Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 6, 2017)

The trailer of Anurag Basu’s upcoming fantasy-drama, Jagga Jasoos, caught the attention of cinephiles for multiple reasons. To begin with, it’s unique and refreshingly colourful, and shows the lead pair in avatars that they’ve never sported before. But, the trailer attracted the interest of an Indian blogger for the incontestable similarities with The Adventures Of Tintin.

“When I was a child, I had stacks of Tintin’s comics in my room,” Basu tells mid-day, when we ask him if he did turn to the comic character for inspiration. He says he intends to pay homage to every piece of art that has influenced his work, with the Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif- starrer. “I used to love adventure stories when I was a kid. The setting and details of such stories often stay at the back of your mind, and resurface when you are creating something of your own. Jagga Jasoos is my childhood playing on screen.”

The blogger cites that Kapoor’s character, his hairdo in particular, is certainly inspired by the cartoon. “I am aware that the hairdo is the most obvious point of discussion,” Basu says, adding, “I wanted to give Ranbir a unique hairdo. This look wasn’t my first choice. When we started trying out different looks, there was one we liked, but it did not make him look very child-like, which was an essential. No other look, apart from this one, matched our narrative. It’s a coincidence that it is the same as that of Tintin,” he says, quick to add that his film is more likely to remind one of The Lion King than Tintin.

Even as the industry applauded the director’s previous release, Barfi! (2012), his daughter wasn’t in awe of the Kapoor-starrer. With Jagga Jasoos, he wanted to be certain that he was creating a film that would appeal to children. “During my children’s vacation, I am compelled to show them Hollywood films that cater to children, because Bollywood doesn’t produce sufficient films for them. So, I wanted to make a film that children can enjoy, one that the entire family can watch and enjoy together."