MUMBAI: Percept Picture Company's (PPC) Hanuman, which also happens to be India's first 2-D animation film, is all set to hit the theatres tomorrow (21 October) and the company is leaving no stones unturned to promote the movie. A range of merchandising around Hanuman has been unveiled.

The merchandise include water sharpeners, parachutes, key chains, fun boxes, fun spring, wind chimes, puzzles, face mask and mace (gadaa).

The items are being made available at leading toy stores across the country. This is one of the first efforts being made by a film production company to create and make available at retail outlets merchandise around a film character.

Based on the initial buzz created by the merchandising, 50-70 exhibitors across the country are planning an activation around the Hanuman merchandise.

Percept Picture Company COO Mahesh Ramanathan says, "Merchandising of Hanuman items for us is an activity independent from the film and its other extensions. We are trying to experiment with the Hollywood studio model, wherein the buzz for and sale of the merchandise in some cases is more than that of the film itself, and starts well before the release of the film (i.e. Spiderman, Shrek, Star Wars, and Harry Potter). However, we are timing the release of the merchandise with the release of the film and plan to carry out the promotions / sale well beyond the life of the film."

Hanuman is the second film for kids made by PPC after Makdee.