Kuching, Sarawak, April 22 (Inditop.com) Malaysian animated film “Upin and Ipin” will be released across India next month, marking its first major commercial foray, said its producer Burhanuddin Mohammed Radzi Thursday.
The film, also called “Geng: Pengembaraan Bermula”, will be premiered May 14 in India, followed by release in 600 theatres, said Radzi, managing director of Les’ Copaque Production Sdn Bhd.
“Upin and Ipin” has been translated into 11 Indian dialects. Radzi said the film’s success in Indonesia motivated him to seek the larger Indian market.
“The response in Indonesia was three times bigger than in Malaysia. People were so taken up by ‘Upin and Ipin’ that they were willing to line up at theatres to watch it,” New Straits Times quoted him as saying.
He also said that his production house is also looking at Latin American countries as its next target, Bernama, the official news agency said.
Radzi said his company hopes “Upin and Ipin” become icons of inspiration for the younger generation in the country as the movie carries many positive values.
“We are now finishing 42 animated episodes of the ‘Upin and Ipin’ series before beginning the sequel to ‘Geng’, which is expected to hit the large screen in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in 2012,” he said.