Hindi
‘The Lunch Box’ set to release this week after winning international acclaim
MUMBAI: Before the third installment of the Hrithik Roshan-starrer Krrish hits theatres this November, another superhero by the same name, albeit in a kid avatar, is set to storm the home box office.
Come 2 October, the first of a four-part animation series titled Kid Krrish – a joint venture between Rakesh Roshan’s production house Film Kraft, Turner, and Toonz Animation – will premiere exclusively on Cartoon Network at 12.00 pm (CN Popcorn hour).
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Krrish is a family film, whereas Kid Krrish is only targeted at children; so we are clear about our target group expounds Rakesh Roshan |
The animation telly-film will see superhero Krrish’s (kid) namesake fighting an evil scientist and keeping him from getting his hands on a precious artifact that he is eyeing. According to the makers, Kid Krrish is about Krishna’s journey of self discovery, and will surely resonate with children of all ages. Add to that, the film will have Jadoo, the lovable alien from the Krrish franchise, who helps Kid Krrish realise his true powers.
The announcement was made in the presence of Film Kraft Productions’ director Rakesh and his superstar son Hrithik Roshan, while there was no representation for Toonz at the event.
About Kid Krrish, Rakesh said: “It is for the first time that a Bollywood character is set to get an animated version. The character of Krrish has been idolised by every child in India and has become an iconic super hero. Krrish is a family film, whereas Kid Krrish is only targeted at children. So we are clear about our target group. Toonz Animation has done a great job and if the movie does well, we will continue making it for years to come.”
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Kid Krrish will premiere on Cartoon Network on 2 October at 12 pm |
About the partnership, Turner International India Sr. director and network head – kids, south Asia Krishna Desai said: “Turner has been a pioneer in terms of content and we believe that with Cartoon Network and Pogo, we have always provided a full consumer experience and will continue to strive for that. The coming together of three legendary companies in the form of Film Kraft, Toonz Animation and Turner will certainly be a mutually beneficial endeavour.”
What really led to this collaboration? “We were approached by Film Kraft to make a live animation movie on Krrish. We took things forward but tried to reason that if we were trying to connect with children, then we would have to portray Krrish as a kid. So that’s how the idea of Kid Krrish came about,” said Desai.
So what did Hrithik think of Kid Krrish? “See, before you ask me what are my expectations from the film, I have already got the best compliment from my two sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan… They are completely in love with Kid Krrish,” said the actor.
Asked about similarities about the two superheroes, he said: “See, I don’t know about similarities, but Kid Krrish is certainly better than Krrish (jokes). Well, both stand for the same thing, both have a child alive inside them, both have their share of struggles, and both fend off evil.”
Taking a moment to relive some of his childhood memories, Hrithik said: “Animation has been a big influence in my formative years. I still remember watching Popeye but I never used to love spinach. Though later, I got to know its importance and now, I basically survive on it. I also loved Tom & Jerry and the Justice League.”
Coming back to the children’s superhero franchise, the first film will air on CN on 2 October followed by three more films in the coming six months to one year. All four films will be exclusively premiered on Cartoon Network. While the second film is already in production, the third and fourth films are at different stages, and will get into production in the coming months.
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Krishna Desai believes the coming together of three legendary companies in the form of Film Kraft, Toonz Animation and Turner will certainly be a mutually beneficial endevour |
The music of Kid Krrish has been scored by Aditya Sorab and the lyrics have been penned by Kausar Munir. Apparently, the title song is extremely catchy and will strike a chord with children thanks to its simple lyrics and soulful rendition.
Was there any reason for selecting 2 October as the date for the premiere? Said Desai: “Since it’s a national holiday, we are sure that everyone will be able to enjoy the movie. Also, as for the 12:00 pm telecast time, well that is the prime time for Cartoon Network.”
Elaborating on the promotional plans, Desai said: “Well, 95 per cent of the promotional activity will be carried out by Cartoon Network itself. We will do our bit to promote it digitally and also push it through OOH presence.”
But isn’t it a fact that creating an original animation in India would do better with our audiences? “See, what I believe is the fact that be it any language, content is what matters in the end. So whether it’s Kris in Roll No 21 speaking in Hindi or Ben 10 talking in Hindi, what eventually strikes a chord with children is – if they can relate with the characters on the show, the show will be a success, no matter which language it is in,” Desai shot back.
Would Turner be venturing into more animation films after Kid Krrish? “It completely depends on the idea and the script, because making a live action animation is a tough task, but if something interesting and worthwhile comes along, we will definitely consider it,” Desai concluded.
Hindi
Government backs film production through DCDFC, co-production push
Scheme funds cinema, WAVES 2025 boosts global ties and industry growth.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… policy action. As India’s screens glow brighter at home and abroad, the government is quietly scripting a bigger role behind the scenes funding films, fuelling collaborations and nudging the country closer to its “create for the world” ambition. At the centre of this effort is the Development, Communication & Dissemination of Filmic Content (DCDFC) scheme, a 100 per cent centrally funded initiative designed to support film production across the country. Through this scheme, the government provides direct financial backing to projects, aiming to strengthen both mainstream and alternative storytelling ecosystems while encouraging cinematic excellence.
The implementation runs through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), which plays a key role in facilitating film production, including regional cinema and documentaries. Beyond the screen, the scheme also feeds into the broader economy creating jobs for local technicians, artists and service providers, and strengthening grassroots production networks across states.
The push, however, is not limited to funding alone. India’s ambition to position itself as a global content powerhouse was on display at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 held in Mumbai, which brought together creators, producers, startups and global stakeholders from over 100 countries. The summit acted as a convergence point for Indian storytelling and international capital, with OTT platforms, investors and technology leaders exploring partnerships in a rapidly evolving content economy.
Complementing this is the government’s focus on audio-visual co-production agreements, which effectively operate on a public-private partnership model. By enabling Indian and international producers to collaborate, these agreements are designed to bring in investment, global expertise and advanced filmmaking practices while also giving Indian stories a wider global footprint.
Support also extends to film culture and preservation. Grants are provided for domestic film festivals recommended by state governments, alongside curated film packages, masterclasses and workshops to nurture talent and audience engagement. The NFDC further collaborates with State Film Development Corporations, offering technical expertise across the filmmaking value chain and supporting the preservation of local film heritage.
Many states, in parallel, are encouraging the development of film infrastructure including production studios often through public-private partnership models, signalling a coordinated push to build a more robust audiovisual ecosystem.
The update was shared in Parliament by Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a query from Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan, outlining a multi-layered approach that blends funding, infrastructure, policy and global outreach.
Taken together, the message is clear: India is not just telling more stories, it is building the machinery to tell them bigger, better and to the world.
