and Digital Visual Effects Studio ‘Maya Digital Studios".



Ketan Mehta said, "Digital technology is completely changing the way we produce, distribute and consume entertainment. The concept of bringing the latest innovations in technology, combined with highly skilled manpower needed to provide the best available tools for Indian and International filmmakers to realize their illusions were the initial dream of Maya and now we are ready to deliver".

Maya, started in 1997, has over the last 14 years done high quality, award winning animation and visual effects for established international clients. With investments from Intel Capital and Enam Securities Maya expanded to be one of the largest computer animation facilities in India. During this time it also started a very successful Computer Animation education programme called MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics) which soon spread to over 70 centres all across India.

Last year the investors decided to split the studio and education divisions and Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, the original promoters, regained 100% ownership of the studio business. "We want to make Maya into a world class studio which can compete internationally and we zeroed onto Frank Foster the pioneer of Computer Animation in Hollywood to run the studio and take it to the next level" commented Mehta.

Frank Foster, American CG veteran, former original founding Vice President of ‘Sony Pictures Imageworks‘ USA, has taken over as Senior Director and COO of the studio operations of the company. Foster brings a wealth of experience in studio management having set up Sony Picture Imageworks USA, the first major CG school and studio in China (Shenzhen) and producing one of the first CG feature films in China with French comic book legend "Moebius". Foster also spent two years as CEO of Tigar Hare Studios in North Hollywood where he outsourced many projects to India.

Maya Digital studio is now on a rapid expansion mode and is adding state of the art studio facilities at Film City, Mumbai and Goa.

Mukta Arts Ltd, the leading Film production and distribution house in India headed by Subhash Ghai, one of the most well known film makers from India, pioneered the corporatization of the Indian film industry. It also operates the prestigious ‘Whistling Woods Film Academy‘ which plans to work closely with Maya on professional workshops and internships.

Ravi Gupta of Mukta said "The synergy between Maya and Mukta Arts will bring about a qualitative change in Indian film industry. Technology and creativity is going to drive the future of entertainment and this studio will be at the cutting edge of this trend for India."

When asked why he would be willing to shift his family to India Foster responded, "There are so many new opportunities now for digital filmmaking in India, when we started, outsourcing was considered too risky, now it‘s the other way around. Having done it in so many countries for these many years I‘m believe that India is unusually qualified because of its education system, the common use of English and through its large domestic film industry, which allows the actual understanding of Cinema. I’m convinced it’s becoming the international hub for Computer Animation and that Maya Digital Studios with nearly 14 years of experience can be the top destination for that international business".

Source: AnimationXpress

From the Desk to the Theaters!

Aparna Sen, the winner of three National Awards and eight international film festival awards, is back into news with her much awaited film ‘Iti Mrinalini’ that is slotted for a release in April this year.

For the first time, Aparna Sen has shared the story and the script-writing of the film with a co-author, debutant Ranjan Ghosh. Ranjan belongs to the Screenwriting alumnus of Mumbai based film school, Whistling Woods International and for the first time the screenplay of a film has been picked up from an assignment in the curriculum of an institute.

The film is a walk through the memory lanes of a famous actress and takes the audience through the ups and downs in her life. It starts with the older Mrinalini (played by Aparna) who is an aging lady and plans to end her much coveted life. She writes a suicide note. Before taking the final doses of sleeping pills, she decides to destroy all the small possessions that she has of the past. On opening the box that stores her memories, she goes into a nostalgic rewinding of her yester years. It takes her through all joys and sorrows of her life and as the dawn sets in, Mrinalini realizes that the past is over and its time to open a new chapter in life.

The film is about taking life in an optimistic way and letting things happen the way they are destined to be. The journey also portrays different forms of love that can enter an individual’s life starting from a love that happens between two young people, graduates to something between love and friendship and finally the companionship that she seeks to find in her partner as she grows up in life. The film is a besotted panorama of relationships that makes an individual’s life the way it is.

From the Desk to the Theaters!

Aparna Sen, the winner of three National Awards and eight international film festival awards, is back into news with her much awaited film ‘Iti Mrinalini’ that is slotted for a release in April this year.

For the first time, Aparna Sen has shared the story and the script-writing of the film with a co-author, debutant Ranjan Ghosh. Ranjan belongs to the Screenwriting alumnus of Mumbai based film school, Whistling Woods International and for the first time the screenplay of a film has been picked up from an assignment in the curriculum of an institute.

The film is a walk through the memory lanes of a famous actress and takes the audience through the ups and downs in her life. It starts with the older Mrinalini (played by Aparna) who is an aging lady and plans to end her much coveted life. She writes a suicide note. Before taking the final doses of sleeping pills, she decides to destroy all the small possessions that she has of the past. On opening the box that stores her memories, she goes into a nostalgic rewinding of her yester years. It takes her through all joys and sorrows of her life and as the dawn sets in, Mrinalini realizes that the past is over and its time to open a new chapter in life.

The film is about taking life in an optimistic way and letting things happen the way they are destined to be. The journey also portrays different forms of love that can enter an individual’s life starting from a love that happens between two young people, graduates to something between love and friendship and finally the companionship that she seeks to find in her partner as she grows up in life. The film is a besotted panorama of relationships that makes an individual’s life the way it is.

From the Desk to the Theaters!

Aparna Sen, the winner of three National Awards and eight international film festival awards, is back into news with her much awaited film ‘Iti Mrinalini’ that is slotted for a release in April this year.

For the first time, Aparna Sen has shared the story and the script-writing of the film with a co-author, debutant Ranjan Ghosh. Ranjan belongs to the Screenwriting alumnus of Mumbai based film school, Whistling Woods International and for the first time the screenplay of a film has been picked up from an assignment in the curriculum of an institute.

The film is a walk through the memory lanes of a famous actress and takes the audience through the ups and downs in her life. It starts with the older Mrinalini (played by Aparna) who is an aging lady and plans to end her much coveted life. She writes a suicide note. Before taking the final doses of sleeping pills, she decides to destroy all the small possessions that she has of the past. On opening the box that stores her memories, she goes into a nostalgic rewinding of her yester years. It takes her through all joys and sorrows of her life and as the dawn sets in, Mrinalini realizes that the past is over and its time to open a new chapter in life.

The film is about taking life in an optimistic way and letting things happen the way they are destined to be. The journey also portrays different forms of love that can enter an individual’s life starting from a love that happens between two young people, graduates to something between love and friendship and finally the companionship that she seeks to find in her partner as she grows up in life. The film is a besotted panorama of relationships that makes an individual’s life the way it is.