Kids
Virgin Comics launches series based on ‘Panchatantra’
MUMBAI: Virgin Comics announced today the launch of Panchatantra: The Tall Tales of Vishnu Sharma (Tall Tales), a new comic book series inspired by India‘s ancient Panchatantra fables.
“The young Indian creators behind this series stand at the forefront of redefining a new golden age in Indian storytelling and shifting the country from being an outsourcer to being the source,” said Virgin Animation and Virgin Comics co founder and CEO Sharad Devarajan.
In Virgin‘s new monthly magazine, a nefarious multinational conglomerate is deliberately silencing the mythologies of yesterday. In an effort to stop the erasing of old fables, the characters from the Panchatantra myths emerge from their story-world into modern India to recruit the living descendent of the man who originally created them, a teenage Mumbai native, named Vishnu Sharma. In young Vishnu, they find a teenager consumed with iPods, cell phones, video games and modern entertainment – not exactly the champion of ancient stories they were hoping for.
“Tall Tales, as much as anything we have created at Virgin Comics, speaks to the innovative emergence of our creators. This is a story that is directly relevant to them and the rapidly changing and globalising times in which they live, a true allegory for what old cultures are facing while mass media prospers,” commented Virgin Comics chief creative officer Gotham Chopra.
The comic book series is being written by leading Indian fantasy and comic book writer, Samit Basu and illustrated by Ashish Padlekar.
The series, which was launched today at comic book stores in North America is priced at $ 2.99, is also available online as a digital comic starting next week at www.virgincomics.com.
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.
