Kids
Disney Junior’s animated series ‘Mira, Royal Detective’ to premiere in U.S and India on 20 March
MUMBAI: Disney Junior's animated series Mira, Royal Detective will premiere in the U.S. on 20 March (11:00 a.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Channel and 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT on Disney Junior). Disney Channel India will also be premiering a sneak-peek that same day, followed by the series premiere on Sunday, March 22. Set in the magical Indian-inspired land of Jalpur, the series introduces a brave and resourceful girl named Mira, a commoner who is appointed to the role of royal detective by the queen. Following its premiere in the U.S. and India, the series will roll out worldwide in an estimated 160 countries on Disney Channel and Disney Junior platforms globally.
"Mira, Royal Detective," which has already been ordered for a second season, stars Freida Pinto, Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Hannah Simone, Jameela Jamil, Aparna Nancherla, Aasif Mandvi, Karan Soni, Maulik Pancholy, Sarayu Blue and Sarita Choudhury. Newcomer Leela Ladnier stars as the voice of Mira, alongside additional cast members Roshni Edwards, Kamran Lucas, Karan Brar, Parvesh Cheena and Sonal Shah.
Joining the previously announced cast in recurring and guest star roles are Kunal Nayyar ("The Big Bang Theory"), Danny Pudi (Disney's "DuckTales"), Iqbal Theba ("Glee"), Sunita Mani ("GLOW"), Karen David ("Fear the Walking Dead"), Rizwan Manji ("Perfect Harmony"), Hari Kondabolu ("Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell"), Nardeep Khurmi ("Jane the Virgin"), Aarti Sequeira ("The Next Food Network Star"), Avantika Vandanapu (Disney+ Original Series "Diary of a Future President"), Julian Zane (Disney's "Doc McStuffins"), Brian George ("The Big Bang Theory"), Sakina Jaffrey ("House of Cards") and Madhur Jaffrey ("I Feel Bad").
Created for kids age 2-7 and their families, "Mira, Royal Detective" centers on Mira, who, along with her friend Prince Neel, creative cousin Priya, and comical mongoose sidekicks Mikku and Chikku, set out on mystery-solving adventures that highlight critical thinking and encourage deductive reasoning for young viewers. Each episode is comprised of two 11-minute stories that celebrate the cultures and customs of India by incorporating authentic food, fashion, language and art. Reflecting their importance in Indian culture, music and dance play an integral role in "Mira, Royal Detective," with each episode featuring at least one original song and dance number that showcases the diversity of the culture.
A music video featuring a mash-up of the series' main title song and Mira's song, "We're on the Case," will debut Friday, Feb. 21, on DisneyMusicVevo and in the DisneyNOW app. In conjunction with the series premiere on Friday, March 20, Walt Disney Records will release a digital soundtrack with 20 songs from the series, and the DisneyNOW app will debut a hidden object game in which players are invited to help Mira solve mysteries by following a trail of clues in an immersive 3D environment. Additional extensions for the series will continue to roll out later this year.
In advance of the series premiere, Disney Parks, Experiences & Products will debut a product line by Just Play at the 2020 American International Toy Fair. Featuring dolls, role-play products, figures, playset and more, the line is set to release Fall 2020.
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.
