New Delhi: Time was when films were released without much fanfare and the audience trooped into cinema houses for an enjoyable evening.
This was in an era prior to the multi-media revolution. Now, to grab the attention of the viewers, several stratagems have to be used, the latest in the form of a comic book series and graphic novel featuring none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Don: The Origin.
Khan himself flew down to launch the books over two days in separate venues, at the Director’s Cut, PVR, Ambience Mall at Vasant Kunj on December 19 and at the Airport Line in New Delhi metro station the next day.
Apart from Khan, the ‘Jungli Billi’ of the movie Priyanka Chopra, Director Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Kunal Kapoor were present at the launch.
The comic series have been brought out by Om Books International in association with Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. The comics are available in both English and Hindi. Illustrations and the action sequences are life-like to lure in children.
The book, according to Farhan Akhtar, “is a childhood dream come true”. It explains how the Don came into being and concludes with him being in Paris which incidentally is the first scene in the movie.
Shah Rukh, Priyanka and Farhan read out their favourite dialogues from the movie during the launch at the mall while the crowd at the launch the next day featured a short dance by Shahrukh and Priyanka.
Ajay Mago, publisher, Om Books International said, “comics and graphic novels with well-written and brilliantly illustrated stories, themes, genres and engaging visuals reach out to a lot of readers across all ages. The Don comics and graphic novel will have multi-city launches with a nationwide marketing campaign and a well-planned media blitz, and are sure to keep the readers on the edge”. (UNI)