Kids
COLORS extends Anandi’s legacy through first-of-its-kind animated series on Hindi GECs with ‘Chhoti Anandi’
MUMBAI: Balika Vadhu has been one of the most successful and longest running shows of Indian Television and has crossed many milestones over the years. Anandi’s character has found a special place in everyone’s heart and has been one of the most loved characters till date. Drawing inspiration from Anandi’s appeal when she was a child, COLORS has associated with Sphereorigins to launch a home-grown animated series as a first-of-its-kind extension of a popular Hindi television character called ‘Chhoti Anandi’. Taking the first step towards building its Sunday morning programming, COLORS and Rishtey will simulcast ‘Chhoti Anandi’ starting January 17, 2016 every Sunday at 10am.
A first-of-its-kind, fun filled animated series will capture adventures of Anandi’s playful childhood. Chhoti Anandi is an 8 year old brave, righteous child and an apple of everyone’s eye. She is wise beyond her years and is known to find innovative and unique ways to solve problems of her village folks. The series will highlight her entertaining yet mischievous side as she explores innumerable escapades in the company of her friends in the by lanes of a village in Rajasthan.
Commenting on the launch, COLORS CEO Raj Nayak said, “Over the past 7 years, Anandi’s character has appealed to viewers across the globe. Taking note of her sustained popularity, we have decided to launch a homegrown animated series Chhoti Anandi. This is for the first time on Indian television that a popular fiction show character is being adapted into an animated series. Through ‘Chhoti Anandi’, we plan to engage and strengthen our bond with the tiny tot audience and present a show that is visually appealing and entertaining at the same time.”
Chhoti Anandi and her pack of friends aka Chhote Sipahi – Nattu, Champa, Phuli and Chiku will be seen going on an adventurous joyride from Amazon Jungle, to the era of Dinosaurs, and also to the period when kings and queens reigned. Additionally, audience will get to see a similar backdrop, color and music as that of Balika Vadhu with an inspiring message for the viewers at the end of every episode.
Speaking about the concept of ‘Chhoti Anandi’, producer Sujoy Waddhwa, CMD – Sphereorigins said, “It is a challenging prospect to translate a fictional character into an animated series like ‘Chhoti Anandi’ who is wise beyond her age and will question society’s regressive norms. The show will not be an animated representation of the story of Balika Vadhu, but Chhoti Anandi’s adventures. Chhoti Anandi’s tales will encourage young viewers to learn life lessons in the simplest manner and put them to practical use. This series will be a delight to watch for the kids’ audience and will cater to their entertainment need as this is the very first kind of animation show which will be shown on any GEC channel.”
Hop Motion CEO Anish Patel added, “Chhoti Anandi’, our first association with COLORS and Sphereorigins, is a very special project for us. It is the first time a popular television character has been adapted for an animated series. The brief was to maintain the inherent Indian-ness and the essence of Anandi’s character in a fun manner, and we combined superior graphics with vibrant colours in the hope of providing viewers with an engaging proposition.”
As ‘Chhoti Anandi’ prepares to launch simultaneously on COLORS and Rishtey, the channel has planned an extensive marketing and digital promotional strategy to create maximum recall among audiences across age-groups.
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.
