By Jilawatan

Spacetoon India, engaged in the business of children`s television programming and licensing of cartoon characters, today announced the launch of India`s first global cartoon characters Fafa & Juno.

“The Fafa & Juno cartoon characters are created by the in-house team of Kids Media India (KMI) with a clear objective to appeal audiences across all global demographics such as Middle East and South East Asia,” Spacetoon-South Asia Managing Director & CEO Rajiv Sangari said here.

Fafa & June caracters were launched by film actress Vidya Balan and the children from the Nanhi Kali Foundation.

The Indian cartoon character industry is estimated at USD 800 million and is growing at 30 per cent per annum, Sangari said.

Spacetoon will promote Fafa & Juno throgh licensing, publication, merchandising, events and animated TV serials.

The Group`s flagship channel, Spacetoon Kids TV reaches over 200 million viewers in 22 countries througout the Middle East and North Africa.

The company has plans to start its kids TV channels in Korea, Iran and Russia.

The Spacetoon channel, which is available free-to-air now, will become pay-channel in th next two year`s time, Sangari said.

By Jilawatan

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan has been supporting education amongst underprivileged girls by helping NGO Nanhi Kali, which currently supports 37,000 girls in urban, rural and tribal areas. She has helped to launch two new animated characters, Fafa and Juno, who will appear on the Spacetoon TV channel and associated merchandising. Spacetoon claims to have 200 million viewers worldwide. Vidya will also be supporting some girls herself through the programme. “I am not comfortable talking about it but yes I do plan to finance the education of a few girls,” she admitted, “It’s amazing how many girls can get educated for a measly sum of money. It’s a small thing to do especially when I have been given so much.”

Kerala-born Vidya has a remarkably busy schedule ahead of her this year, including some fascinating films such as Ishqiya with Naseruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi and Chenab Gandhi. This latter film stars Amitabh Bachchan and is about the Pashtun pacifist and freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, often referred to as the Frontier Gandhi. It’s rumoured that John Abraham might play the role of the younger Khan.

Vidya is also having a whale of a time at the moment shooting for Pa which includes both father and son Bachchans. “I have been shooting for Pa. We did a shooting schedule in Mumbai and outside it had Mr Bachchan and Abhishek. They’re keeping me busy,” she confirms.

By Jilawatan

She may not be one of the most powerful actresses in Bollywood, but Vidya Balan is powerful enough to launch two new stars. The actress showed up at an event in Mumbai to launch two new global toon characters… and it’s all for a good cause.

Meet Fafa and Juno – two new characters on the toon block who promise to share their warm and compassionate world with the kids around them. Touted to be India’s first animated intellectual property – Fafa and Juno – got Vidya Balan cheering for them. The actress supports Nanhi Kali, an NGO working for underprivileged girls – which will receive a part of the sales proceeds from the Fafa and Juno merchandise.

Charity aside Vidya is also busy wrapping up her new film with the Bachchans.

Vidya Balan said, “I have been shooting for Pa, its Balki’s film, we did a shooting schedule in Mumbai and outside it has Mr Bachchan and Abhishek, that’s keeping me busy.”

And with election fever in the air… the actress could not but send out yet another message on the importance of voting.

Balan said, “Like everyone is being saying if you want people to be accountable and you want government to be accountable then you should have people represent you in the give and for that you have to Vote.

While the politicians might be pleased with Vidya’s election message, we’re just happy to see the actress dressed for the occasion for a change.

By Jilawatan

Vidya balan is the brand ambassador of NGO Nanhi Kali, which propagates education for the girl child. She will soon be funding the education of some children from the NGO. Says a source close to Vidya, “Vidya had been associated with an NGO ever since she started working but a few months ago she decided to withdraw her support against that and join Nanhi Kali. She had sponsored a girl child from the earlier NGO.

Now she’s planning to support the education of other girl children in Nanhi Kali. The education of the girl child is something she feels deeply for. Today, Vidya is attending an event where there’s been a tie-up with an animation channel and Nanhi Kali and the proceeds of the event will go to the NGO.”

Vidya Balan says, “I am completely for the education of the underprivileged girl child. I strongly believe in education. It’s a basic necessity and only when you are educated that you can make an informed choice about everything. I became associated with Nanhi Kali through a company that supports the NGO. I Wanted to be sure that the work done is genuine and Nanhi Kali is one such organisation. I have been to their office and joined it recently. They financially support girl children all over India.”

Apparently, she’s sponsoring the education of some girl children? “Though I am not comfortable talking about it but yes I do plan to finance the education of a few girls. It’s amazing how many girl children can get educated for a measly sum of money. It’s a small thing to do especially when I have been given so much.”

Reacting to rumours about her affair with Vivek Oberoi, vidya balan says, “I have met Vivek precisely one and a half times in my life. The story linking me with him is ridiculous and unbelievable. I would like to know who is the source whose has been quoted in the story. With such a fertile imagination she has a glorious imagination as a storyteller or screenwriter. I think I have become the easiest target for link-ups now.”