<p>The Booker-nominated novel is considered one of the most captivating account of how the 1984 tragedy claimed the lives of thousands people. At the centre of the story is a 16-year-old boy Animal, who is left crippled by the disaster due to leakage of deadly gas from Union Carbide's pesticide plant.<br /><br />Anderson, who is working with Oscar-winner Michael Caine on his debut film "Henry 5", a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's plays set in future, is currently raising finance for the project to be shot in India.<br /><br />"It is a great story about the right of passage of a teenager who triumphs over his disability. It is about virtue and right and wrong. The industrial accident that caused so much human suffering is set as a backdrop to a robust story with humour, love, drama and a surreal undertone to it," Anderson told PTI in an interview.<br /><br />He is working on the screenplay with Sinha and plans to begin shooting the movie in February 2012. He also plans to collaborate with Indian film industry a la "Slumdog Millionaire" style.<br /><br />"Shooting for 'Animal's People' is set for February 2012. I will be working closely with Indian co-producers, production companies and facilities houses, as well as Indian casting directors and crew. I am still actively seeking finance and co production partners. The project is going well," he says.<br /><br />Like millions around the globe, Anderson says he too was left "angry and horrified" with what happened in Bhopal. He even visited the factory and took part in the protests but decided to make a film on the tragedy only after reading Indra's book.<br /><br />"Indra and I are old friends. I read his earlier books which I really appreciated but as soon as I read 'Animal's People' I phoned him to ask his permission to buy the rights for a film option. I knew immediately that it was a film that I wanted to make. We have collaborated on the script for over two years," the filmmaker said.<br /><br />Anderson started off his career with Hollywood films like Superman' and 'American Werewolf and has over 20-years of experience as a director of photography besides working on documentaries and commercials. He has also worked British filmmaker Ridley Scott's company as DOP. <br /><br />Anderson feels that the sheer magnitude of the horror renders it impossible to bring the fateful night alive on screen. He is rather focusing on "personalising" the horror through the protagonist.<br /><br />"Our story is about a boy who has to live with his disability. He is often funny and mischievous and at 16, sex is constantly on his mind. Hopefully by personalising the tragedy the audience will empathise with Animal. Why should a kid have to go through life like this? And so the tragedy of Bhopal will come to the forefront through Animal," he says.<br /><br />The filmmaker admits that casting for Animal's character will be a real test but he does not want a disabled person.<br /><br />"I am looking for a teenager that can walk on all fours. Not an unfortunate and disabled person that can act. I will be looking for a cheeky 16 or 17 year old that can display both mischief and vulnerability while performing," he says.<br /><br />For now, Anderson is busy giving shapes to his debut feature "Henry5", which he says will find "parallels in Britain's and America's invasion of Iraq".<br /><br />"'Henry 5' is going into pre-production after Christmas. The story is taken from several Shakespearean plays and will use only original Shakespearean language. The great fun of the film is that it is set in the near future and shows Henry as a ruthless man," he says, adding that he has had "positive feedback from Michael Caine, Ray Winston, Vinnie Jones and Gerard Depardieu".</p>
<p>The Booker-nominated novel is considered one of the most captivating account of how the 1984 tragedy claimed the lives of thousands people. At the centre of the story is a 16-year-old boy Animal, who is left crippled by the disaster due to leakage of deadly gas from Union Carbide's pesticide plant.<br /><br />Anderson, who is working with Oscar-winner Michael Caine on his debut film "Henry 5", a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's plays set in future, is currently raising finance for the project to be shot in India.<br /><br />"It is a great story about the right of passage of a teenager who triumphs over his disability. It is about virtue and right and wrong. The industrial accident that caused so much human suffering is set as a backdrop to a robust story with humour, love, drama and a surreal undertone to it," Anderson told PTI in an interview.<br /><br />He is working on the screenplay with Sinha and plans to begin shooting the movie in February 2012. He also plans to collaborate with Indian film industry a la "Slumdog Millionaire" style.<br /><br />"Shooting for 'Animal's People' is set for February 2012. I will be working closely with Indian co-producers, production companies and facilities houses, as well as Indian casting directors and crew. I am still actively seeking finance and co production partners. The project is going well," he says.<br /><br />Like millions around the globe, Anderson says he too was left "angry and horrified" with what happened in Bhopal. He even visited the factory and took part in the protests but decided to make a film on the tragedy only after reading Indra's book.<br /><br />"Indra and I are old friends. I read his earlier books which I really appreciated but as soon as I read 'Animal's People' I phoned him to ask his permission to buy the rights for a film option. I knew immediately that it was a film that I wanted to make. We have collaborated on the script for over two years," the filmmaker said.<br /><br />Anderson started off his career with Hollywood films like Superman' and 'American Werewolf and has over 20-years of experience as a director of photography besides working on documentaries and commercials. He has also worked British filmmaker Ridley Scott's company as DOP. <br /><br />Anderson feels that the sheer magnitude of the horror renders it impossible to bring the fateful night alive on screen. He is rather focusing on "personalising" the horror through the protagonist.<br /><br />"Our story is about a boy who has to live with his disability. He is often funny and mischievous and at 16, sex is constantly on his mind. Hopefully by personalising the tragedy the audience will empathise with Animal. Why should a kid have to go through life like this? And so the tragedy of Bhopal will come to the forefront through Animal," he says.<br /><br />The filmmaker admits that casting for Animal's character will be a real test but he does not want a disabled person.<br /><br />"I am looking for a teenager that can walk on all fours. Not an unfortunate and disabled person that can act. I will be looking for a cheeky 16 or 17 year old that can display both mischief and vulnerability while performing," he says.<br /><br />For now, Anderson is busy giving shapes to his debut feature "Henry5", which he says will find "parallels in Britain's and America's invasion of Iraq".<br /><br />"'Henry 5' is going into pre-production after Christmas. The story is taken from several Shakespearean plays and will use only original Shakespearean language. The great fun of the film is that it is set in the near future and shows Henry as a ruthless man," he says, adding that he has had "positive feedback from Michael Caine, Ray Winston, Vinnie Jones and Gerard Depardieu".</p>
