Animation is still an unexplored genre in India. Perhaps that's because it hasn't yet turned commercially appealing
Toonpur Ka Superrhero
U; Animation
Dir: Kireet Khurana
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kajolu00a0
***
WHAT IT's ABOUT: Animation is still an unexplored genre in India. Perhaps that's because it hasn't yet turned commercially appealing. But of recent, we've witnessed a certain amount of quality coming into the field. The graphics are much better, sometimes even matching up to international standards. 
When director Kireet Khurana attempted something like Toonpur Ka Superrhero, he knew he was treading into a new terrain.
An amalgamation of animation and live characters has never been tried before on Hindi screen. And though it took him a long while to complete this film, the effort is worth it.
The film is about a Bollywood hero Aditya Kumar (Devgn) who's a huge star but his children don't think much of him.
They know that all the stunts he does on screen are actually done by his double. His wife Priya (Kajol) tries hard to defend him but to no avail. However, in a different land and a different zone called Toonpur, where only cartoons reside, Aditya is considered as the ultimate superhero, thanks to his films.
When faced with a do-or-die situation, the toons decide to kidnap Aditya and seek his help. Now, to prove to his kids that he can be a hero in real life, Aditya needs to fight on behalf of the toons.
WHAT'S HOT: A film like Toonpur is a difficult one to make because it needs to appeal to adults and children alike. This is where Kireet scores the animation is of top-notch quality and the story is rather simply told. In terms of visual appeal, we haven't seen anything like this before. At no point does the setting look shoddy or substandard.
u00a0
The cartoon characters have been created with a lot of care and after a point, you're more engaged in their antics rather than in the technicalities. Kireet has reserved the best for the last. The final 30 minutes of the film are totally thrilling.
It's an interesting idea to have the hero fight with the baddies in a game format. Some of the effects are spectacular. Among the performances, Kajol doesn't get much scope but manages to stay sincere. For Ajay Devgn, this role must've been a huge challenge. Considering most of his scenes are with the toons, he must've had to shoot for them solo against a blank screen. He still manages to get it right.
ADVERTISEMENT
WHAT'S NOT: Though the story is simple and straight, one wonders why Kireet made his characters so complicated. The dialogues are also a bit complex. The screenplay has its ups and downs - it dips in the second half and then picks up again closer to the climax.
u00a0
If only the proceedings were consistent, this would've been a near-perfect attempt. There aren't many live action scenes but even in the few that are present, the cinematography (Nirmal Jani) is a letdown. Even someone as appealing as Kajol has been captured badly on screen.
WHAT TO DO: Toonpur marks the coming-of-age of Indian animation films. Watch it for the sheer effort.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
