Vidya Balan to Lend Voice For India’s First Female Super Hero
India’s first female super hero – Priya – is back. In the latest adventure – fourth in the series that was launched in 2014 – Priya is fighting the biggest issues facing the world today: the Coronavirus pandemic. Aptly named Priya’s Mask, referring to the ultimate protection against the deadly virus, the comic book will be released as a virtual comic book, making the best out of augmented reality (AR) as has been done in the earlier editions of the comic series. Interestingly, this time it will also be voiced by four iconic women: Bollywood actor Vidya Balan, Indian television actor Mrunal Thakur, Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rosanna Arquette, and child actor Sairah Kabir.
Reportedly, Mrunal will be Priya’s voice, and Vidya Balan will be the voice of Priya’s tiger – Sahas. The story is set in Jodhpur, in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The comic book series, launched six years ago, has won global media attention for its effective and unique portrayal of women’s issues, and spreading awareness. The brainchild of US-based filmmaker and publisher Ram Devineni, it has dealt with many prominent women’s issues in a sensitive manner.
Gender-based violence was the theme in the first comic book Priya’s Shakti while the second comic book Priya’s Mirror focussed on acid attacks. The theme of the third book, Priya and the Lost Girls, was human trafficking.
Priya’s Shakti was funded by the Tribeca Film Institute, Ms. Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. The comic book was launched at the Mumbai Comic and Film Convention in December 2014. The second book, Priya’s Mirror, became the first comic book to be funded by the World Bank. It premiered with an AR exhibition at the Lincoln Center during the New York Film Festival in October 2016. Priya has been named a ‘Gender Equality champion’ by the United Nations.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.
Also Read: India’s First Female Superhero – Priya, a Survivor of Gangrape
