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UTV developing India’s first prime time animated show
MUMBAI: Ronnie Screwvala-promoted UTV is working on “India’s first prime time animated TV show.
The show, an out and out comedy targeted at family audiences, is entitled Kahin nak na kut jaaye and is set in an Indian city called “Anantnak” (endless noses).
UTV has also finalised two large co-productions in animation, one for the US market and one for UK and Europe. The creation of the characters along with animation would originate out of India in conjunction with their co-production partners in the US and UK.
Bollywood road is a co-production between UTV Toons and BA20 Entertainment in the UK. It is a 26 x half hour animated song and dance sitcom – set in the multi-cultural community of Leyford, East London and on a street entitled Bollywood Road.
“Cross The Simpsons, The Kumars at No.42 and Monty Python, add graphics half way between Matt Groening and celebrated Indian artist Jamini Roy, the scripting genius of Meera Syal, the creative supervision of Alistair Swinnerton and the creative characters and execution to be designed by UTV Toons and you are all the way there to one of the most exciting animated shows that Europe will witness in 2004,” goes the company line on the show.
At a budget of ?1,75,000/- per episode totaling ? 4.55 million , the design work has already started on the 26 all-ready scripts at the UTV Toons facility in Andheri, according to the company release.
The second co-production is titled The Infinite Darcy, a series about Darcy Chang, a nine-year-old with a special gift – an ability to travel into “alternative realities”… from school girl to rock star to secret agent, Darcy grows up in different realities.
Co-developed and partnered with Cybergraphix Animation in Los Angeles, California, this series of 52 episodes of 11 minutes each on a total budget of $5 Million is aimed to premier on a US major network in early 2004. The first 11-minute episode completed at UTV Studios in Andheri has been approved and work on the series is on.
Kahin nak na kut jaaye meanwhile, has the whole city of Anantnak inhabited by people who can be divided into three classes, differentiated by their levels of wealth and the unique perk that comes with possessing that wealth… the length of the nose. So the richest people have the longest noses and are know as the “khatarnaks”, the middle classes are people with small, thin noses and are called the “sharamnaks” and the lower classes with the least income have no noses and are known as the “bandnaks”.
The entire characters, designs, animated voices; postproduction will be done in-house at the UTV Toons studios backed by UTV’s Post Production facility, USL.
It is planned for an 8 pm slot on one of the leading networks for which discussions are still on, the release says.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
