Manikantan, a full-length animated film produced by India Tales Media with a budget of Rs 40 crores, will be released simultaneously in five Indian languages - Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu in August, 2009. Its English version will be released in December, Nalin Singh, the Managing director of India Tales Media, said on Wednesday.
Eight different types of animation techniques like 2D, 3D animation, clay mation, toy mation, oil painting and Kerala murals are being used in the film, which is underproduction in Hyderabad and Thiruvanthapuram. Malayalam actors Mohanlal, Sukumari and Jagathi Sreekumar have lent their voice to the film, being directed by Reji Syne, while maestro Illayaraja has scored the music.
India Tales Media opted for an animated film on Lord Ayyappa as his company’s aim is to show to the world the rich Indian tradition. Nalin Singh added that 200 technicians are working on the film in Hyderabad and 60 in Thiruvanthapuram.
The company has already announced the web launch of ‘Manikantan Geet Mala’, a devotional album on Lord Ayyappa. The music for the album has been composed by Ilaiyaraaja and is being released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
The lyrics are written by Vaali in Tamil, Vennela Kanti in Telugu, K Kalyan in Kannada and Anil Panachooran in Malayalam. The album has six bhajans, sung by SP Balasubramaniam, Vijay Yesudas, Madhu Balakrishnan, Shankaran Namboodhiri and Illayaraja.