MUMBAI: While the buzz was around Shemaroo Entertainment’s Ghatothkach, especially after it did rounds at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, Shemaroo Entertainment has now announced the release of another animation film called Bal Ganesh.

Incidentally, last month saw the release of a live action animation film based on the life of Lord Ganesh called My Friend Ganesha. The film did fair business at the box office, especially due the patronage by kids all over.

Work on Bal Ganesh, on the other hand, made by Shemaroo Entertainment in association with Mumbai based Astute Media Vision, has been on since the last 15 months under complete secrecy.

The 3D feature film has been made on a budget of $ 3 million, which includes the marketing costs. While a worldwide release plan is being chalked out, the tentative release dates being looked at are 11 or 14 September 2007, during the Ganesh Chaturti festival.

Shemaroo Entertainment vice president animation division Smita Maroo says, “The film has been created to connect today’s generation to a popular God. The film not only meets the taste and overall cool quotient of today’s audiences, but also maintains the sanctity of the God. Bal Ganesh is an exclusive treat from Shemaroo Entertainment to audiences all over, this Ganesh Festival.”

All of 100 minutes, it has been directed by debutant Pankaj Sharma. Bal Ganesh is a 3D animation film with seven songs, rendered by singers like Asha Bhonsle, Usha Mangeshkar, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan and Kailash Kher. The music director for the same is Shamir Tandon who has previously provided the music for films such as Page 3, and Corporate.

Merchandising for the same is also being looked at. Shemaroo vice president Hiren Gada says, “We are planning some pre-release merchandising. We will expand on it as we get closer to the release of the film.”

While a sequel to the already released My Friend Ganesha is on the cards, it is still to be seen as to how the 3D Bal Ganesha does at the box office.