The boon of Cartoon!!

Animation is something that has always amused me, taught me (surprisingly true!), inspired me, entertained me and at times even destroyed me (especially during exams). Cartoons can be best described as a blank canvas for the human mind which is put to life. I saw myself (I believe many here..) growing from the humble Tom and Jerry to the unimaginably-intelligent Dexter to the lethargic Garfield and the latest talk-of-the-town, the horrible sociopath racist Eric Cartman from South Park fame. Cartoons had one solid excuse for everything incredible, incomprehensible and probably indigestible things.....they're cartoons!! Imagining Shahrukh's method of wooing the girl (& always winning her despite any circumstances) and Rajnikant's or Mithun’s gravity-defying or rather sanity-defying stunts leave us bewildered in search of logic. Cartoons fortunately don't have to subscribe to logic (which they don't usually), leaving us with stomach-aching laughter and thoroughly entertained. Something else also gives us an ache, albeit this time in our head...BOLLYWOOD MASALA films!!

Bollywood is an industry with annual revenues crossing $ 1 billion, growing at 12.6 % every year approximately and also a major client for advertising industry. With the latest news of Hrithik Roshan being the highest individual taxpayer and many other making it in the top 10, this brings light on the heavy salaries demanded by the country's so-called brightest talent. Films like KANK or the forgettable Krrrrish (I doubt whether I spelt it right!!), aptly shows where the expensive talent is going - in the drains!! If each filmmaker decides to spend the exorbitant amounts that they give to these actors (Shahrukh takes a whopping 5 crore, lucky son-of-a-b****), for something really creative in animation or perhaps in their own films by expending on technology in film stunts or really amazing computer graphics (what's the good use of being a global hub of software professionals when you can't apply that asset in your own country!), then it may work wonders in both entertainment and also fill their pockets. The most common argument of these film-makers in favour of the tried and tested formula of using the same actors repeatedly is that the public likes it. The public never ceases to get tired of ‘hero’ winning the ‘heroine’, then why should we? I guess they are missing an important viewpoint here. It should be noted that Mother India and Do Bigha Zameen which were the epitomes of Indian Cinema were both unconventional in nature.

I agree that most of them are quite antagonistic to this view of meaningful cinema; evident by Mr. Himesh’s growing popularity, but this effort is worth giving a try. People have always liked experiments provided they’re properly packaged and good in content. Jungle Book, Jai Hanuman and the latest to join the bandwagon, Meena as a part of National Literacy Mission are projects that proved our appreciation for the Indian Animation industry. Concerted efforts by involving more participation from bigger players in terms of number and revenues could spell out an animation revolution in a developing nation like India. With more participation, serious quality is bound to emerge (hopefully not in the form of cartoon version of Shaktiman!!) Nevertheless, there is no dearth of talent in India considering India’s young population, and I sincerely hope India could make it big in animation. If not with original ideas, maybe as a provider of business outsourcing illustrations, like the Koreans do for Simpsons.

Animation appeals better due to its universality of crossing language barriers. I still remember guffawing over the famous piano episode of Tom and Jerry. They surely provide an antidote to all the stress and tension one has. Kudos to the animation industry...keep more of it coming!!