MUMBAI: Sahara One Picture's, maiden animation movie venture, Hanuman has already grossed Rs 70 million across the country, indicating a success that could set the trend for more launches of films in this genre.

The collections were particularly strong in Mumbai and Delhi. In Mumbai alone, the film has grossed Rs 35 million which is 50 per cent of the total collections.

"Animation has always taken a backseat in Indian cinema. But Hanuman is going to set a new trend and create a boom in the animation industry," says Percept Picture Company,managing director, Shailendra Singh.

Sahara One Motion Pictures made the film, based on the life of mythological hero Hanuman, in association with Percept Picture Company and Silvertoons, at a cost of Rs 25 million. Percept Picture Company is distributing the film.

The film was heavily promoted and released with 150 prints nation-wide. The first 3 days collections summed up to Rs 15 million, marking a remarkable start for an animation film. As India's, first indigenous animation film, Hanuman has been appreciated nationally and has had an impressive opening at all the theaters, says an official release.

With the first wave of success in the metro cities, the plan now is to take it to the B and C centres. "We expect it to do well in these theatres. It is, however, difficult to predict how much the movie will finally gross," says SaharaOne Motion Pictures, COO, Sandeep Bhargava.

The company also hopes that with Christmas holidays coming up shortly, Hanuman will get its audiences glued with its animation and screenplay. Says, trade analyst ,Taran Adarsh, "The box office collection of Hanuman is bigger and better then most other star cast films released in the last one month."

What has led to the success of an animation film like Hanuman? Explains, SaharaOne CEO, Shantonu Aditya, "Animation has always been viewed as kid stuff. But Hanuman has the complete package of songs, storyline and excellent animation that makes it engrossing, inspirational entertainment for both, kids and grown-ups alike. Hanuman has provided fans of animation a whole new entertainment experience."

Adds Singh: "This film has all the ingredients of a commercial film. It has music, drama, action, everything that the Indian audience would see in any other film. The film is a tribute to our own culture as it's not about a Spiderman or a Batman but our very own Hanuman whose tales we have been listening to all our childhood. It is a treat for everyone this Diwali."

The movie has tried to expand its appeal to the adults as well. Says Bhargava, "Animation has always been viewed as a child's play. This film is a complete package of storyline, songs and has the animation that will make it engrossing and provides inspirational entertainment for both kids and adults."

Directed by animation veteran, V G Samant, Hanuman was made over a period of two years. The film has over 200,000 individual images along with 40 individual characters.