The catchline for the film goes ‘Yeh hai josh ka naya mantram!’ And if the film clicks, it could well be the new mantra for our ailing film industry, opening up new avenues for Indian films in the international market. According to iDream, their forthcoming film Jajantaram Mamantaram or J2M2 for the international release, has been sold for an unprecedented sum in UK. This was declared by Shripal Morakia of iDreams while addressing a press conference, in Mumbai, prior to the release of the film on May 16. Morakia claimed that the film was shown to international distributors, who were amazed that India could come up with such hi-tech special effects in a film. “There is excitement among the distributors abroad about J2M2, which has 63 minutes of special effects for the first time in India. The record for longest special effects is 67 minutes,” he said.
The film will be screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20. In India, it will be released by Sony Pictures Entertainment (Columbia Tristar), which has been a partner of iDream in distribution since Monsoon Wedding. iDream has signed up for a worldwide distribution deal with RGH/Echelon Entertainment Inc. of Hollywood.
Speaking about the film, Morakia added, “It’s a result of two-and-a-half year of efforts. J2M2 is a metaphor of victory of an underdog. And contrary to the belief, it is not a children’s film, but a film for everyone, just like Harry Potter.”
J2M2 is based on Jonathan’s Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, a section of which is popular with the kids, especially where Gulliver lands up among the Lilliputians. This part is what is seen in the film. But Morakia doesn’t agree, and insists it is based on the Indian folklore of Bakasur. “People remember Gulliver, but not the Gujarati fable of Bakasur, and we have brought forward the Indian mythology through this film. It’s Gulliver meets Bakasur,” he said.
Soumitra Ranade is the director of the film which has special effects by Biju D and cinematography by Jogendra Panda. There are seven songs composed by 3 Brothers & A Violin and penned by Nitin Raikwar. Javed Jaffri plays the Indian Gulliver, while Joy Fernandes plays Bakasur. Gulshan Grover plays the evil magician.
J2M2 has been made in a 10-crore budget and according to Morakia, iDreams is sure to recover 70 per cent of the sum from the international distribution alone. He expressed confidence about the film being appreciated by the Indian audiences too, and said they were looking at merchandising products related to the film as well.
For the international release J2M2 has been dubbed in English, but the songs have been retained in the original Hindi language. “The distributors abroad wanted all the songs to be retained in the film, while in the Indian version we have edited out some songs,” revealed Morakia.
iDream hopes to release the film the world over by December. The Indian release is slated for May 16, unless the theatre strike begins.