Kids
‘Sesame Street’ to be’Gali Gali Simsim;’ launch in mid-2006 on Cartoon Network
MUMBAI: Sesame Street, in its Indian avtaar, is going to be called Gali Gali Simsim and will be launched on Cartoon Network and Pogo possibly towards mid-2006.
While no officials from either Turner or Miditech were willing to talk on the name of the local version of Sesame Street, reliable industry sources confirmed this.
As already reported, Miditech has been roped in as the production house and is in the process of developing the local version of the immensely popular Sesame Street.
An educational research team, which is headed by Dr Asha Singh as research head of Gali Gali Simsim, is in the process of developing an innovative curriculum keeping the Indian kids in mind.
When contacted, Miditech president Niret Alva mentioned that work on new animation characters, puppets and the curriculum was vigorously underway.
When asked as to what Miditech’s vision was as far as the show was concerned, Alva said, “Our vision for the local version of Sesame Street is to build bridges – rural and urban, which means to make rural look cool and exciting to urban kids and vice versa. That is really the challenge of the show.”
“There are a lot of components in the show like animation and live action, all of which have an educational goal but it is not obvious,” said Alva.
Launched in 1968, Sesame Street has been localised in close to 25 – 28 countries – some of them being China (Zhima Jie), Egypt (Alam Simsim), Germany (Sesamstrasse), Israel (Sippuray Sumsum), Jordan (Hikayat Simsim), Mexico (Plaza Sésamo), the Netherlands (Sesamstraat), Palestine (Hikayat Simsim), Russia (Ulitsa Sezam) and South Africa (Takalani Sesame).
Sesame Workshop is also in talks with local production houses and channels in Japan and Bangladesh to create a local version of Sesame Street there.
Kids
Sony YAY! launches ‘House of Masti’ to celebrate 20 years of Shin chan
Comedian Kiku Sharda joins the fun with a special rap track as the mischievous icon returns to Indian TV.
MUMBAI: Shin chan is back and this time, he’s bringing the whole house of masti with him! Sony YAY!, India’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, has unveiled ‘House of Masti’, a specially curated programming block to mark 20 years of the iconic animated series Shin chan on Indian television. The campaign transforms the beloved character’s mischievous world into a fresh, high-energy viewing experience. It features new episodes, fan-favourite moments, and themed programming stunts, all designed to stand out from regular broadcasts.
Adding extra sparkle to the celebration, popular comedian Kiku Sharda has joined the campaign. He anchors the integration with a lively rap track titled ‘Shin chan ka YAY! Dhamaal’, infusing contemporary music and humour into the beloved series.
Sony YAY! business head of kids and animation Ambesh Tiwari said, “Over the past 20 years, Shin chan has built a strong and enduring connection with audiences in India. With ‘House of Masti’, we are celebrating this milestone through a differentiated, campaign-led experience. Kiku Sharda and the rap track add a fun, high-energy layer that will resonate with today’s kids and families.”
Starting 27 April, viewers can enjoy the World Television Premiere of Shin chan along with new episodes and an exciting lineup of blockbuster movies on Sony YAY!.
By blending nostalgia with fresh, engaging content, Sony YAY! is ensuring that the cheeky, laughter-filled adventures of Shin chan continue to entertain and connect with new generations across the country.
In a world full of serious cartoons, Shin chan remains delightfully naughty and with ‘House of Masti’, Sony YAY! is making sure his brand of chaos stays as fresh and fun as ever. Get ready for some serious masti!
