Rajiv Chilaka
| Rajiv Chilaka రాజీవ్ చిలక | |
|---|---|
| Education | Osmania University, Hyderabad, India |
| Alma mater | Hyderabad Public School, University of Missouri – Kansas City |
| Occupation | Creator & director of animated tv & film |
| Organization | Green Gold TV |
| Notable work | Chhota Bheem |
| Home town | Hyderabad, India |
| Website |
greengold |
Rajiv Chilaka (Telugu:రాజీవ్ చిలక) is the founder and MD of Hyderabad-based Green Gold Animation and the creator of a host of cartoon TV programs including Krishna cartoon series and Chhota Bheem which has now been made into an animated film.[1] Chilaka, in a few of his interviews, has likened himself to the next Walt Disney and believes that his Chhota Bheem franchise to be a bigger crowd-puller and money-spinner than even the Indian Premier League.
Background
Chilaka went to St. Georges Grammar School, Hyderabad. He later obtained a BE in Electronics and Telecommunications engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad in 1995 and went on to the University of Missouri - Kansas City for his master's degree in Computer Science. He then worked as a software engineer in Kansas City for three years, but in 2000 he switched course to study animation at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. He has an elder brother Srinivas Chilaka, who helps him in running Greengold with valuable inputs in long-term planning and strategy.[2][3]
Green Gold Animation
In January 2001, Chilaka set up Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd. According to a report in the Indian newspaper, The Hindu it is now "perhaps the largest animation production company in India that caters primarily to children."[2]
His first break came in 2003 with the animation series Bongo about an alien who lands on Earth. That led to Vikram Betal, an 80-minute 2D animation on the Cartoon Network in 2004. Chilaka and his team made a series of four animated telefilms on the life of Krishna for the Cartoon Network, before its sister channel Pogo agreed to air their next project Chhota Bheem in 2008.[4]
Chhota Bheem
Chilaka says he devised the concept of an Indian historical hero, Chhota Bheem in 2004. During the first three years of the series Bheem was 'if not outrightly presented at least allowed to be thought of' as a reincarnation of legendary warrior prince Bhima from MahabharataTbut later on the concept itself was modified to make the village of Dholakpur and its inhabitants more contemporary showing episodes featuring things as disparate and modern as Bollywood, trains, air-crafts etc. to emphasize the change. first episode aired on 6 April 2008. As of 2012, more than 130 episodes have been telecast in English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil on the Pogo TV.[1] These have been accompanied by more than 10 Chhota Bheem television movies also on Pogo. It has been ranked as the most popular television character among children of 2012 by Ormax Media's Small Wonders.[4]
In 2012, the feature film Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan written by Richa Ingle Deo and Seeta was released. It is considered to be the first Indian home-grown TV series to be made into a feature film.[1] By November 2012, the movie had grossed 50 million Rupees at the box office.[4]
In January 2016, the feature film Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure written by Teja Pratap and Chilaka was released. Directed by Chilaka and strategically released one week before the Telugu Sankranti festival, the movie soon became a mega-super hit receiving great response from kids and grownups alike. Made at a budget of only six crores (60 million) I.N.R the movie raked in approximately Rs 63 crores in the very first week itself becoming the first box office hit of 2016.
Related series
The following series have been created by Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd
- Bongo - DD National (2004–2006)
- Krishna -Cartoon Network (India) (2006–2009)
- Krishna & Balram - Cartoon Network (India) (2007–2013)
- Chhota Bheem - Pogo TV (2008–present)
- Vikram Betal - Cartoon Network (India) (2009–2010)
- Chorr Police - Hungama TV (2009–2012)
- Mighty Raju - Pogo TV (2011–present)
- Luv Kushh - Disney XD (India) (2012–2014)
- Arjun: The Prince of Bali - Disney Channel India (2014–present)
Note: Mighty Raju is a spin-off series of Chhota Bheem.
Merchandising and demographics
The merchandising accompanying the popularity of the Chhota Bheem series has produced a range over 500 products such as DVDs, T-shirts, bedsheets, ceiling fans which are available at 20 Green Gold Stores across India as well as on-line games, comics and carnivals.[4]
Chilaka, who directs each episode of the TV series and directed the movie, claims "the show has worked across demographics" by not being tied to a specific location in India and "it's followed equally by boys and girls."[1][4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Rao, Subha J. (28 May 2012). "Home Grown Hero". The Hindu (Chenai, India).
- 1 2 Mohan, Rajiv (16 July 2009). "Animated Life". The Hindu (Chennai, India).
- ↑ "Management". greengold.tv. Retrieved November 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dua Aarti (26 August 2012). "Small wonder. Toon hero Chhota Bheem has emerged as the favourite homegrown television character of tiny tots". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph. Retrieved November 2012.