MUMBAI: Mumbai is about to witness a thrilling cinematic investigation as Detective Dotson: The Movie, the animated companion to the highly anticipated cosy mystery game Detective Dotson makes its grand premiere at AniMela 2025. Marking a first-of-its-kind moment, the film will be the inaugural video game adaptation to be showcased at India’s International Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics & XR Festival.

The screening is set for March 8, 2025, at 6 pm at P.C. Saxena Lecture Theatre, IDC, IIT Mumbai campus. Following the premiere, Masala Games’ CEO and co-founder, Shalin Shodhan, will take centre stage for an exclusive Q&A session, offering insights into the game’s world and its transition into film.

Crafted in Unreal Engine 5, Detective Dotson: The Movie takes audiences deep into the gripping tale of Dotson, an amateur detective grappling with personal loss while uncovering a sinister corporate conspiracy, a mysterious assassin, and a hidden family truth. As chaos unfolds amidst a high-stakes cricket match, Dotson must piece together clues before catastrophe strikes.

Bringing a fresh visual identity, the film blends stylised 2D-meets-3D animation, mirroring the game’s modern Indian aesthetic. The experience is further enriched by an evocative original soundtrack created in collaboration with Nikhil Rao of Indian Ocean, pioneers of Indian rock.

“This film offers an in-depth look into Detective Dotson’s world, setting the stage for the game’s official launch on April 3,” said Shodhan. “AniMela is the perfect platform to debut this project, celebrating the confluence of gaming and cinema.”

AniMela’s artistic director, Anne Doshi stated, “We are thrilled to feature Detective Dotson: The Movie as the first-ever game-to-movie adaptation at the festival. It exemplifies the kind of passion projects that showcase India’s growing influence in the gaming and animation industry.”

The film serves as a prequel to Detective Dotson, the mystery-adventure game that picks up where the movie leaves off. Set in a vividly realised contemporary India, the game puts players in the role of Dotson, challenging them to solve puzzles, crack cases, and uncover the hidden truths lurking beneath the surface.

As AniMela 2025 returns to Mumbai for its second year from 7-9 March at IDC, IIT Bombay, Detective Dotson: The Movie promises to be a standout feature, merging gripping storytelling with cutting-edge animation and gaming. Whether you're a film buff, a gaming enthusiast, or a mystery lover, Dotson’s world is one you won’t want to miss.