Kids
Nickelodeon’s anniversary party to blend with PROMAX&BDA opening
MUMBAI: Viacom’s kids’ entertainment brand Nickelodeon is all set to blow out the candles on its birthday cake. The channel is planning a grand 25th anniversary celebrations which will feature a cocktail reception on the opening night of PROMAX&BDA on 23 June at Rockefeller Center in New York.
“We are thrilled the folks at Nickelodeon have chosen the opening night of this year’s highly anticipated PROMAX&BDA to celebrate the network’s 25th birthday with many of the people who have watched Nick grow to be one of the most recognizable brands in entertainment,” PROMAX&BDA president Jim Chabin is quoted as saying.
As reported by Indiantelevision.com, Nickelodeon is currently undergoing ‘rejuvenation treatment’ in India. The channel, which has been struggling to make its presence felt in the last four years of its existence here, is now planning a huge marketing campaign, brand tie ups and a massive publicity drive as part of its resurrection plan. MTV Networks India managing director Alex Kuruvilla had hinted that Nick would be up and running by the end of 2004.
The channel is consciously undergoing a hipper image change, having dropped the ‘Nickelodeon’ nomenclature in favour of the crisper Nick in ads. 12 hours of Hindi have already been introduced, and if the initiative works, the channel could well add more hours to the desi lingo programming in the coming months, say sources.
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.
