Animation venture "Hanuman" has completed 50 days and still ranks high on viewers' priority list.

The reason behind its success is the children who have watched and enjoyed the movie in large groups.

Directed by V.G. Samant, the film made in India and animated by Indian artists with an Indian superhero Hanuman as its protagonist, still has the cash counters ringing.

In spite of past efforts to promote animation feature films in the Indian mainstream, "Hanuman" is the first such venture to record a business of over Rs.120 million ($2.6 million) in its first 50 days in the country.

"Hanuman" is Sahara One Motion Picture and Percept Picture Company's first animation project.

Shantonu Aditya, CEO Sahara One Motion Pictures, said: "The drivers to the film have been kids. There have been instances of parents calling up and asking to hold 50 seats so as to celebrate their children's birthdays and so on.

"People are coming to see this because it is Hanuman and kids relate best to animation."

With films like "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" in competition, "Hanuman" has managed its place at the box office while "Harry Potter" has fallen flat.

The film's average occupancy of about 65 percent at the city multiplexes around the country in the fourth week has been a revelation compared to "Harry Potter IV", whose collections dropped by 50 percent after the first week, even as it smashed screen records in the US.

With Sahara releasing only 150 prints across the country in the first 50 days, the film has generated encouraging response to Indian animation feature filmS.

Sandeep Bhargava, COO Sahara One Motion Pictures, said: "The response to 'Hanuman' is fabulous and is becoming stronger every passing day. It started with first week collections averaging around 85 percent and has picked up drastically.

"At the end of the day it is very satisfying to see an investment like this succeed and we will surely consider other animation films because of this success."