GECs
After the tiger for MAX, its ‘Chhota Birbal’ for 2NZ
MUMBAI: After the success of the tiger animation he did for the SET MAX for the ICC Champions Tournament, animator Kireet Khurana is ready with Chhota Birbal , an indigenously created and developed cartoon character.
2NZ ( Toons), Khurana’s animation company is currently working on an animated television series based on Chhota Birbal’s adventures, The Indian Express has reported.
Playing his cards rather tactfully, Khurana introduced a series of Chhota Birbal comics to familiarise the target audience with the character. However, overcome by the overwhelming response to the comic released every month; he is now set to launch its merchandise.
“City children read foreign comics and watch a lot of foreign cartoons. Through Chhota Birbal we want to make them appreciate our folk tales, our kind of humour and wisdom,” 2NZ Toons, chief executive officer, Khurana has been quoted as saying in the report.
The Chhota Birbal series is about child Akbar who bored with his palace goes out with his loyal retainer . He then meets the smart and witty Chhota Birbal and his friends who live a life full of fun and adventure . Akbar immediately befriends Birbal , and together they embark into a series of adventures .
Kireet the son of acclaimed animator, Bhimsain, has won many national and international awards for his animation work. Apart from a lot of advertising work, he has also directed and animated films for Unicef and National Film Board of Canada.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
