Chhota Bheem heads to Africa, West Asia

After conquering South-East Asian market, home-grown animated hero Chhota Bheem is soon to venture into countries in Africa and West Asia.

Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd., the creators of Chhota Bheem, are betting big to transform the home-grown little superhero into a global character and hence, are set to dub the show in various African, Arabic and some West Asian languages. The studio is entering into agreements with local channels in these regions, where show will be broadcast in a few months from now.

Rajiv Chilaka, founder and CEO of Hyderabad-based Green Gold Animation, said that the firm has been trying to enter the U.S. and European markets but had not garnered a good response. “They felt the character was very Indian and that’s why they did now show interest. Now, we are broadcasting the show via Internet TV in many parts of Europe and North America.”

“We wanted to take the show to China but since the regulations on foreign content are very strict, we could not go ahead. Wherever the show has been broadcast till now, it has got a great response. Chhota Bheem is a character recognized and loved beyond Indian boundaries,” he said.

The show, which went on air in 2008, has been broadcasted in more than a dozen countries and has been dubbed in seven languages. After two full-length theatrical movie releases based on the characters in the show, a third one is now under production.

The company gets 60 per cent of its revenues from the animated show and 40 per cent from merchandising. With an employee strength of around 350, many of whom work on just the Chhota Bheem show, the studio is also planning a new series and new characters.