Animation seems to be the next big thing in Indian cinema. Bollywood honchos are certainly waking up to the advantages of animation and visual effects.

The film industry across the globe has a tendency to jump on the winning formula.Knowing Bollywood's penchant of going with the trend, don't be surprised if there are announcements around many more 'desi' animation movie launches. Did someone just mention 'Chacha Chaudhary, Saabu aur Raaka'?

The digital miracle workers are not confining themselves to introducing visual effects of international standards in Bollywood films but are acquainting Indian viewers with the magical world of animation.

Finally we have our own animated movie with superb animation effects that can match the quality of Hollywood animations .

 The bourgeoning animation industry seems to be waking up to the potential of the domestic box-office long after it earned a name for itself overseas. While 'Bhagmati', a part live-part animation movie, was one of the biggest disaster of the current decade, what has taken the industry by surprise is the steady progress of 'Hanuman' that set the cash register ringing inspite of other  Diwali releases.

Hum Tum
Bollywood honchos are certainly waking up to the advantages of animation and visual effects. Yash Chopra's "Hum Tum" would not have been quite the same without the cartoon characters. Yash Raj Films introduced animation in their films with Hum Tum, starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee. Saif,  played a cartoonist,who created animated characters called Hum Tum,which carried the narrative forward.. Now, there is no official confirmation from Yash Raj, but word has it that Jugal Hansraj will direct the sequel where the characters  Hum Tum will make appearances where  Saif will most likely lend his voice .

Ghatothkach: Master of Magic
Shemaroo Entertainment will enter the world of animation with Ghatothkach: Master Of Magic, a two-dimensional musical. The film will be about Ghatothkach and his escapades, and will have magic, action, romance, comedy, fantasy and of course, music.
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who directed the silent film Pushpak starring Kamal Haasan, will helm this film. 

Rajnikant's animation film
Adlabs has announced an animation film with superstar Rajnikant playing the lead. It will also be produced by Rajni's wife Latha. Word has it that Rajni's youngest daughter Soundarya will direct the film.In addition to another animation film called Ginny And Jonny, based on the apparel brand with the same name, will be made with Adlabs.

Hanuman 2
Children loved the animanted film Hanuman, and made it a box-office hit. So, producers Percept Picture Company have decided to make a sequel which will be directed by Anurag Kashyap. That's quite a jump for a director who has made dark films like Black Friday (on the 1993 bomb blasts) and Paanch (a film about a group of struggling musicians).

Lord Krishna
B.R.Films, the makers of movies like Baghban and Baabul, have also made popular serials like Mahabharata in the late 1980s and the more recent Virasaat. The company is looking at the animation business seriously and made a debut with an animation film on Lord Krishna.

Bhaggmati - The Queen of Fortunes
India’s first live action animation film Bhagimati-The queen of fortunes had both live and animated characters used together where animation has been used as a form of narration to unleash the story.   

Dharma Productions
Karan Johar is the latest to jump onto the animation bandwagon. After making family dramas like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Karan will direct an animated film soon expected to go on floors this June.

Animated versions of stories based on Indian mythology are already being telecast in Indian homes and many more are in the pipeline. However, it may be some time before producers make a full-fledged animation movie in Bollywood.

The industry, nonetheless, is trying its best to ensure that world-class made-in-India animation no longer remains the prerogative of Hollywood alone.

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