Now, Shakti Samanta classics in animated form

Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) Three of veteran director Shakti Samanta's memorable films - 'Howrah Bridge', 'Amar Prem' and 'Barsaat Ki Ek Raat' - are all set to get animated, thanks to filmmaker Pritish Nandy.

'This is my homage to one of the most underrated filmmakers of the country. When I met Mr. Samanta, he was so pleased to know his films would reach out to a new generation,' Nandy told IANS.

'Howrah Bridge' is one of my favourite noire films. The magic of Sachin Dev Burman's music, the chemistry between Ashok Kumar and Madhubala and the seductive charm of Ashok Kumar's baritone - all that I want to capture in animation form,' he added.

The film will be produced under his banner Pritish Nandy Communications, which has made films like 'Jhankaar Beats', 'Chameli' and 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi'.

Why these films from Samanta's oeuvre? Why not the other classics like 'Aradhana', 'Amanush' and 'Kati Patang'?

'I've chosen 'Howrah Bridge', 'Amar Prem' and 'Barsaat Ki Ek Raat' because they not only represent three phases in Mr. Samanta's career but also three generations of superstars - Ashok Kumar, Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan.

'Barsaat...' is not one of Mr. Bachchan's better known films. So there's an added excitement of introducing a neglected Amitabh film through animation.'

Nandy will pay homage to not only Samanta but also to the immortal melodies of legendary music director S.D. Burman and his son Rahul in Samanta's films.

Animation figures will be seen singing songs like 'Aaiye meherbaan' in 'Howrah Bridge', 'Yeh kya hua' and 'Raina beeti jaaye' in 'Amar Prem' and 'Apne pyar ke sapne' in 'Barsaat Ki Ek Raat'.

'We'll have the original music from these films. But we'll also have a re-mix version of the originals side by side,' Nandy said.

Commenting on his international project 'Karna', he said: 'It's a tie-up between my company and a Hong Kong company.

'Earlier, we tied up with Motion Pixel Corporation with whom we're doing six animation films starting with 'Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena'.'

Nandy said the animation won't be a complete lift of the Fardeen Khan-Koena Mitra-starrer of the same name.

'It just uses the two main characters played by Koena and Fardeen as a springboard. The animation feature takes the characters forward. We'll have a series of animation films based on the adventures of these two characters.'

With Pritish Nandy Communications, Yash Raj Films, Karan Johar and Ajay Devgan doing animation, is that the flavour of the season?

'What we're doing is something different. We also have an animation version of 'Sholay',' Nandy said.