Completing the sequel of her debut animated flick 3 Bahadur in less than two years was a big challenge for the two-time documentary Oscar-winning director, but Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy feels that when the team is right, things just fall into place.
“Everybody associated with the 3 Bahadur franchise contributed to the film because that’s how projects succeed,” says Sharmeen. “People still remember the first part and this recall value helped us, as kids now know the characters really well. It made Pakistan known as a country where animated films are being produced and just last week it was played at a New York film festival and in many other countries.”
For the second part, titled The Revenge of Baba Balaam, the cast has undergone a few changes. Fahim Khan takes over as Baba Balaam from Nadir Siddiqui, Sarwat Gillani replaces Kulsoom Aftab as Saadi’s mother while Arisha Razi comes in for Muneeba Yaseen as Amna, one of the three main characters. Popular film and TV actor Fahad Mustafa, comedian Ahmed Ali Butt, singer Ali Pir Gul and veteran TV artist Zeba Shehnaz join Behroze Sabzwari, Mustafa Changezi and Bassam Shazli who also give voices to characters in the movie. The story still takes place in Roshan Nagar where things go haywire since the return of Baba Balaam — hence the title of the film.
Two-time Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is back with the 3 Bahadur gang
Sharmeen feels that people will hardly notice the change in voiceover artists because she chose some of them from her own childhood, and many of them wanted to work on the sequel as their kids loved the first one. “I always wanted to work with Behroze sahib (even before 3 Bahadur) as he is someone who loves challenges. My objective this time round was to have people recognise Zeba Shehnaz who was always fascinating in Fifty Fifty. In our film she lends her voice to Mithu. I am also lucky that most people wanted to play a character as their kids loved it, such as Fahad Mustafa and Sarwat Gillani. Also, get ready to be mesmerised by the voice of Fahim Khan who was chosen as Baba Balaam after audition — his voice has diversity and it stays with you.”
When 3 Bahadur was conceived a couple of years back, veteran actor Behroze Sabzwari was one of the few actors around with the experience of lending his voice to animated characters, such as for Ghunn Sunna in Commander Safeguard. He has been part of the animation evolution in the country and says that his Deenu Chacha sends a message to kids to stand up for what is right and not to let the bad guys take advantage.
“The best way to educate kids is through entertainment,” says Behroze. It is our duty as parents, grandparents and Pakistanis. We are living in an age where technology rules our lives. Even young kids and toddlers have phones with online access. My granddaughter leaves everything she’s doing when there is an animated film on TV. If we come up with such projects twice a year, it will help youngsters learn quickly.”