MUMBAI: Turner International India Pvt. Ltd and Sesame Workshop will launch Galli Galli Sim Sim – the Indian version of Sesame Street – on 15 August. The preschool educational series will premiere on Cartoon Network at 1 pm.

In the first season, the series comprising 65 episodes of 30 minutes each will be aired in Hindi, with usage of some English words.

Galli Galli Sim Sim will address topics such as early literacy, creative thinking and reasoning, family and community life, healthy habits, and appreciating cultural plurality.

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With the launch of Galli Galli Sim Sim, Turner aims to create a new dimension in the realm of young kids’ programming by introducing the concept of using mass media to promote joyful, fun-filled learning through the theory – “Seekhne ka Mastana Andaaz.”

Galli Galli Sim Sim aims to revolutionise kids’ programming in India with its well- researched content that will help in developing social, emotional and cognitive skills in children, and be the catalyst to encourage children to pursue educational goals.

Turner International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman Misra said, “Having shaped kids’ television in India, with the launch of the leading kids’ channel, Cartoon Network, and subsequently the successful launch of Pogo, we, once again, aim to set a new benchmark in the industry with Galli Galli Sim Sim. As the leading kids’ entertainment player, we have consciously decided to focus on educational development as we realise our social responsibility towards shaping the future of our next generations. The social and emotional development of children is largely influenced by television today, and there is no doubt, that this is the best medium to communicate effectively with children.”

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“Harnessing the power of television, we aim to make Galli Galli Sim Sim an integral part of the lives of young children in India. Our aim is to reach out to almost every home, extending the reach of the series through the electronic medium and other multi-media initiatives. We are making a bold run at engaging millions of young children and we are confident that this unique series will change the face of kids’ education in India,” he added.

Sesame Workshop executive vice president Daniel Victor said, “Sesame Workshop’s mission is to create innovative engaging content that maximises the educational power of media to help children reach their highest potential. We at Sesame Workshop are very excited about the launch of the Indian series. The series celebrates the vibrant cultural heritage of India with its uniquely adapted content, muppet characters, and a diverse human cast representing the commonalities and diversities of Indian society. We are optimistic that the Indian version of Sesame Street, Galli Galli Sim Sim will make a meaningful difference to the lives of children in the country.”

Miditech president Niret Alva added, “We are delighted to have partnered with Turner and Sesame Workshop in producing this path breaking series that aims to create a new genre in TV programming for kids in India. It has been a very exciting and enriching experience for all of us at Miditech to produce this series that celebrates the cultural diversity of India. We have ensured that the portrayal of each of the characters and muppets is unique and meaningful as it is designed to create a long lasting impact on the lives of children.”

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Galli Galli Sim Sim, set in an “Indian Galli,” represents the reality of daily life for the widest possible range of Indian children and families. The series is targeted towards children between the age group of two to six years, transcends socio-economic barriers and will feature animated segments and live-action films, with music, stories, and art drawn from various elements of Indian culture and regions of the country.

The Indian Muppet characters – Googly, Chamki, Aanchoo and Boombah have been specially created with Indian characteristics and elements. Along with them, a thought out human cast is also present.

Taking the cause of spreading education and empowering children beyond the realm of television, Turner along with Sesame Workshop plan to undertake on-ground initiatives to reinforce the educational messages of the series and extend the project’s reach and impact.

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In keeping with this, Turner today flagged off a “Galli Galli Sim Sim Literacy Yatra” to reach out to more and more children in India. This Yatra from New Delhi, recreating the magic of the show, will travel to various cities such as Lucknow, Bhopal and Mumbai, distributing educational material to children. The yatra will finally culminate in Mumbai on 8 September, coinciding with World Literacy Day. Additional plans to continue outreach activities will be coordinated by Sesame Workshop India, NGO.

Funding for the development phase of Galli Galli Sim Sim was provided through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ICICI Bank. Moving forward, the producers of the series will look to combine the strengths and resources of the public and private sectors for local development initiatives.

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