"Chakra" still in the news:
Comic Legend Stan Lee’s ‘Chakra’ Comes to Life as India’s First Live-Action Superhero Film
By Saloni Gajjar on April 28, 2016 at 9:16 PM
Comic book legend and former Marvel head honcho, Stan Lee, and well-known Indian director, Vikramaditya Motwane, (“Udaan”) are giving us the superhero team-up we never knew we wanted. Motwane will direct “Chakra: The Invincible,” the first Indian superhero created by Lee, as a live-action film (think “The Jungle Book”). Lee’s POW! Entertainment and character entertainment company, Graphic India, have partnered with Phantom Films for this movie.
The appeal for Indian movies and actors is definitely going global and there is little doubt about why Lee began the “Chakra” comics and wants to expand it to the silver screen. A huge fan of Bollywood films, Lee is excited that this film will be his launch into the Indian film industry.
“Vikramaditya is an amazingly talented film-maker who I have no doubt can make ‘Chakra’ a massive hit in India and around the world,” Lee said. Additionally, he hopes that Motwane doesn’t forget his iconic cameos in all of Marvel’s movies.
Motwane is equally excited to bring life to a Stan Lee character. “It is an absolute honor and delight, and no, we will not forget Stan Lee’s cameo,” he said.
The film is about Raju Rai, a young boy from Mumbai, whose scientist mentor, Dr. Singh, develops a technological suit which weaponizes all the chakras in the body, unleashing new abilities and powers. Rai uses it to turn into a superhero and vows to serve and protect the city and battle super-villains.
While the original story has Rai in his teens, the movie will feature him as a 20-something adult. We can totally imagine young actors like Aditya Roy Kapoor or Ranveer Singh as the voice of the superhero Rai, and actors with huskier voices like Salman Khan, John Abraham, or if we are lucky, Amitabh Bachchan playing Dr. Singh.
Initially premiering in 2013 on Cartoon Network as a 65-minute animated superhero film, “Chakra” will now also have its own games and toys being circulated which will, in turn, help movie promotions.
Motwane currently is working on the “Chakra” screenplay with Lee and Graphic India co-founder and CEO, Sharad Devarajan. Phantom’s Madhu Mantena will produce the film with Devarajan and POW! Entertainment’s Gill Champion.
