Kids
Kids channels boost UTV’s dubbing business
MUMBAI: With kids channels crowding the Indian market and localising their content, Mumbai-based production house UTV’s dubbing business unit has many takers. The prominent broadcasting clients UTV has roped in include Walt Disney, Nickelodeon, National Geographic Channel (NGC) and The History Channel.
“The segment is very competitive. UTV is the only corporate player in this highly fragmented market,” says UTV director operations and finance Ronald D’Mello, adding “UTV has done 461 hours of dubbing in the quarter ended December 2004.”
UTV is offering dubbing services to the Walt Disney channels in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu for serials and feature films including Jungle Book. The company has signed a two-year agreement with Disney Character Voices International Inc, which came into force from 1 March 2004.
The company has also a contract running with Nickelodeon. UTV is already providing dubbing solutions to Nick in Hindi for three programmes. The consideration payable by Nickelodeon for a total of 69 episodes is $34,500. As per the agreement, all programmes and copyrights provided to shall remain the property of Nickelodeon.
UTV is the exclusive dubbing partner for NGC and History Channel, says D’Mello. “Both these channels are serviced out of Delhi,” he adds.
According to the agreement with NGC Networks Asia, UTV’s services include translation and transcription of the original English language scripts into Hindi and Tamil for both dialogues and lyrics and also for dubbing.
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.
