Hanuman to return with goodies galore

The Indian super-hero Hanuman will soon make a dashing appearance not only on the silver screen but also in stores.

Hanuman Returns, made by entertainment company Percept Picture Company (PPC) and Toonz Animation India, is ready to enter the market with over 270 merchandise. The film is a sequel of the blockbuster animation movie Hanuman.

Cashing in on the hype the first film created, PPC will offer Hanuman Returns' merchandise "" which includes accessories, apparel, stationery, toys, books, crockery, soft toys "" across Big Bazaar's 300-plus outlets.

The price will be in the range of Rs 20 to Rs 2,000. Interestingly, jewellery brand D'dmas has designed exclusive pendants inspired by the film. The publishing partner for the books is Delhi-based Junior Diamond. It has sold the music rights to T-series.

PPC has sold the merchandising rights at a minimum guarantee, and the company will earn 70 per cent as royalty. "We have spent close to Rs 3.5 crore for developing the merchandise for the 270 products. We hope to earn over Rs 20 crore from the products alone," said Shailendra Singh, joint managing director, Percept Holdings (the holding company of PPC).

The budget of Hanuman Returns is said to be around Rs 25 crore. The film is slated to hit the theatres in December with around 550 prints in India.

Gamers too can dot on Hanuman games. Jump Games has tied up with PPC to launch online and mobile games based on the character. Besides, PPC has signed up Microsoft for its console game XBOX 360 and broadband Internet connection XBOX Live.

If Hanuman was a mythological character-based animation film, Hanuman Returns goes a step forward "" it shows the character as a mythological super-hero.

Clearly, the merchandise and other initiatives are no longer film-led, instead they are character-led this time. "Our aim is to develop Hanuman as a brand," added Singh.

Little wonder that the production house is soon starting work on Hanuman 3, titled Return of Ravana. The film, which may release in early 2009, will have a global story, featuring Ravana born in Manhattan. The budget of the film is believed to be nearly $10 million.