Sindhuja Rajamaran the youngest CEO and 2D Animator of India

At a time, when most children of her age are competing to get high marks in school examinations, miles away from deciding what they want to be, Sindhuja Rajaraman already has a resume that will make top achievers go green. India’s youngest 2D animator, youngest digital caricaturist as certified by Corel Corporation, fastest 2D animator as certified by Nasscom Animation and Gaming Conclave, 2010 and one of the youngest CEOs with Seppan, she is all of 13 years old and had incredibly started out with animation only a couple of years ago.

CG Today : We are almost awed by your achievements. Please accept our warm welcome.

Sindhuja : Thank you.

CG Today : Your dad, Mr. Rajamaran is credited to be the first digital caricaturist. How big an influence is he in your life in and out of animation? When you submitted your first 2D project, was it your own choice or at his encouragement?

Sindhuja : My father’s paintings are my real inspiration, I born among them and started observing his work since my early childhood days. I started learning and practicing by observing his works, on seeing my interest towards painting my father started teaching me while the same time he worked on his animations. I slowly grabbed the techniques of animation through him. Even though the process of 2D animation is tedious I was very attracted on the output. That’s the way it started. In case of my first 2D animation project, I had a tremendous help from my family. My sister gave voice, my father worked on character designs and my mother helped a part in tracing while I did the major tracing and animation. It was late mid night before the submission day when my father helped me in video output. But the second project was totally different!

CG Today : Tell us more about your 10 hour effort on October 10, 2010, for Exnora’s Lights Out Campaign. How did you get the idea of one eyed Litti? You seemed to have prepared intensely for this effort. How did it go eventually?

Sindhuja : It was my school principal who initiated me to participate on the campaign conducted by ExNora and the Velammal International School on Global Warming. It was a Guinness Record attempt of making a 2D animation short film by one person in ten hours. It was scheduled on 10^th October 2010 requiring me to work 10 continuous hours on a single stretch, starting from morning 10:00 A.M till evening 08:00 P.M. I realized the challenge and decided to go full-fledged on it.

I had two months to get prepared and I used to practice eight hours a day. One eyed Litti is an imaginary character which roles in my dream, I had a strong belief in this character and chose it to convey the message. On this project I practiced myself, counted and divided the shots and timing. It was a great gathering with Chief Guests and reporters to witness the event. My father was of great support on location, there was no break in between and I survived on liquids. All went well and I managed to complete the film within 08:30 hours. Most enticing moments I had on this project; my second one.

CG Today : You did a 2D project on Tuberculosis in your 8th Standard and then you worked for creating awareness on global warming this year. We see many elders and top political leaders unresponsive to global warming and conservation of nature. What helped you understand the importance of these campaigns so early?

Sindhuja : In 2004 Tsunami attacked Chennai taking thousands of lives had made a great impact on me… a Global warming… In case of a film in T.B, I had a valuable input from by father who worked for about 21 years as a health inspector. The information’s and incidents happened around me made me to think on creating awareness campaigns and I started using animation as a medium to express it.

CG Today : At a time, when a lot of kids are trying to find out who their idol is, you are already a source of inspiration for many kids and adults. Does this help you to do better or does this add to pressure? Are you comfortable with so many people following your efforts now?

Sindhuja : I just enjoy my work and I don't think it is a pressure.

CG Today : It is incredible to have such a young CEO. Currently you seem to be working on proposals for commercials for Pothys and Joyalukkas. Do you find yourself looking at things differently compared to others around you, being so young? Do you have a work philosophy of your own that you try to follow?

Sindhuja : Currently I am still a father’s girl; I am not forced to work on anything. I just love and I feel fun while working for commercials. I don’t feel strange though my team members are of 18 – 25 of age group. I got the opportunity and I took it as a challenge. I don’t have any philosophy as yet, I just take it as it goes.

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