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Hallmarks ‘Sesame Street’ introduces HIV- Positive muppet to spread AIDS awareness
MUMBAI: Hallmark has announced that its kids show Sesame Street will introduce a HIVpositive Muppet. The as yet unnamed character will appear next month on Takalani Sesame which is the version of the kids’ show that airs in AIDS-ravaged South Africa. The newest Sesame Street Muppet will be brought to viewers by the letters H, I and V.
An official release informs that in South Africa an estimated one in nine people are infected with HIV. Sesame Street producer Joel Schneider announced the introduction of the HIV-positive Muppet, who does not yet have a name or a final design at this week’s 14th lnternational AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain.
He said, “There is no systemic education for children about the HIV virus and AIDS. They often receive a lot of misinformation. We know in South Africa, as well as in other places, the virus is a huge issue.” Some of those countries (among the 70 in which Sesame airs) where the new Muppet might also appear may include Russia and Mexico. It has not been clarified as to whether the character would also join Bert and Ernie in the American Sesame Street. The story about how the character contracted HIV is still under discussion, but it’s likely to involve a story line about a blood transfusion or transmission through childbirth.
Talking about the character of the muppet Schneider said: “We know that she’ll be lively, alert, friendly, outgoing and HIV positive. She’ll be healthy, not sickly. The aim is to help ‘destigmatise’ the virus among viewers of the programme, We want to show children that it’s okay to touch an HIV-positive person, okay to hug, that a person can still be a constructive part of the community.”
Sesame Street airs weekdays at 7 am and in the evening at 4 pm on the Hallmark Channel Kids Block.
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
