Animation
American authors Skype with fans at Bangalore Comic Con
NEW DELHI: The Bangalore Comic Con 2015 commenced today with two exclusive live chats (via Skype) with celebrated writers Mark Millar and Ron Marz.
Marz, known for his work on titles such as Silver Surfer, Green Lantern, Marvel vs DC, Batman/Aliens and Witchblade was joined by Indian artist Abhishek Malsuni as they talked about their ongoing John Carter: Warlord of Mars series.
Actors Rana Daggubati and Tamannaah Bhatia will also be participating in a special session on their upcoming film Baahubali at Comic Con.
Organized by Comic Con India, the Bangalore meet is a three-day fest at White Orchid Convention. Spread across 80,000 sq feet as compared to last year’s 40,000 sq feet, CCI plans to host interactive and experiential 50 hours of programming through panels, launches, gaming, video hangouts and more.
This year’s attraction are the two internationally acclaimed actors Daniel Portman, best known for his role as Podrick Payne in the award-winning HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones and Natalia Tena, known for her role of Tonks in the Harry Potter films and Osha in Game of Thrones. The duo is taking part in special sessions and signings (photographs & autographs). Both actors will be seen in the upcoming Season 5 of Game of Thrones, which premieres in India. at the same time as its US premiere on 13 April at 6:30 am IST with a repeat telecast on the same day at 10 pm on HBO Defined. For the first time ever, the most iconic HBO original will simulcast across 170 countries.
Comic Con founder Jatin Varma said, “Even though we are coming back much earlier in the year, we are bringing over some of the best in Indian and international pop-culture and look forward to providing fans in the city, the best weekend of the year.”
Fans who come dressed as their favorite comic characters always steal the show. And this year as always, COSPLAYERS will win prizes under five categories. Each day, one winner is chosen from each of five categories: Comic book/graphic novel; Animated Series/Movie; Manga/Anime; Sci-Fi/Fantasy; and Gaming. One of the chose five lucky winners will win a Trip to Thailand.
Comic Con India set up an exclusive IESL Gaming Arena with Xtreme Gaming at Bangalore this year. Spread across 200 sq m, the gaming area has a total prize pool of Rs 1.5 lakh, the main tournament is around DOTA 2 for teams of gamers. For regular visitors as well as gamers, there is casual gaming competitions on Fifa 14 and Counter strike GO.
Amar Chitra Katha has also kept surprises for fans. They have set up photo-booths, quizzes, storytelling competitions and much more at Bangalore Comic Con.
International exhibitors like Marvel, DC and Dark Horse Comics among others have brought international content from all across the globe, especially for Bangalore. Exclusive book launches will be held over the next two days.
At the convention, there is some Anime & Manga merchandise from Japanese Merchandiser IINE, along with exclusive international merchandisers like Kidrobot, NECA, Hot Toys, Mimobots, Funko and many more from across the globe. Indian merchandisers present at the convention are Band Box, Wacom, Art Beat, Bewakoof Brands, Hysteria, Wear Your Opinion, Kudi Firang, Planet Superheroes, F Gali, Sky Goodies, Bollyscope, Lazy Ninja, Graphicurry, and Below the Belt among others.
The main participants at Bangalore include Amar Chitra Katha, Orange Radius, Pop Culture Publishing, Random House, Campfire Graphic Novel, Holy Cow Entertainment, HarperCollins Publishers, Aayumi Productions, Raj Comics, and Blossom Book House.
MUMBAI: History is getting a fresh rewrite this time with code, creativity and a longer arc in mind. Lens Vault Studios has announced its first original production, Bal Tanhaji, marking the official entry of the newly launched, tech-driven studio into India’s evolving entertainment landscape.
Arriving six years after the box-office success of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the new project expands the universe rather than revisiting familiar ground. Bal Tanhaji explores uncharted narrative territory, signalling a clear shift from one-off cinematic spectacles to long-format, world-building storytelling designed for digital-first audiences.
At the heart of this ambition is Prismix Studios, the in-house generative AI and technology arm powering the creative engine behind the show. The studio’s approach blends storytelling with next-generation tools, aiming to reimagine how Indian IPs are created, scaled and sustained beyond theatrical releases.
For Lens Vault Studios chairman Ajay Devgn the new venture represents a deliberate step beyond traditional cinema. The focus is firmly on building long-form intellectual properties across fiction and non-fiction, tailored to changing viewing habits and platform-led consumption. He said the studio intends to explore formats that remain largely untapped, while drawing on the team’s experience with large-scale cinematic storytelling.
Lens Vault Studios founder and CEO Danish Devgn echoed that sentiment, describing Bal Tanhaji as the studio’s first generative-AI-led IP and the starting point of a broader vision. The aim, he noted, is to carry forward the legacy of the Tanhaji universe while connecting with younger audiences through a blend of powerful narratives and emerging technologies.
With Bal Tanhaji, Lens Vault Studios is planting its flag early not just launching a show, but signalling a larger play for cinematic universes that live, grow and evolve across platforms. If this debut is any indication, the future of Indian storytelling may be as much about imagination as it is about innovation.
