MUMBAI: Percept Picture Company has announced their sequel to the blockbuster film Hanuman. Being co-produced by Toonz Animation India Pvt Ltd the full length feature film tentatively called Hanuman Returns will be released in 2007. The film once again will be directed by veteran V G Samant.

V G Samant says “No producer was ready to touch my film when I started the project but Percept Picture Company has given me full backing to go ahead with the project. It is the first Indian film made on an Indian topic and fully on Indian shores. I am thankful to them for supporting me in my project. In the sequel the character of Hanuman will enter the modern era. We want to show that Hanuman still survives amongst us,” he philosophises.

Hanuman was a big hit because of the low budget. But the sequel is more than three times expensive than the original. “I have been given a budget of Rs nine crore and so I hope I can bring out a cost effective film with a better quality this time,” he says.Hanuman will be made with a minimum duration of 90 to 100 minutes and will have around 350 artistes working on this project.

Commenting on the alliance with Toonz Animation and their first co-production together Mahesh Ramnathan COO Percept Picture Company says, “Our animation film Hanuman has seen a tremendous success and the after revenues have exceeded Rs 16 crore surpassing serials like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and hit films like Ek Ajnabee. Half of Indian population is below the age of 25 and one third of the population is below the 15 year population.”

Toonz Animation CEO Jaya Kumar adds “We are one of the biggest animation houses in South Asia having a track record of producing animated series like Tenali Rama.So far our kids have been exposed to western content but with Hanuman we need to work on the local content.” Hanuman Returns will be made with a combination of 2D and 3D that is the characters will be 2D with a 3D background. The next animation project from this studio will be on Lord Krishna.