Interview: Suparn Verma

It is not a sequel. It is not a prequel. It is not even a remake. EKEH 2.0 is the animated version of Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena. It will be India’s first adult animated film, a complete departure from the Hanumans and Ganeshas of the world. Pratim D. Gupta spoke to an excited Suparn Verma, who direct]ed the “beta version” and is now helming the animated version...

Did Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena do well enough to merit an animated version?
You have to remember that it was a very low-budget film even though we made sure it looked like a big-budget one. So my producers, Pritish Nandy Communications, made a lot of money and even the distributors made a few bucks.

What is the idea behind EKEH 2.0?
We were all sitting and discussing ideas about sequels and prequels and then we thought why not better Ek Khiladi... Take the same film, rework the characters, the plot and the locales and make a different visual experience altogether.

So it is not a sequel as is being perceived?
Not at all. It’s Version 2.0 and not Part 2. We have taken the same characters but it is a completely new film which can stand on its own. Yes, some plots are similar but the story then takes a different turn.

Did the animated version help you do things you could not do in live action?
Had I made EKEH 2.0 live action, it would have cost me Rs 60-70 crore. It is that big in scope. The characters are bigger and have more edge. Like Fardeen’s character is a master of heist capers and not just a conman. Overall the stakes are higher. Let’s say we are doing animation at the level of a James Bond film. Motion Pixel Corporation, Florida, is working with us on this.

Will audiences take to a new concept like this?
We have to try and find out. EKEH is a first in many ways. Till now, in India, we have had animation films only for children, like Hanuman and My Friend Ganesha. This one’s the first made with adults in mind. Yes, we do love Lion King but we wouldn’t mind something which is not as cute. The two minutes of animation in Kill Bill had all of us jumping. So why not make a full film out of that.

Is there a Hollywood counterpart for something like this?
No. But in Japan they have the tradition of Hentai films. Usually they are not more than 30 seconds but they have made a couple of full-fledged films too. Those are full of sex and violence and are in the samurai and yakuza mode. That’s not the case with EKEH. It is probably the first of its kind in the whole world.

What is the process being followed to turn a feature film into an animation film?
Firstly we are trying to take the essence of the original character. Then a 2-D artist is drawing the character. After we have approved the look, we are giving it costumes and props before sending it to the 3D artist. Once the characters are ready and the script is in place, we are getting the dubbing done. Then the film is storyboarded totally. Then the animation process begins where three levels of animators — primary, secondary and background — work simultaneously to achieve the end result. Then some background music and some DI (digital intermediate), and we are ready to release.

What about your next live action film?
Well, I will be making a thriller for Sanjay Gupta. So, that’s next.