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[Sunil_M88]

<font face="bold, geneva, helvetica, arial" size=+2>DreamWorks announces first animated musical titled Monkeys Of Bollywood</font></a>

Bollywood Hungama has just heard from London that DreamWorks Animation is developing a computer animated Bollywood movie. The company has announced via many of the entertainment trade magazines in the US and the UK that they have hired composer A.R Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours), Broadway lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas) and husband-and-wife producing team Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges (Bend It Like Beckham, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging) to work on the animation studio's first animated feature musical titled Monkeys Of Bollywood.

We also got to know that Monkeys Of Bollywood is inspired by the Hindu epic <font face="bold, geneva, helvetica, arial" size=+2> 'The Ramayana'</font></a>. The Mumbai-set story will revolve around two monkeys who try to stop an ancient demon from conquering the world. The Bollywood-style animated musical has no release date yet.

"As soon as I heard that DreamWorks Animation envisioned making an animated Bollywood movie, I knew I wanted to be a part of it," said Schwartz in a statement. "The fact that A.R. Rahman got involved made it an even more exciting project", the lyricist added.

So here's to DreamWorks and Bollywood, welcome to the world where dreams are sold...welcome to Bollywood DreamWorks.

source: http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2011/01/12/15194/

This project seems really promising. Let's just hope that Hindu extremists don't start their rallying against this movie.

[Sunil_M88]

Really hoping something along the lines of Jungle book and Lion king. :)

[Sunil_M88]

Expressing concern at the recently announced animated musical 'Monkeys of Bollywood', Hindus have urged its proposed maker DreamWorks Animation to be careful in handling Hindu concepts and terminology.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that since the reported movie announcement claimed it to be "inspired" by timeless epic Ramayan and Ramayan being a highly revered scripture of Hinduism, film should stay true to the story and the spirit of Ramayan. Insensitive handling of faith traditions sometimes results in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols and hurting the devotees.

With seasoned and skillful professionals at the helm, we did not expect any problem, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said and added that they were just urging for more sensitivity towards faith traditions. If DreamWorks Animation or their associates in this film needed any expertise on Hinduism related issues, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide the resources, Zed added.

Hindus welcomed Hollywood/Bollywood to immerse in Hinduism, but taking it seriously and respectfully and not for refashioning Hinduism concepts and symbols for mercantile greed. Hollywood/Bollywood were welcome to make movies about Ramayan but the final product should be the true depiction of it and not a fantasized or a re-imagined version, Rajan Zed pointed out.

Zed argued that changing Ramayan to fit the Hollywood/Bollywood machine was likely to hurt the Hindu sentiment as Ramayan was an integral part of Hinduism and was held in such reverence that Hindus believed that simply reading/hearing of it showered blessings upon the reader/listener. Ram, the hero of Ramayan, was incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was worshipped by Hindus.
Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. No faith, larger or smaller, should be plundered, Rajan Zed adds.

This is said to be the first feature musical for DreamWorks. Directors Paul Mayeda Berges (What's Cooking) and Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), lyricist Stephen Schwartz and Oscar winner composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) have reportedly teamed on Bollywood-style "Monkeys of Bollywood", which reportedly revolves around two monkeys. DreamWorks chief creative officer Bill Damaschke and development executive Chris Kuser will reportedly oversee it.

Ramayan, an ancient Sanskrit scripture that consists of 24,000 stanzas, explores various themes, including human existence, concept of dharma, etc.

DreamWorks Animation, which claims to create high-quality entertainment, reportedly theatrically released 21 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How To Train Your Dragon. Roger A. Enrico is Board Chairman, while Jeffrey Katzenberg is CEO.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Hindus-concerned-about-DreamWorks-Monkeys-of-Bollywood/articleshow/7276088.cms

[baba88]

Just googled a bit and found out that it could take up to 5 years to finish such an animated movie. Madagascar for example took 4 years to finish.

[Yathu]

I guess animation movies need that much time for a quality output.

(Maybe thats what's taking Soundarya Rajnikanth so long with Sultan/ Hara or whatever it's called now?!)

A dreamworks musical, ARR's music - like Sunil says I hope this'll be something like Disney's Jungle Book with lots of memorable tunes.

[SoftSword]

thalaivar associate aagara international movies'kellaam yaen ipdi dog, monkey'nu peru vekkiraanga...

apram oscar vaangirappo avan avan thaarumaaraa pesuvaan.... indiansa monkey'nu solli ivar oscar vangaraar'nu...

[Sunil_M88]

I watched Rio on Saturday and was really moved by the music in the film. It is a musical in every sense.
Here are two songs that haven’t left my head.
1. Real in Rio – The Rio Singers (Please do hear this – It reminds me of Veera.)
2. Fly love – Jamie Foxx (This song is along the lines of I've Been Waiting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhootha_Hi_Sahi_(soundtrack)) from JHS.)

Rahman ji has already delivered this kind of material in his Indian output and for this reason, my expectations for Monkeys of Bollywood has risen even higher.

[Sunil_M88]

AR Rahman composes for Hollywood’s take on Ramayana

Oscar-winner AR Rahman, Gurinder Chadha and Paul Berges are coming together for director Kevin Lima’s Bollywood-style animated musical adventure titled Monkeys of Mumbai. Lima, who directed Disney’s animated Tarzan (1999) before turning to live-action hits like 102 Dalmations (2000) and

related stories
Rahman records first world music album (2007), has signed on to helm DreamWorks Animation’s new
project, whose story is somewhat similar to the Indian epic, Ramayana.

The movie revolves around a man whose wife is kidnapped by a demon king. Lima will approach the story through the point of view of two common monkeys, who become unlikely heroes. “Ever since Enchanted, I’ve been looking for a musical. When DreamWorks Animation approached me with the prospect of doing a Bollywood musical with such renowned collaborators, I knew this was the one,” said Lima.

Chadha and Berges, who penned Bride & Prejudice (2004) and Bend It Like Beckham (2002), are writing the script. Rahman, who bagged two Oscars for his music in Slumdog Millionaire (2008), is the composer while Stephen Schwartz is working on the lyrics.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/AR-Rahman-composes-for-Hollywood-s-take-on-Ramayana/H1-Article1-724038.aspx

[Sunil_M88]

http://truthdive.com/2011/07/23/a-r-rahman-to-score-music-for-hollywoods-monkeys-of-mumbai.html