Kids
Discovery Kids announces second series of ‘Sheikh Chilli and Friendz’
MUMBAI: Going strong on its go-local drive, Discovery Kids has announced the second season of Sheikh Chilli and Friendz. Slated to premiere early 2017, the channel is committed to bring refreshingly new, clutter-breaking and heart-warming entertainment to millions of its fans across India.
“Sheikh Chilli and Friendz will be one of the most endearing series on Indian television. Each character has been crafted to offer unmatched entertainment and will reset the narrative of kids’ content. Nothing stimulates mind more than an overwhelming emotion of humour and this series will offer it in abundance,” said Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific vice president – entertainment products – South Asia Rajiv Bakshi.
The show revolves around the adventures of an innocent boy Sheikh Chilli and his friends of Jhunjhun Nagar. Sheikh Chilli is a day-dreaming simpleton who lives with his mother. He has his heart in the right place, but his plans and actions are a source of humour as well as trouble for his friends. He is joined in his adventures by Malika, his smart neighbor and classmate, Bulbul histalking friend-turned-brother donkey, the pocket-sized dwarf Khatkoo and the enchanting Noorie Djinnwho has come from another planet to fulfilling Sheikh Chilli’s incredible wishes.
Creating trouble for Sheikh Chilli & Friendz is the evil witch Buri, who is after the magical necklace worn by Noorie Djinn so that she can become all-powerful. The friends encounter various other characters through the course of the series which results in hilarious situations and many laughs.
The franchise was introduced to children on television through a movie, aired early in the year on Discovery Kids. The series has also been conceptualized and created in partnership with the Mayapuri Group and iRealities Entertainment.
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.
