Arjun Das Roars as Mufasa in Disney's Tamil Version
Chennai: It’s time to delve into the legacy of the ultimate king of the jungle, Mufasa: The Lion King, now brought to life in Tamil with some of the most popular voices of the Tamil industry! Following the blockbuster success of 2019’s live-action ‘The Lion King’, the visually stunning live-action Mufasa: The Lion King has a special treat in store for fans as the Tamil dubbed version presents Arjun Das as Mufasa, Ashok Selvan as Taka, the beloved duo of Robo Shankar and Singam Puli reunite as Pumbaa and Timon respectively, VTV Ganesh as young Rafiki and industry veteran M. Nasser joining the team as Kiros.
Speaking on voicing for one of the most loved characters of cinema, Arjun Das shares, “Being part of Mufasa: The Lion King is a dream come true, and it’s an honour to voice such an iconic character that holds a special place in all our childhood memories. As a little kid, I remember watching The Lion King, never imagining that years later I would be the voice of Mufasa in Tamil. I’ve always wanted to learn more about how Mufasa became one of the greatest kings in cinematic history. Bringing Mufasa to life for Tamil audiences and being a part of Disney’s unparalleled storytelling has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”
Ashok Selvan speaks on voicing Taka, “Generations across the world have grown up watching The Lion King, and I too have fond memories of this fantastic story, the iconic songs, comical adventures and enjoying it with my friends and family. To bring Taka to life for Tamil audiences in Mufasa: The Lion King, was an experience I will never forget! This is a visual spectacle for families to come together and enjoy on the big screen.”
Robo Shankar speaks on bringing Pumbaa back to life again, " once again it has been fantastic to be part of this iconic franchise and give my personal touch as the Tamil voice of Pumbaa for Mufasa: The Lion King. Pumbaa is full of life and raises the spirit of those around him with his one-liners and hilarious moments, and voicing for Pumbaa made me relive all the fond memories of 2019, I hope audiences enjoy Pumbaa’s new comedy on the big screen on 20th December.”
Back to voice the beloved Timon after the smashing success of the 2019 film, Singam Puli says, "It is a very happy moment for me to be back as Timon and be a part of such an iconic film that will bring families together to the theatre. My 2019 experience was extremely memorable, and it was great to relive those moments and bring new touches to Timon’s character this time for Mufasa: The Lion King. What I really like about Timon is that he knows how to be happy in any situation and shares his positivity with everyone, audiences will have a great time watching Timon’s antics onscreen once again!”
Known for his award-winning comic timing, veteran VTV Ganesh speaks on essaying young Rafiki, "It has been a great experience to be a part of this blockbuster franchise and I enjoyed giving my personal touch to the Tamil voice of Rafiki. Family audiences are in for a treat when Mufasa: The Lion King releases on 20th December!"
Industry veteran M. Nasser joins the dynamic team as the voice of Kiros, “I absolutely enjoyed voicing for this very dynamic character, and it has been great to be part of Disney’s stellar legacy and this much-loved franchise. While voicing, the challenge is always to be able to stay true to the story but also connect in our local language. With this character, I felt empowered to do so and I hope this new avatar of mine is appreciated by my fans.”
Bringing new and fan-favourite characters to life and blending live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, “Mufasa: The Lion King” is directed by Barry Jenkins. “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, introducing an orphaned cub called Mufasa, a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline—and their expansive journey alongside an extraordinary group of misfits.
Director - Barry Jenkins; Original songs by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
English Voices:
Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Taka), Tiffany Boone (Sarabi), Kagiso Lediga (Young Rafiki), Preston Nyman (Zazu), Mads Mikkelsen (Kiros), Thandiwe Newton (Eshe), Lennie James (Obasi), Anika Noni Rose (Afia), Keith David (Masego), John Kani (Rafiki), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), Donald Glover (Simba), Blue Ivy Carter (Kiara), Braelyn Rankins (Young Mufasa), Theo Somolu (Young Taka), Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (Nala).
Mufasa: The Lion King will be in Indian theatres on December 20, 2024, in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.