Kids
Nickelodeon to premiere Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh on 5 December
MUMBAI: Nickelodeon is reuniting two of its most popular stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck in a two-hour original television movie, Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh. “Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh will showcase the classic buddy comedy viewers have come to expect in a big, bright, music and heart-filled holiday package. We expect this movie to be a contemporary holiday classic that families will be able to enjoy together for years to come,” said Nickelodeon EVP development and original programming Marjorie Cohn. The comic adventure unfolds as a mall Santa and his sack of toys — alias Drake and Josh — promise an adorable little girl that her foster parents and siblings will have “the best Christmas ever.”
The movie will premiere on 5 December at 8 pm.
The movie is written and executive produced by series creator Dan Schneider.
Nickelodeon‘s multi-platform offerings will include a special playlist of dedicated Merry Christmas Drake & Josh content. TurboNick and Nick‘s wireless and online syndication partners will feature sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes “Extra Scoops,” Vlogs, and replay of the special post premiere.
Nickelodeon also will highlight the movie in its November/December video-on-demand (VoD) offering.
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.
