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Tag: Aladdin

  • Fans to witness an action-packed week as Baalveer and Aladdin come together to fight evil

    Fans to witness an action-packed week as Baalveer and Aladdin come together to fight evil

    From January 27 – 31, fans will witness an electrifying battle between good and evil as superheroes Baalveer and Aladdin come together to end the dominance of two of the fiercest villains Zafar and Timnasa.

    Siddharth Nigam (Aladdin) and Dev Joshi (Baalveer) who are currently shooting together on the sets of Baalveer Returns in Mumbai are cherishing the time they are working together as they prepare for the mega-clash against Timnasa and Zafar.

    Talking about the experience of shooting for the crossover, Siddharth Nigam said “The upcoming track is going to be extremely exciting for the fans as both the superheroes Baalveer and Aladdin will unite for the first time on Indian television. The hard work that the entire team is putting to make this happen will be very evident once the crossover goes on air from January 27th onwards.”  

    Dev Joshi too is cherishing his time shooting with Siddharth, “This is the first time the fans will get an opportunity to see Baalveer and Aladdin together. Siddharth and I are good friends and we have a lot of fun on the sets together. He is extremely professional and both of us are having a great time shooting together.”

    Timnasa, on the hunt to gain the takht – that needs three stones to control the past, present and future, creates a magic portal and travels to Baghdad in search for the second stone. Meanwhile, in Baghdad Zafar is at his evilest best in order to gain the ultimate power and has trapped Ali, only to find out that Ali is actually Aladdin.

    Things further intensify as, Timnasa leaves Bhaymar with Zafar and tasks him to activate Medusa, whereas Zafar returns the favour by giving hukum to Ginoo to follow whatever Timnasa tells him. With the evil minds of Timnasa and Zafar combining, the task in front of Baalveer and Aladdin is huge with Ginoo forced to turn evil and is stuck in Kal-Lok. 

    How will Aladdin’s and Baalveer counter this challenge from Zafar and Timnasa? Will Timnasa succeed in gaining the second stone or will Zafar destroy Baghdad? The upcoming week will reveal it all as an action-packed week full of drama, suspense and exuberance beckons.  

    Witness this mega crossover with Baalveer Returns and Aladdin: Naam Toh Suna Hoga from January 27 – 31, 8 pm and 9 pm respectively. 

  • Sab’s Aladdin to be relevant to the new generation

    Sab’s Aladdin to be relevant to the new generation

    MUMBAI: Sony Sab is all set to transport viewers to an age-old story with a modern twist. After giving three new launches this month, it is close to launching the fourth one Aladdin: Naam Toh Suna Hoga, produced by Peninsula Pictures, which will be aired on 21 August, Monday to Friday at 9 pm. Its recent launches were India Ke Mast Kalandar, Namune and Super Sisters.

    Aladdin took almost a year to execute the whole story in a show, that too with the aspect of making it a family entertainment show. Peninsula Pictures co-founder Nisser Parvej said that everyone must have heard about ‘Aladdin’ but very few must have seen it. “The idea was to bring to the new audience because this generation has changed and keeping that in mind, we have made Aladdin with full masala of emotions, thrill and a complete family entertainer,” he said.

    The show took a lot of research to fit it into today’s generation’s requirement. Peninsula Pictures director Alind Srivastava said, “We saw all the versions of Aladdin because we wanted to make it relevant to this generation, we just didn’t want it as a kids’ show.”

    He added that the only challenges that they faced while producing the show was to get the cast correct and also to set design, costumes and the look in a contemporary style was quite difficult, which took a lot of planning and research.

    Since the past one year, its attempt was to bring out compelling characters and stories as well which would help in growth. Programs like Jijaji Chhat Per Hein, Tenali Rama, Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo and Tarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah are the shows that are working well with the audiences.  

    Sony Sab Hindi movies and music business head Neeraj Vyas said, “It’s just all about ideas that you select, it is not just about launching a show. It is actually the basic philosophy that derives from your thinking and strategy. The move towards more compelling content, more engaging content and more engaging characters is the way forward for the new segment,” he added. According to him, the cluster wasn’t much known for the genres other than comedy and now the channel is experimenting.

    In the process of the making of the show, the only thing to keep in mind about the story was to portray it in a manner that was relevant to the viewers and also keeping in mind that today is 2018 and not 2008. Vyas said that the show’s episode run isn’t decided yet. It will depend on the performance of the show.  

    Vyas said that Sony Sab has observed a 20 per cent growth in viewership and advertisers. “We have also seen a good growth in terms of advertisers. A lot of people have now started realising the fact that we have moved the arc dramatically in terms of our shows and its production values. The way we have created the characters, the way we have marketed our shows, so that the arc has moved dramatically and I am happy that for the last one year, we have been able to at very conscious level become a lot more relevant in TV space than what we used to be.”

    When asked about Peninsula Pictures retaining its IP rights in the near future, Parvej said, “With the onset of digital, we have certain subjects to only produce for our self and for the platform where we can retain our IPs. But sadly on TV it hasn’t started yet. We are preaching the good shows and we are trying to negotiate on those lines and we hope for the best.” The next fantasy show that will be produced by the company will be for Zee Networks as Vikram and Betal which is expected to be launched during the end of September.  

    Sab’s flagship show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, the channel seems to have had a sudden downfall in terms of viewership due to the absence of the two main characters, to which Vyas disagreed and said that the characters will always be missed. “But there are certain shows that are a lot more iconic, we still have a long hold on this show. The show’s viewership hasn’t been affected yet.”

  • Content play of India’s kids channels

    Content play of India’s kids channels

    MUMBAI: Kids from 90s that grew up watching Aladdin, Duck Tales, The Flintstones, Tom and Jerry and Dexter’s Laboratory among others will cherish the memories of being couch potatoes during their childhood. Until 2008, when Chhota Bheem, a dhoti-clad boy chomping laddoos made an entry in the industry, all eyes were glued to foreign content dubbed in local languages.

    With the evolution of the animation industry in India and the change in financial strategies, broadcasters are now focusing on India-made characters and shows, moving beyond international syndications.

    Back in 2007, Sun TV’s kids’ channel, Chutti TV, dedicated for Tamil-speaking audience was launched in India. Later in 2009, Khushi TV was launched for Telugu viewers and since then, Chintu TV, a Kannada channel and Kochu TV for Malayalam audience have been added.

    Though the regional space is the most happening one now, kids’ channels are primarily Hindi with just regional audio feeds.

    Indian animation studios and companies are moving up the value chain and have started to create their own intellectual property rights. Global conglomerates such as Sony, Walt Disney and Warner Brothers have also seen the benefit in outsourcing animation characters and special effects to Indian companies.

    Moreover, in 2014, the average ratio for acquired versus local content was 60:40 for most broadcasters against 90:10 in 2008. Hindi broadcasters today are keen on creating their own IPs while the regional broadcasters bank on dubbed content. Gloomy Bear, Talking Tom, Garfield, and Dora are some of the shows that work well with the south Indian audience. The network only has one property involved named Happy Kids, which is an animated series launched for the Kerala market.

    Considering the fact that anything that is made for the own territory is far more expensive than syndicated content, the amount of money required to produce a show for the regional audiences is comparatively lower than the Hindi market. Animation production is far more expensive than general entertainment channels as well. The type of content and the investment in it also attracts the right kind of sponsors. Low budget content will only get a handful of sponsors, while big budget and sponsors will require the storyline to be universal.

    According to the FICCI report 2018, the Indian share in the global animation industry is less than one per cent. However, it is expected to increase in the coming years. Yet, international projects account for 70-80 per cent of the Indian industry revenues. The animation industry is 70 per cent art and only 30 per cent technology, leading to small enterprises driven by the passion of art bagging prominent deals.

    On one side, there is the Hindi speaking market making an effort to shift the kids’ preferences towards Indian original shows, while on the other side there is the regional space feeding them with syndicated content. Will the regional players also take a lesson from the Hindi market and go for local content or will their bombardment of international shows hold back the kids from wanting more?

  • Disney to spin Aladdin’s magic Broadway style

    Disney to spin Aladdin’s magic Broadway style

    MUMBAI: After Beauty and the Beast Broadway-style musicals in 2015 and 2016, Disney has rolled up its sleeves for another musical in Aladdin for an India production. BookMyShow (BMS) has exclusive rights for distributing this Disney hit and is also producing the show. The musical will premiere at Mumbai’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on 20 April 2018.

    Sponsored by PayPal, the show will also travel to Delhi and Hyderabad. BMS CEO and founder Ashish Hemrajani said that the initial price of the ticket would be around Rs 750 with weekday prices differing from weekend ones. Opening with 13 shows, the musical will be reimagined by the Indian talent to make it locally relevant without losing the original essence of the Broadway show.

    Marketing will primarily focus on BMS’s existing customer base while also leveraging traditional media routes. Show locations are decided by BMS depending on demand, said Disney India head (live entertainment and local content studio) Vikranth Pawar. Cities with a large English-speaking population or with love for English entertainment content will accept the show.

    Disney India country head Abhishek Maheshwari added, “Disney stories are timeless and have a special meaning for everyone in the family. Stories like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast are universal and can engage fans everywhere. In India, we are committed to developing world-class entertainment that families can relate to and become a part of their everyday lives. We partnered with BMS, given their deep understanding of the local audience and their quality of consumer engagement.”

    The Indian production boasts of extravagant sets, costumes, choreographed sequences, mesmerising special effects and the flying magic carpet, which will instantly transport the audiences into the magical world of Agrabah. Over 50 performers will weave the story on stage taking the viewers on the adventures of Aladdin and making this musical a unique experience.

    The show is originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions that features music by Tony Award and Alan Menken. (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) and three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida).

    Also Read :

    Should junk food ads be banned on kids’ channels?

    Animation sees an uptick despite expensive production

  • After ‘Frozen’ Walt Disney announces ‘Moana’

    After ‘Frozen’ Walt Disney announces ‘Moana’

    MUMBAI: Following the recent success of Frozen and Maleficent, Walt Disney Animation Studios has announced a new animated movie, Moana.  Set to be female-led once again, the movie is about a spirited teenager on an impossible mission to fulfill her ancestors’ quest.

    In theaters in late 2016, the film will be directed by The Little Mermaid’s Ron Clements and Jon Musker.

    “John and I have partnered on so many films—from The Little Mermaid to Aladdin to The Princess and the Frog,” said Clements. “Creating Moana is one of the great thrills of our career. It’s a big adventure set in this beautiful world of Oceania.”

    “Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself. She’s the kind of character we all root for, and we can’t wait to introduce her to audiences,” Musker added.

    The official plot synopsis reads: In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island.

    During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.

    Last year’s Frozen was praised for its two lead female characters and female director, Jennifer Lee. It was named the highest-grossing animated Disney film of all-time in January after earning a massive $1.28 billion worldwide.

     

  • Discovery kids presents famous tales of adventure in 1001 nights

    Discovery kids presents famous tales of adventure in 1001 nights

    NEW DELHI: In its mission to offer distinct and enriching content for children, Discovery Kids presents 1001 NIGHTS – an animated series that brings the most famous and charming tales of 1001 Arabian Nights to the screen. Bringing imagination to life is the famed storyteller Shahrzad, who narrates tales of genies, magic and fantasy.

    Filled with exciting stories and unforgettable characters, 1001 NIGHTS will air every day at 5 pm, starting September 15. The episodes will repeat everyday at 8 pm on Discovery Kids.

    Rahul Johri, Senior Vice President and General Manager – South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, “Discovery Kids offers a perfect blend of entertainment and learning with its compelling content. 1001 NIGHTS is among the most famed collection of folk tales which will interest and entertain kids.”

    While kids have heard of Sinbad, Aladdin, and Ali Baba, there are still 998 more stories to explore! 1001 NIGHTS brings out the best of these captivating tales through laughter, excitement and non-stop fast paced action that keep viewers coming back for more.

    The series traces stories back to the 9th century from across Asia covering India, Persia, China and Baghdad. The magical series offers children an enjoyable way to satisfy their natural curiosity as each story unveils messages on harmonious living, generosity and patience.

    Episodes include The Tale of the Mountain and the Valley, The Broken Jewel, The Genie, The Fish, The Wolf and the Witch, Abu Kassim’s Smelly Shoes and The Riddle of the Ruined Tomb.

    Discovery Kids has established a strong foothold which is evident from its availability across India on both analogue and DTH platforms including Tata Sky, Dish TV, Reliance DTH, Airtel Digital and Videocon D2H.

  • Disney & Adlabs give family entertainment a ‘Movie Magic’ experience

    Disney & Adlabs give family entertainment a ‘Movie Magic’ experience

    MUMBAI: The weekend is fast approaching and the family and kids are all geared up for some fun! What if you could catch a movie, play some games and maybe even watch a magic show, all in just a couple of hours? Well, Disney has given the family entertainment experience a new meaning, as they unveiled the Disney and Adlabs Movie Magic experience.

    Known for their story telling heritage, Disney has now tied up with Adlabs to bring to their audience what they call “experiential engagement.” The Disney Movie Magic experience is primarily based on getting kids to use their “pester power” to drive the whole family into the theatre every weekend. Adlabs across six cities including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Mangalore, Meerut and the National Capital Region (NCR), will be dedicated to showing classics from the Disney stable such as The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Aladdin, Tarzan, Chicken Little, The Princess Diaries, 102 Dalmatians and many more.

    This new initiative was kicked off here in Mumbai with newly launched animated feature Cars. What’s more, for this special screening about 150 kids from NGO’s including Make-a-Wish Foundation and St. Katherine were invited. From games, tattoos, face paint to a magic show, all the kids sported various Disney characters on their arms and faces and it seemed like they had a frolicking time. Also, Rand De Basanti star and avid Disney fan, Kunal Kapoor was present to pep up the kids.

    Keeping up this spirit every weekend, kids will be able to avail of special food and beverage offers along with monthly in-cinema contests and a chance to win Disney merchandise. The branding experience is taken a step further with specially designed movie tickets incased in Disney’s Movie Magic branded envelope, which will contain a token gift related to Disney movies. Adlabs locations will also be decorated in keeping with the fantasy world of Disney.

    Unveiling the new logo and commenting on their efforts to enhance the Disney entertainment experience, The Walt Disney Company (India) managing director Rajat Jain said, “There is no such concept as a children’s movie, but rather a family viewing experience. The endeavor of the brand will be to build the emotional connect between the content and the consumer and we are working on constant innovations to deliver this.”

    “‘We’re pleased to provide families with a new weekend entertainment option that engages the whole family together. Disney’s Movie Magic is a unique wholesome entertainment experience for families, which will be available through leading multiplex chains across India,” adds Jain.

    Disney’s Movie Magic will be promoted extensively through a comprehensive marketing campaign including television, in-cinema and print advertising bolstered by onground, ATL and online initiatives. Going forward, this initiative will include a loyalty programme, special schemes with schools and more exciting offerings to add the magic of Disney to special festivals and holidays.

    Adlabs Films Limited COO Tushar Dhingra said, “Movie going is a social activity and an emmersive experience and we attempt to create an experiential journey for the family. We should never underestimate the repeat power of this segment of the audience. The before and
    after experience will keep them coming back for more.”

    Commenting on their marketing efforts, Dhingra added, “We have the advantage of an in house inventory, that will produce advertisements to attract the kids segment and apart from the media mix, word of mouth should give it a good start.”

    When queried as to why this offer has strategically omitted other bigger metros Dhingra said that even tier 2 and tier 3 cities have reflected a great demand for such forms of entertainment however, they do plan to roll out similar initiatives in the other metros soon.

    The in-cinema promotions show a bored father and son playing table tennis in an unenthusiastic way, until they find out about the new Disney and Adlabs Movie Magic offer. The next scene catches the whole family enjoying the entertainment and fun. Similar advertisements have been rolled out in the print including the Mumbai Mirror and Bombay Times.

    This offer will be applicable to the morning shows on every weekend between 9 to10 and will be priced at a Rs. 90.