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Tag: Munjal Shroff

  • Beyond the reel, India’s tech dreams take shape

    Beyond the reel, India’s tech dreams take shape

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, revolution! The silver screen is turning digital, and India’s film industry is ready for its next big act, one fuelled by technology, imagination and a dash of innovation.

    At FICCI Frames 2025, the session “Beyond Imagination: The Future of Filmmaking” brought together industry leaders to explore how new-age tools like AI, VFX and virtual production are transforming storytelling. The discussion came in the wake of the Maharashtra government’s Rs 3,268 crore AVGC-XR Policy 2025, an ambitious plan to make the state a global powerhouse for animation, gaming and extended reality.

    DNEG co-founder and president Merzin Tavaria set the tone for the session. “Content is still king,” he said. “Technology should help us tell better stories, not distract from them. AI is here to stay as a tool, but it must never replace the individual.” He added that India’s post-pandemic film resurgence has proven the world-class calibre of its creators.

    Phantomfx founder and CEO Bejoy Arputharaj urged filmmakers to evolve with technology. “Filmmakers must embrace the changing landscape,” he said. “Virtual production and AI aren’t here to take over, they’re here to help us imagine what was once impossible.”

    From Japan, Dwarf Studios CEO Shuhei Harada emphasised originality over imitation. “The world doesn’t need more copies,” he said. “India should focus on creating authentic, original entertainment. Bringing international talent here can help local creators learn new methods and grow faster.”

    Moscow Film Cluster deputy director Georgy Prokopov called for international collaboration. “Russia and India can build a technology bridge,” he suggested. “Shared virtual production infrastructure can reduce costs and accelerate creative exchange.”

    Meanwhile, FICCI AVGC-XR Forum chair and Graphiti Studios co-founder Munjal Shroff stressed the need for India to sharpen its technical edge. “We already have the talent and the tools,” he said. “Now it’s about mastery, using technology not as a crutch but as a canvas.”

    As the session wrapped, the takeaway was clear: the next blockbuster might not just be shot in India, it could be built here, pixel by pixel. Because in the cinema of tomorrow, the script won’t just be written. It will be rendered.
     

  • Nagarjuna launches season two of Krish, Trish and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum, at IFFI Goa

    Nagarjuna launches season two of Krish, Trish and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum, at IFFI Goa

    Mumbai— The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched the second season of the celebrated animated series Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa.

    Nagarjuna graced the event along with Information & Broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju; Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwiwedi; CBC, DG, Yogesh Baweja; Graphiti Studios creators Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty ; Prime Video, India director & head – SVOD, Shilangi Mukherji and Netflix India director of public policy Mahima Kaul.

    The groundbreaking animated series, which celebrates India’s lesser-known freedom fighters, made history with its season one debut across multiple platforms.

    Season two of the animation series, like season one, will premiere simultaneously across Doordarshan, Prime Video, and Netflix.

    The series will be available in 12 Indian languages—including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, and Odia—and seven international languages – French, German, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Chinese and Arabic making it accessible to a global audience in 150 countries, further amplifying its reach.

    Season two continues the mission to highlight unsung heroes from all across the country, including Taji Dele and Ponge Dele from Arunachal Pradesh, Wazir Ram Singh Pathania from Himachal Pradesh, and Birsa Munda from Jharkhand, among others.

    These stories are meant to inspire pride in India’s history while celebrating the diversity and resilience of the country’s freedom fighters.

    The secretary highlighted the importance of such initiatives in nurturing national pride among India’s young generation.

    “The diversity of India’s freedom struggle needs to be communicated in ways that appeal to children. By using animation, we’re making these rich histories not only accessible but also engaging. Through these animated stories, we’re offering young minds a chance to learn about the unsung heroes who played pivotal roles in shaping India’s destiny,” Jaju said.

    “We are delighted to launch a new season of Krish, Trish and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum on Prime Video starting 1st December. The series beautifully highlights the invaluable contribution of several heroes who played a significate part in India’s freedom struggle, giving viewers in India and around the world a chance to learn more about our rich history,” said Mukherji. “We would like to congratulate the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Central Bureau of Communication, and Graphiti Studios for producing this wonderful series. The series is a significant step in our efforts to foster the growth of India’s creative economy and give Indian stories a global showcase. We are confident that the new season will be as well-received by our viewers as the first season.”

    “I have grown up watching a lot of mythology, and stories of Shri Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, Arjun, but stories on our freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for our country is equally important. With the new show Bharat Hai Hum, the children and the next generation will get to know about our heroes,” said Nagarjuna.

    Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty, the series’ creators, added, “The stories of India’s unsung heroes have often been overshadowed, but through this series, we aim to ensure that their contributions are remembered and celebrated by the younger generation. It’s not just a story of the past; it’s a lesson for today’s youth to understand the values of courage, resilience, and patriotism.”

    The creators employed nearly 1,000 professionals across India, including animators, voice artists, and production experts, in order to meet an ambitious timeline and deliver the series in record time.

    Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum will also be available in an innovative format: a radio series and a podcast. The Krish, Trish and Baltiboy– Bharat Hain Hum Radio Series will premiere on 1 December on All India Radio (AIR), broadcasting in 12 languages across India. Each episode will be heard at 10:30 AM on Sundays, just 15 minutes before the animation series airs on Doordarshan at 11 AM. The radio show will promote the animated series, creating a seamless cross-platform transition that will help maximize the show’s audience. The unique scheduling strategy promises to offer a significant push for the animation series, ensuring that the young and diverse audience can transition from radio to television effortlessly.

    Additionally, a podcast will be available worldwide on Spotify in 180 countries. This podcast will feature episodes from the series, while also encouraging listeners to watch the animated show on Prime Video, Netflix, Waves and Doordarshan amplifying the reach of this cross-platform distribution strategy.

  • Mattel & Netflix to premiere animated preschool series ‘Deepa & Anoop’ soon

    Mattel & Netflix to premiere animated preschool series ‘Deepa & Anoop’ soon

    MUMBAI: Toy company Mattel has announced that its new animated children’s series Deepa & Anoop will debut on OTT platform Netflix on 15 August, 2022. Created by Bollywood animator Munjal Shroff (Shortcut Safari), writer Lisa Goldman (Dragon Tales), and producer Heather Kenyon (Doki Adventures), Deepa & Anoop is Mattel television’s first series based on its original intellectual property. The debut season includes 11-30-minute episodes and two 22-minute specials. 

    The music-driven series follows the adventures of seven-year-old Deepa and her best friend Anoop, a half-ton colour-changing baby elephant. The duo, self-appointed “concierges of fun,” makes everything bigger, grander and more wonderful for guests at Mango Manor, the bed and breakfast run by Deepa’s multigenerational family. With a Bollywood number in every episode, Deepa creates music, merriment and mischief while working with the rambunctious Anoop to solve the simplest of problems with the most imaginative of solutions.

    With a focus on the authenticity of Deepa’s Indian heritage, Deepa & Anoop includes 18 original song and dance performances, several of which are presented in the Bollywood tradition. The main cast is voiced by actors of Indian descent, including Pavan Bharaj as Deepa, Veena Sood (The Twilight Zone) as Naani-ji, and Ana Sani (The Magic School Bus) as Mama.

    “While Mattel is well-known for developing entertainment content based on our fan-favourite brands, we’re excited to partner with Netflix to bring audiences a heartwarming, all-new series based on original IP. Later this summer, fans will be delighted as Deepa and her best friend Anoop take on exciting challenges and lead colourful musical numbers that illustrate the importance of friendship. Deepa & Anoop is sure to make an impact on audiences globally” said Mattel Television senior vice-president, GM Fred Soulie. 

    In addition to this original series, Mattel said that it continues to expand its roster of brands well beyond the toy aisle and into the television and film space. More than 30 of its brands—including Barbie, Masters of the Universe, Thomas & Friends, Polly Pocket, Monster High, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, and Hot Wheels, to name a few—have come to life in various animated series, movies, specials and digital short-form. Deepa & Anoop, however, marks Mattel’s first-ever animated series based entirely on an original story and original characters.

    “We have been lucky to work alongside best-in-class advisors and consultants during every stage of Deepa & Anoop’s development. We hope that young audiences around the world will find this heartwarming series as authentic as they do relatable. We could not be more proud or excited that Deepa & Anoop is Mattel’s first original series based on an all-new IP,” said Mattel Television senior vice president- creative Christopher Keenan.

    Deepa & Anoop is executive produced by Mattel Television’s Fred Soulie and Christopher Keenan.

  • FICCI Frames: Bridging the gap between story-tellers & industry veterans

    MUMBAI: An initiative started in 2015, to bridge the gap between the media and entertainment industry experts and the storytellers, Frame Your Idea (FYI) is back once again for its third edition. It will be taking place simultaneously with FICCI FRAMES 2017, from 21 March to 23 March 2017 at  Renaissance Powai, Mumbai.

    At the aforementioned event, anyone with a content idea, story or screenplay for a film / TV / digital web series / show / animation / documentary can register, turn up and pitch it within 10 minutes, to the right people in the business. If one has finished content that may be under post-production or seeking distribution, that can be pitched too.

    The 2017 edition of FYI is also empowered by the Screenwriters Association, Mumbai.

    Previous credits to this event are quite a few as well. Anurag Kashyap’s next (unannounced) is a script written by journalist turned writer Nihit Bhave which Phantom Films found at FYI 2015. Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s ROMP and Disney India found scripts at FYI 2015. Eros Trinity pictures found writers to hire for its writers’ room at FYI 2016.

    Read detailed story here

    “Frame Your Idea is a unique platform that interfaces young talent and bright idea with producers, broadcasters and content buyers on an unprecedented scale. I would urge all the  creators, illustrators, writers and storytellers to come and pitch your next big idea at Frame Your Idea at FICCI FRAMES 2017,” said FICCI AVGC Forum, co-chairman, Munjal Shroff.

    FYI 2016 witnessed the attendance of over 70 production houses, studios, broadcasters, content commissioners. Over 300 participants pitched in the categories of film, tv, nished content, digital, animation and documentary. Over 3000 meetings took place over the course of three days, between content creators and content idea owners.

    Here are the categories of content at FYI 2017 that one can pitch for:

    – Film TV
    – Digital/web series
    – Animation
    – Documentary
    – Finished Content

    FYI lists commissioners / broadcasters / producers on its webpage and calls for entries (cci-frames.com/fyi). Applicants who register, provide their producer preference list and get allotted meetings by an automated system on a first-come-first served basis.

    On the day of the event, participants are handed a schedule sheet for their meetings based on which they meet the producers for 10 minutes each; that they have opted for during registration.

     

  • Exploring Indian kids’ content opportunities at MIPJunior

    Exploring Indian kids’ content opportunities at MIPJunior

    CANNES: The world’s kids programming screenings and conference MIPJunior is slated to commence today 15 October at the prestigious Hotel Martinez in Cannes. The little French Riviera village was under heavy black cloud cover the whole of 14 October and a constant drizzle through the day forced everyone to bring out their brollies and their rain jackets.

    But that won’t be necessary today and the next three to four days. Reason: the weatherman has forecast that the weekend is going to be mostly sunny through to Monday.

    The sunny weather is expected to encourage some brisk meetings, conferences, workshops, keynotes, panel discussions, networking through the day at the famed Hotel. And of course champagne, wine is expected to overflow through the day at the lunches and in the restaurants as the world’s top animation and kids content executives huddle together to figure out what the world and their distribution platforms are going to look like in the coming few months.

    One session that is being watched with increasing curiosity is in the MIPJunior Lab at 17:15 pm on 16 October Titled Passage to India: Working in this dynamic space, it is being moderated by Animationxpress.com and Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO and editor in chief Anil Wanvari.

    India’s top animation studio heads – Rajiv Chilaka of Chhota Bheem and Green Gold Fame, Anish Mehta of Motu Patlu and Cosmos Maya renown, Munjal Shroff of Graphiti Multimedia – and India’s only kids OTT platform Voot CEO Gaurav Gandhi – will be throwing light on how why it makes sense to look at the growing Indian kids market, and how international studios can make head room for themselves in India in the area of co-productions.

    “Indian animation is just waiting to explode on to the world stage,” says Wanvari – who also represents Reed Midem’s MipCom, MipTV, MIPJunior, MipCancun, and Mipim events for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. “We have the talent, the right stories, and even now the focus to make in India for the world with the Narendra Modi government laying an emphasis on it. An animation requires many partnerships for it to achieve global success. Through this workshop we want to demystify many notions or perceptions that the world community has about Indian studios and the kids content marketplace. Reed Midem and MIPJunior have been very supportive of India’s efforts to build a global IP in kids’ animation. If we succeed in enabling even one partnership or co-production or spark one such opportunity, we will have been successful.”

    Shall we say amen to that?

  • Exploring Indian kids’ content opportunities at MIPJunior

    Exploring Indian kids’ content opportunities at MIPJunior

    CANNES: The world’s kids programming screenings and conference MIPJunior is slated to commence today 15 October at the prestigious Hotel Martinez in Cannes. The little French Riviera village was under heavy black cloud cover the whole of 14 October and a constant drizzle through the day forced everyone to bring out their brollies and their rain jackets.

    But that won’t be necessary today and the next three to four days. Reason: the weatherman has forecast that the weekend is going to be mostly sunny through to Monday.

    The sunny weather is expected to encourage some brisk meetings, conferences, workshops, keynotes, panel discussions, networking through the day at the famed Hotel. And of course champagne, wine is expected to overflow through the day at the lunches and in the restaurants as the world’s top animation and kids content executives huddle together to figure out what the world and their distribution platforms are going to look like in the coming few months.

    One session that is being watched with increasing curiosity is in the MIPJunior Lab at 17:15 pm on 16 October Titled Passage to India: Working in this dynamic space, it is being moderated by Animationxpress.com and Indiantelevision.com founder, CEO and editor in chief Anil Wanvari.

    India’s top animation studio heads – Rajiv Chilaka of Chhota Bheem and Green Gold Fame, Anish Mehta of Motu Patlu and Cosmos Maya renown, Munjal Shroff of Graphiti Multimedia – and India’s only kids OTT platform Voot CEO Gaurav Gandhi – will be throwing light on how why it makes sense to look at the growing Indian kids market, and how international studios can make head room for themselves in India in the area of co-productions.

    “Indian animation is just waiting to explode on to the world stage,” says Wanvari – who also represents Reed Midem’s MipCom, MipTV, MIPJunior, MipCancun, and Mipim events for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. “We have the talent, the right stories, and even now the focus to make in India for the world with the Narendra Modi government laying an emphasis on it. An animation requires many partnerships for it to achieve global success. Through this workshop we want to demystify many notions or perceptions that the world community has about Indian studios and the kids content marketplace. Reed Midem and MIPJunior have been very supportive of India’s efforts to build a global IP in kids’ animation. If we succeed in enabling even one partnership or co-production or spark one such opportunity, we will have been successful.”

    Shall we say amen to that?

  • Graphiti to produce local animated series ‘YOM’ for Disney Channel India

    Graphiti to produce local animated series ‘YOM’ for Disney Channel India

    MUMBAI: Graphiti has partnered with Disney Channel India to produce a home grown animation series titled Yogendra Omprakash Mathur (YOM), which is slated to air in 2016.

     

    The action-adventure comedy series narrates the adventures of a boy – YOM, who has a unique super-hero ability of adopting animal inspired yogasaans into his fighting technique.

     

    A funny, fast-paced, adventure series, YOM is a kid who possesses a unique ability to absorb the traits of any animal he comes across but not without conditions like he can only absorb them by doing yogasaans and his powers last only for 11 minutes.

     

    “We have created an entertaining show that will resonate with the Indian ethos and kids will enjoy seeing Yoga in a super cool avatar. YOM is a unique show about a super hero who gets his awesome animal powers from Yoga. We are extremely excited to have Disney Channel India as our premiere broadcast partner. We together understood the need for a concept as unique as YOM in the kid’s content universe today and it’s truly great to see that they share our passion and excitement in bringing this show to the Indian kid’s audiences,” said Graphiti COO & creator of Yom Munjal Shroff.

     

    “At Disney Channel India, we believe in narrating stories and introducing characters that are uniquely tailored for our audiences here. With the ability to build deeper and emotional engagement, the stories also need to bring in a local flavour that can resonate with them. Yoga, which is a quintessential Indian practice, will be presented in a very light-hearted, fun and a distinctive animation setting in YOM and will definitely find a place in the hearts of kids and families alike,” added Disney India Media Networks VP – content and communications Vijay Subramaniam.