Search form

Aardman and Gurinder Chadha Teaming on Animated Bollywood Musical

The renowned animation studio and famed ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ writer/director are collaborating on a high-concept film about a young Indian elephant who dreams of becoming a Bollywood dancer.

Aardman, the renowned British animation studio known for their innovative stop-motion techniques (Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, The Pirates, Arthur Christmas), is teaming up with acclaimed film director Gurinder Chadha OBE (Bend It Like Beckham; Bride and Prejudice; Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging; Viceroy’s House; Blinded by the Light) on a high-concept feature film project.

The projects, aimed at a global family audience, is “a warm-hearted musical that will tell the story of Bodhi, a young Indian elephant from the jungles of Kerala with an impossible dream – to be a Bollywood dancer!”

Chadha will direct and co-write the script with Paul Mayeda Berges, under their Bend It Neworks banner.

“Aardman is a Great British national treasure,” the director commented. “I am honored and excited to bring my unique British Asian vision to their acclaimed animation studio. Their work has so much heart, humor and affection, and we share a love of authentic and joyful underdog stories about memorable characters – so it really is a perfect match.”

“We are so excited to be collaborating with Gurinder, a truly great director whose beautiful, funny, and warm storytelling we have long admired,” added Aardman creative director Peter Lord. “Her talent, when combined with the team here at Aardman, promises something new and extraordinary in the world of animation.”

Aardman and Bend It Networks will work with Indian voice talent, musicians, and designers on the project, which is in advanced development.

Source: Aardman