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Mahratta Chamber puts together task force of pros, training institutes, celebs; Amol Palekar appointed brand ambassador

Pune, May 10: AN initiative that will see Pune being catapulted into the animation and gaming hub, is being launched. The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) has formed an action group of professionals, training institutes and celebrities for this initiative, of which Amol Palekar will be brand ambassador.

An ecosystem for this is already evolving in Pune with the best animation and gaming schools from across the globe setting up schools to train manpower for the industry. Dozens of design studios are already flourishing in the city with companies setting up operations here. Nvidia Graphics has set up its operations and is rapidly expanding. Jump Games has set shop to develop mobile gaming. Verisoft is into testing gaming software and has 50 people dedicated to testing the latest gaming software. Auryn Animation Studios, involved with films such as Titanic, Shark Tales, Stuart Little and Spiderman, has set up its India operations. Two more are set to launch operations in the city.

“The goal is to attract top global players to Pune,” said commodore Anand Khandekar (retd), chairman, animation and gaming committee of the MCCIA and director/chief mentor, Nvidia Graphics Pvt Ltd said. “A roadmap will be prepared and the group will push for a policy with the Government of Maharashtra to develop the industry.”

Dr Ashok Kolaskar, MD of DSK School of Gaming and Animation, said there was scope to go beyond entertainment.

“Import teaching aids is expensive, so it is best we do it on our own,” Kolaskar said. Gireendra Kasmalkar, founder and CEO of Verisoft, said the industry was waking up to possibilities of outsourcing and offshoring.

Samir Bose of Auryn India, however, said a lot of donkey’s work was being done in India and it was high time creative work came out of India, which his company was focussing on. Jaya Panwalkar, director, Nvidia India, said the cost of animation was no longer a stumbling block as a graphics card ranging from $ 200-2,000 was available depending on the need.

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