MUMBAI: Baba Arts has ramped its film production plans and is currently working on four films, all of them targeted at kids.
After producing My Friend Ganesha 2, Baba Arts has already commenced work on My Friend Ganesha 3. Additionally, the company is also planning a sequel to its 2004 film Taarzan – The Wonder Car, which was directed by Abbas Mastan.
The sequel will be titled Taarzan – The Wonder Car 2 and will be made on a budget of Rs 140 – 150 million (Rs 14 – 15 crores), which is almost double that of its predecessor.
Speaking exclusively to Businessofcinema.com, Baba Arts CEO Ajhai Acharya says, "Taarzan – The Wonder Car was essentially a revenge-based film but the sequel will be targeted at kids. The car in the sequel will be animated and the protagonist of the film will be a child. The car will be a robotic one, which has a mind of its own and can change colours, fly, swim etc."
While Taarzan – The Wonder Car starred Ajay Devgan, Ayesha Takia, Vatsal Seth, Farida Jalal, Pankaj Dheer, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Shakti Kapoor, Mukesh Tiwari, Amrish Puri, Gulshan Grover and Rajpal Yadav; this time round there won’t be a requirement for a huge starcast as the film is targetted at kids. However, Acharya informs that Seth may be a part of this film but nothing has been decided as of now.
The third film in the pipeline is tentatively titled Nanha Betaal Aur Nathkhat Vikram, which is based on the famous Indian fable Vikram-Betaal revolving around King Vikramaditya and a ghost named Betaal. This film will be a live-action cum animation one, wherein Vikram will be played by a child artist and the character of Betaal will be animated. Pre-production work has already commenced on the film, which is also being made on a budget of Rs 140 – 150 million.
"Nanha Betaal Aur Nathkhat Vikram can be called a prequel to Vikram Aur Betaal. The story will show King Vikramaditya as a child and his encounters with Betaal, who will also be younger," informs Acharya.
The fourth film will be a 3D animation film based on the Arabian Night tales featuring Sindbad. This will also be targeted at kids and will be based on Sindbad’s adventures as a child. "The movie will have a lot of underwater 3D animation and is currently is pre-production stages and the characters have been developed. The budget of this film has not yet been finalised," says Acharya.
Acharya explains that Baba Arts is concentrating on films targeted at kids since there is a huge market for the same in India, which can be tapped.
