Galli
Galli Sim Sim will address topics such as early
literacy, creative thinking and reasoning, family
and community life, healthy habits, and appreciating
cultural plurality.
With
the launch of Galli Galli Sim Sim, Turner aims
to create a new dimension in the realm of young kids'
programming by introducing the concept of using mass
media to promote joyful, fun-filled learning through
the theory - "Seekhne ka Mastana Andaaz."
Galli
Galli Sim Sim aims to revolutionise kids' programming
in India with its well- researched content that will
help in developing social, emotional and cognitive
skills in children, and be the catalyst to encourage
children to pursue educational goals.
Turner
International India Pvt. Ltd managing director Anshuman
Misra said, "Having shaped kids' television in
India, with the launch of the leading kids' channel,
Cartoon Network, and subsequently the successful launch
of Pogo, we, once again, aim to set a new benchmark
in the industry with Galli Galli Sim Sim. As
the leading kids' entertainment player, we have consciously
decided to focus on educational development as we
realise our social responsibility towards shaping
the future of our next generations. The social and
emotional development of children is largely influenced
by television today, and there is no doubt, that this
is the best medium to communicate effectively with
children."
"Harnessing
the power of television, we aim to make Galli Galli
Sim Sim an integral part of the lives of young
children in India. Our aim is to reach out to almost
every home, extending the reach of the series through
the electronic medium and other multi-media initiatives.
We are making a bold run at engaging millions of young
children and we are confident that this unique series
will change the face of kids' education in India,"
he added.
Sesame
Workshop executive vice president Daniel Victor said,
"Sesame Workshop's mission is to create innovative
engaging content that maximises the educational power
of media to help children reach their highest potential.
We at Sesame Workshop are very excited about the launch
of the Indian series. The series celebrates the vibrant
cultural heritage of India with its uniquely adapted
content, muppet characters, and a diverse human cast
representing the commonalities and diversities of
Indian society. We are optimistic that the Indian
version of Sesame Street, Galli Galli Sim
Sim will make a meaningful difference to the lives
of children in the country."
Miditech
president Niret Alva added, "We are delighted
to have partnered with Turner and Sesame Workshop
in producing this path breaking series that aims to
create a new genre in TV programming for kids in India.
It has been a very exciting and enriching experience
for all of us at Miditech to produce this series that
celebrates the cultural diversity of India. We have
ensured that the portrayal of each of the characters
and muppets is unique and meaningful as it is designed
to create a long lasting impact on the lives of children."
Galli
Galli Sim Sim, set in an "Indian Galli,"
represents the reality of daily life for the widest
possible range of Indian children and families. The
series is targeted towards children between the age
group of two to six years, transcends socio-economic
barriers and will feature animated segments and live-action
films, with music, stories, and art drawn from various
elements of Indian culture and regions of the country.
The
Indian Muppet characters - Googly, Chamki, Aanchoo
and Boombah have been specially created with Indian
characteristics and elements. Along with them, a thought
out human cast is also present.
Taking
the cause of spreading education and empowering children
beyond the realm of television, Turner along with
Sesame Workshop plan to undertake on-ground initiatives
to reinforce the educational messages of the series
and extend the project's reach and impact.
In
keeping with this, Turner today flagged off a "Galli
Galli Sim Sim Literacy Yatra" to reach out
to more and more children in India. This Yatra from
New Delhi, recreating the magic of the show, will
travel to various cities such as Lucknow, Bhopal and
Mumbai, distributing educational material to children.
The yatra will finally culminate in Mumbai on 8 September,
coinciding with World Literacy Day. Additional plans
to continue outreach activities will be coordinated
by Sesame Workshop India, NGO.
Funding
for the development phase of Galli Galli Sim Sim
was provided through the support of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) and ICICI
Bank. Moving forward, the producers of the series
will look to combine the strengths and resources of
the public and private sectors for local development
initiatives.