Sword of Dharma and Mahabaalak
Nov 27th, 2007 by Ashok
Two original feature film projects created and written by me are in development.
The first is titled Sword of Dharma. The website doesn’t have much to say and probably won’t for several months yet, because as you know, I prefer to let the work speak for itself when the time is right, rather than let the media hype machine take over.
All I’m willing to say at this time is that it’s a live-action VFX project, with what I hope will be cutting-edge, mind-dazzling effects driving a powerful, intense action-packed story with a uniquely Indian spiritual core.
The genre is a hybrid of SF, Fantasy and what I like to call Post-Mythology.
More when I’m ready to talk about it.
The project is currently in development by a new but very promising film production house with solid backing. I’m to be the screenwriter and co-producer of the project. My son Ayush Banker is partnering with me in the development and co-production. In fact, he’s the co-creator of the concept with me.
Ayush and I are also simultaneously developing Sword of Dharma as a game, because that’s where the germ of the idea came from originally, as a console videogame. It’s likely we’ll explore the possibility of an MMORPG too, since Sword of Dharma is just perfect for that environment.
There may or may not be books set in the same world, written by me. I’m really not sure of that right now, because to my mind, this is so totally an audiovisual experience, and a mindblowing one at that. But you never know.
MAHABAALAK is at the other end of the spectrum from Sword of Dharma in content terms. It’s an animated fantasy adventure with elements from Indian itihasa and mythology, and it’s the most fun thing I’ve ever thought up or worked on! What a blast it is just to think about it.
In this case too, I’ve created the “property” as they call it in IT (Intellectual Property) terms these days, and have written the screenplay.
But there’s more.
I’m also making my directorial debut with Mahabaalak. And co-producing it as well!
This one’s in collaboration with a major computer animation studio, and there are some really talented people on board. (And I don’t mean myself!)
That’s all I can say about it right now.
In due course, you’ll find updates on The official Mahabaalak website and The official Sword of Dharma website. (The Sword site is just a place-holder, and the Mahabaalak site isn’t even up yet. But you can bookmark them if you like, and check back in a couple of months.)
Both projects will take a fair bit of time before they reach your neighbourhood multiplex, at least a couple of years.
So why am I informing you about it now?
Well, partly because I’m just so excited to be working on these two projects–and to see these two stories that are so close to my heart reach the development and execution stages–and partly because I want to quell any rumours and gossip before they arise.
Sword of Dharma and Mahabaalak are both being developed and co-produced under the Epic India banner.
The titles Sword of Dharma and Mahabaalak are copyrighted and trademarked by Epic India Intellectual Properties Pvt. Ltd.
