Kids
Smith, Solanki join Sesame Workshop
MUMBAI: Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organisation behind the television show Sesame Street has announced that Laura Smith and Palak Solanki have joined as VP of Formal Learning and VP of Business Planning and Analysis respectively.
Smith will report to executive VP of Education, Research and Outreach Dr. Lewis Bernstein, while Solanki will report to chief strategy and administrative officer Susan Kolar.
Smith will help the Workshop define and provide a transformative educational experience for pre-schoolers in formal classrooms and centers across America using Sesame Street‘s educational assets. His work will focus on how Sesame Street can best provide effective and delightful instructional materials for children, professional development for teachers, and new ways to engage parents and families to learn together at home.
The responsibilities include conducting research and analysis to inform strategic direction, coordinating a cross-functional project team to design and launch key programmes and securing internal and external support and investment from diverse audiences.
Solanki will be responsible for identifying and developing long term strategic business opportunities and evaluating potential acquisitions and other investments. In addition, she will be responsible for facilitating company-wide strategic planning activities and conducting business analysis for key initiatives and ventures.
Sesame Workshop president and CEO Gary E. Knell says, “We are thrilled to add Laura Smith and Palak Solanki to our team as part of our efforts to expand Sesame Workshop‘s educational reach by providing quality content for children in schools and communities. Laura and Palak will be shaping new paths for the Workshop in today‘s environment where the models for education and business are evolving with the success of digital technologies.”
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
