''Once Upon A Time'' is a 2013
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
animated film, directed by
Binu Sasidharan and starring
Salim Kumar
Salim Kumar (born 10 October 1969) is an Indian actor, comedian, director and writer in Malayalam cinema. Mostly known for his comic and comedy roles, Salim Kumar is considered one of the best and most prominent comedians in the history of Mal ...
and
Mala Aravindan
Mala Aravindan (15 January 1939 – 28 January 2015) was an Indian actor. He was best known for his work as a comedian and character artist in Malayalam films. He has acted in over 500 films.
Early life
He was born in Vadavucode, Ernakulam d ...
. Released on 24 May 2013, it is the first animated feature film to be produced in the Malayalam language, and it is Binu's first feature film, opting for a wide theatrical release rather than through domestic release as with his previous works.
Plot
A sage gives Rahul a book containing various chants and spells. When Rahul reads the book, he is enchanted by a magic king and is magically transported with his doll, Kunjan, to a new world which mirrors the existence of the magic kingdom. Rahul is puzzled and decides to try to discern where he and Kunjan have been transported. During his investigations, he becomes entangled in a great conflict between the evil forces of the Black Magician and a power-hungry minister. Throughout the film, it becomes clear that Rahul must be the one to save the magic kingdom from these villains.
Cast
*
Salim Kumar
Salim Kumar (born 10 October 1969) is an Indian actor, comedian, director and writer in Malayalam cinema. Mostly known for his comic and comedy roles, Salim Kumar is considered one of the best and most prominent comedians in the history of Mal ...
as the Cunning Minister
*
Mala Aravindan
Mala Aravindan (15 January 1939 – 28 January 2015) was an Indian actor. He was best known for his work as a comedian and character artist in Malayalam films. He has acted in over 500 films.
Early life
He was born in Vadavucode, Ernakulam d ...
as Sage
*
Machan Varghese
M. L. Varghese (1960 – 3 February 2011), popularly known by stage name Machan Varghese, was a Malayalam film actor and mimicry artist. He started his career as a mimicry artist in Kalabhavan (house of arts) and debuted as an actor through ''K ...
as Kandakan
* Narayankutty as Jamandakan
Production
''Once Upon A Time'' is the first Indian film to use animated models of real actors.
Salim Kumar
Salim Kumar (born 10 October 1969) is an Indian actor, comedian, director and writer in Malayalam cinema. Mostly known for his comic and comedy roles, Salim Kumar is considered one of the best and most prominent comedians in the history of Mal ...
and
Mala Aravindan
Mala Aravindan (15 January 1939 – 28 January 2015) was an Indian actor. He was best known for his work as a comedian and character artist in Malayalam films. He has acted in over 500 films.
Early life
He was born in Vadavucode, Ernakulam d ...
were cast to play the voices of the lead roles. ''Once Upon a Time'' is the second regional language animated film to be created in India, the first being Hindi. In making the movie, director Binu Sasidharan stated that his intent in releasing the film to cinemas was to "make something new and relatable to children".
The film was produced by FX3 Productions in association with VIPs International. The developers opted to use gaming technology rather than conventional software for the movie, using applications produced by
Daz 3D
Daz Productions, Inc. (commonly known as Daz 3D, stylized Daz3D or DAZ 3D in some logos) is a 3D-content and software company specializing in providing rigged 3D human models, associated accessory content, and software to the hobbyist as well ...
and
iClone
iClone is a real-time 3D animation and rendering software program. Real-time playback is enabled by using a 3D videogame engine for instant on-screen rendering.
Other functionality includes: full facial and skeletal animation of human and an ...
software for character modelling and animation.
The screenplay was written by Anil Perumbalam. Music director
Bijibal
Bijibal Maniyil is an Indian music composer and playback singer who works predominantly in Malayalam films, documentaries, short films and television commercials. He has composed for more than 150 feature films, several documentaries and televisi ...
composed five songs for the film as well as the original background score. The five songs were performed by
Sujatha,
Shweta Mohan
Shweta Mohan (born 19 November 1985) is an Indian playback singer. She has received four Filmfare Awards South for Best Female Playback Singer, one Kerala State Film Award and one Tamil Nadu State Film Award. She has recorded more than 700
so ...
and Rajesh Ravindran, with lyrics written by Dr. Valsala Vijayana and Anil Perumbalam.
See also
*
Indian animation industry
The Indian Animation Industry encompasses traditional 2D animation, 3D animation and visual effects for feature films.
*
List of Indian animated feature films
This is list of Indian animated films. It includes theatrical films, some important short films, direct-to-video releases and International films in which Indian production houses and studios were involved.
Notable short films
Feature films ...
*
List of Malayalam films of 2013
References
{{Reflist
2013 films
Indian animated films
2010s Malayalam-language films
2013 in Indian cinema
Indian animated fantasy films