GECs
The Smurfs to dance to the tune of India’s viral sensation Adhi and Indian Idol Junior competitors
NEW DELHI: Nine young participants in Sony TV’s Indian Idol Junior singing talent hunt, aged between eight and fifteen, have rendered an Indian song called “Na Na Na (Nice vs Naughty)” in the dubbed Hindi version of Sony Pictures’ Smurfs 2, being released on 2 August.
To be released by Sony Music, the song features Chennai-based viral sensation Adhi of HipHop Tamizha (pronounced “Tamila”) whose hit “Club le Mabbu le” has garnered over 2.1 million views on YouTube.
They join an illustrious group of top international artistes. The film’s international soundtrack features Britney Spears’ hit “Ooh La La”. Other major international artistes that have shown some Smurf love include Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Smurfy” (a remake of their classic “I’m Too Sexy”) and LMFAO’s “I’m Vexy and I Know It” (remake of their super-hit “I’m Sexy and I Know It”).
Sony Music will make the song available across all digital platforms. The film itself is being released in 3D in both Hindi and English.
In this sequel to Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation’s hybrid live action/animated family blockbuster comedy The Smurfs, the evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures called the Naughties that he hopes will let him harness the all-powerful, magical Smurf-essence. But when he discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, and only a secret spell that Smurfette knows can turn the Naughties into real Smurfs, Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, where he has been winning the adoration of millions as the world’s greatest sorcerer. It’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity to return to our world, reunite with their human friends Patrick and Grace Winslow, and rescue her.
The film is directed by Raja Gosnell and produced by Jordan Kerner. The screenplay is by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick and David Ronn and Karey Kirkpatrick with a story by J. David Stem and David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick and David Ronn, and is based on the Characters and Works of Peyo.
The story of the Smurfs started in 1958 with the creation of comic books which were later brought to both the big and small screen. Over the years, the little blue characters haven’t just limited themselves to the page and the screen. They have inspired records and CDs that have sold millions of copies, entire collections of figurines and toys, and many more products. In all, more than 3,000 derived products have been produced and leading brands and companies have spread their messages worldwide with the help of the Smurfs.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
