<p>"We have decided to focus on animated feature films. In order to cash on the animated characters we have started a merchandising division. We will start the business with the characters of Twinergy," Chief Operating Officer Hari Varma told IANS here.<br /><br />The Rs.20-crore Twinergy is the first animated movie in which Bachchan would be cast as a cartoon character. It is also the first animated movie for director Priyadarshan. <br />"The pre-production work on Twinergy is over," said Varma. <br /><br />About other projects, he said a cartoon series "Little Kalari Warriors" had been given to an international kids channel. He declined to name the channel.<br />Also, "Howzaat", a cricket-based series, Tales of Lord Shiva and Hanuman the Immortal are ready to be aired by leading kids channels.<br /><br />Varma said the company is now focussed on creating its own intellectual property rights (IPR) to go up in the value chain.<br /><br />"We have decided to focus on making feature films for studios in the US, Canada and here." <br /><br />Asked about getting into advertising film market where the cash realizations are immediate, he said: "One has to be in Mumbai for that. But the rental costs are very high there as compared to what we pay here."<br /><br />He said the company has around 400 employees and the headcount increase would happen depending on the need.</p>
<p>"We have decided to focus on animated feature films. In order to cash on the animated characters we have started a merchandising division. We will start the business with the characters of Twinergy," Chief Operating Officer Hari Varma told IANS here.<br /><br />The Rs.20-crore Twinergy is the first animated movie in which Bachchan would be cast as a cartoon character. It is also the first animated movie for director Priyadarshan. <br />"The pre-production work on Twinergy is over," said Varma. <br /><br />About other projects, he said a cartoon series "Little Kalari Warriors" had been given to an international kids channel. He declined to name the channel.<br />Also, "Howzaat", a cricket-based series, Tales of Lord Shiva and Hanuman the Immortal are ready to be aired by leading kids channels.<br /><br />Varma said the company is now focussed on creating its own intellectual property rights (IPR) to go up in the value chain.<br /><br />"We have decided to focus on making feature films for studios in the US, Canada and here." <br /><br />Asked about getting into advertising film market where the cash realizations are immediate, he said: "One has to be in Mumbai for that. But the rental costs are very high there as compared to what we pay here."<br /><br />He said the company has around 400 employees and the headcount increase would happen depending on the need.</p>