Animated Cockroach Returns to a Hero's Welcome
When Cocky, the animated cockroach created by Mumbai-based animator, Praful Manekar for the Oscar-award winning animated flick A Bug's Tale, emerged from the airport on Thursday morning, he was a picture of elegance waving his antennas gracefully like departed Princess Diana, to the large crowds gathered outside the Mumbai Airport awaiting his arrival. Perched comfortably inside the mobile phone of his creator, Praful, the animated cockroach who was awarded the trophy for 'The Best Animated Creation' enjoyed every minute of attention he was getting from the large gathering of journalists, cameramen, well-wishers and thousands of onlookers.
Cocky, the digital roach had beat Cribid, the animated frog from the movie 'Muppet Show', Floor-F, the animated robot from 'Floor-F' and Teetrex, the digital dragon from 'Dragon Attack' to emerge as the winner of the best developed animated character of the year.
Police protection, airport security, jostling crowds, popping flashbulbs, cheering fans...the star roach who brought glory for India at the Oscars had arrived. As Cocky emerged along with Praful Manekar, garlands, banners, posters and cut outs were waved and the repeated chant of 'Hsss Ho!' (the award winning song picturized on Cocky) filled the air. As soon as the duo emerged in the arrival area, a mad scramble broke out at the airport, sending both city cops as well as the airport police into a tizzy. Chaos reigned as everyone rushed towards Cocky to catch a glimpse of the animated Indian hero. Cocky and his creator Praful were immediately escorted out under tight police security.
A cleaner at the airport, wonder struck at the mass hysteria generated by the roach said, “I have been working at the airport for so many years and have seen many celebrities come and go. Even Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan don’t get such a grand reception.’’
Almost two hours before his flight landed, about 150 members of the animators team along with their animated creations arrived at the airport with banners and cutouts of Cocky & Praful. “We are going to take our pet digital cockroach in a special car. He has made us proud. Our entire team will escort him home,’’ said Dinesh Trivedi, general secretary of Federation of All India Animators and their Animations (AIAAA).
The Oscar-winning cockroach spoke to the media for a short while at the airport. “I am really touched by this great welcome I have received. This award is for every Indian cockroach, for every Indian digital creation, for every Indian animator and.....(pause)..and...for every INDIAN.’’ Praful Manekar echoed the sentiment, saying, “I’m very happy that along with our countrymen, those at the Oscars have also recognised our talent in creating cute animated creatures.’’
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I’d win an Oscar award,” said Cocky to the media men.
During the award ceremony, Cocky had touched the hearts of millions of Indians by dedicating the award to India. While collecting the award, a beaming and emotional Cocky had said "This is not just an award for a digital creation, but a piece of history that has been handed over to me. I come from a country where you find cockroaches everywhere, even in the most unlikeliest of places like hotel rooms of English cricketers. Our presence is tolerated and endured by billions of Indians, even those who suffer from acute cockroach phobia. Its appropriate that the first animated cockroach to have been awarded an Oscar should have been developed by Indian animators. So I dedicate this award to my country."
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