I was taken aback by the popularity of Kung Fu Panda in India

Filmmaker Mark Osborne’s directorial, Kung Fu Panda (2008), gave us one of the most recognised and loved animated characters — Po. The filmmaker was in India for a masterclass on animation at the ongoing 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. In an exclusive chat, he tells us that he is surprised by the popularity of Kung Fu Panda in India. In fact, when he visited a restaurant in Mumbai and saw Po’s pictures splashed across the kitchen, he was amazed. “I was taken aback by the popularity of Kung Fu Panda in India,” says Osborne, who is currently enjoying his third visit to the country.

The one praise Kung Fu Panda has always fetched is that the Chinese were impressed with the way their culture was depicted so well in an English film. “We had an international team while making the film. Everyone loves martial arts films. So, we wanted to make something that showed it significantly. I didn’t go to China until after the film was a hit. People there said, ‘You showed the world the real China’,” Osborne says.

He chose Kung Fu to represent China in his film. What would he choose if he were to ever make a film on India? “I don’t know what I would pick. I am so amazed being here, experiencing the culture first-hand. I feel I am just scratching the surface on it,” the filmmaker ends.