FOR A GOOD CAUSE: While  Javed Akhtar (left) has written the songs for the animated  films, Shankar Mahadevan has sung them

Going for a movie? Don't be surprised if you see an animated character teaching you the perils of drunken driving, before it begins.

The Mumbai Traffic police in association with Percept Picture Company has come out with a 40-second to one minute animated film on drunken driving. This will be played at theatres and multiplexes all over the city, starting today.

Three other short films based on various traffic rules are in the process of release. All the songs have been written by Javed Akhtar and sung by Shankar Mahadevan.

Sumit Kumar, associate vice president (Animation Division) of Percept Picture Company, said, "The film has characters that makes it interesting. We have already spoken to television channels, theatres and multiplexes. Our target audience is the younger generation."

The other films are based on following signals, traffic rules and use of mobile phones
while driving.

"These films will be shown before the movie begins, as it is the ideal time to catch the attention of the audience. We will also try to play them during intervals," added Kumar.

That's some progress

More than 20,000 people have been caught under the influence of alcohol in last year.

Since the first prison term for a drunk driver in July 2007, more than 7,100 people have been sent to jail for the same.