Kids
Pogo lines up rib-tickling fare this April
MUMBAI: Pogo has lined up a treat of hilarious programmes in its slot called Pogo Funny Side Up on Prime Pogo from 2 April.
The special line-up includes weekend side-splitters – Chuppa Rustam, new episodes of Takeshi’s Castle, Mr Bean, Just for Laughs Gags – and a slew of weekend movies.
The channel has also launched a ‘Spot the Bug’ contest wherein kids can win iPods and Pogo goodies every week.
“Pogo has always been at the forefront to ensure that kids have a good time, be it through exciting programming or innovative ground events. Pogo Funny Side Up will give kids the much needed wind-down after a month of examinations. What better way to greet the summer vacations than with a treat of humorous shows and movies that are sure to appeal to kids and their parents alike,” says Turner International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman Misra.
To kick off Pogo’s repertoire of weekday bone-ticklers, the popular candid comedy series will catch India off guard in Chuppa Rustam. Be it out on the streets, in shops, offices, restaurants or even at the doorsteps of homes, the world falls unaware for the most hilarious pranks on Chuppa Rustam every weekday at 7 pm.
Plus, Pogo presents a lethal combination of the wackiest game show on earth with the funniest guys in India. Brand new episodes of Takeshi’s Castle, voiced by stand-up comedians – Ehsaan Qureshi, Naveen Prabhakar, Raju Srivastav and Sunil Pal – of the Great Indian Laughter Challenge fame will be aired on weekdays at 7:30 pm.
Mr. Bean – the man with a child-like nature – will be aired Mondays through Fridays at 8 pm.
Some clever jokes, a hidden camera and a few unsuspecting victims make Just for Laughs Gags, which will be back with all-new episodes, every weekday at 8:30 pm.
The laughter marathon continues into the weekend with a two hour special of Takeshi’s Castle Jaaved Jaffery – Mini Marathon back to back from 7 to 9 pm every Saturday and Sunday.
Among the movies that are lined up are Dr. Dolittle (2 April), Wallace & Gromit (9 April), Getting Even With Dad (16 April), Baby’s Day Out (23 April) and Home Alone (30 April). These movies will be aired every Sunday at 2 pm on Lights, Camera, Pogo! Funny Side Up.
In the ‘Spot the Bug’ contest, kids can win exciting prizes like iPods and Pogo goodies every week while viewing side-splitters on Pogo Funny Side Up by instantly SMS-ing ‘Funny’ to 8558 upon spotting a bug on their television screen.
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.
