Interspersed with show clips, Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aasif Mandvi, Karen David, Parvesh Cheena, Sonal Shah, and Leela Ladnier talk about the upcoming Diwali holiday and what it means to them.
Disney Channels has just shared a special Diwali greeting from some of the stars of their hit preschool series, Mira, Royal Detective - Kal Penn (voice of Mikku), Utkarsh Ambudkar (voice of Chikku), Aasif Mandvi (voice of Mira's dad, Sahil), Karen David (voice of Shilpa, Ashima and Rubi), Parvesh Cheena (voice of Manish), Sonal Shah (voice of Poonam) and Leela Ladnier (voice of Mira) - talking about the upcoming Diwali holiday and what it means to them.
Diwali, which starts November 14, is the Indian festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance."
Read AWN’s profile of series showrunner Sascha Paladio and art director Dorothea Gerassimova
Disney Brings India’s Vibrant Culture to US Preschoolers in ‘Mira, Royal Detective’
Disney also shared a fun dance tutorial from series' choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan as he demonstrates some of Mira's favorite dance moves from the series, including a few from the Diwali episode, which is currently airing on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.
Created for kids age 2-7 and their families, the mystery-adventure tells the story of Mira, a brave and resourceful young commoner who is appointed to the role of royal detective by the queen. The series centers on the young sleuth, who along with her friend Prince Neel, creative cousin Priya, and comical mongoose sidekicks Mikku and Chikku, set out on mystery-solving adventures that highlight critical thinking and encourage deductive reasoning for young viewers. Each episode features two 11-minute stories that celebrate the cultures and customs of India by incorporating authentic food, fashion, language, and art. Music and dance, so important to Indian culture, play an integral role in the show; each episode features at least one original song and dance number that showcases India’s extensive cultural diversity.
Emmy Award-nominated Sascha Paladino (Miles from Tomorrowland) executive produces; Dorothea Gerassimova is the show’s art director. Becca Topol (Elena of Avalor), the series developer and story editor, will also serve as co-producer on Season 2. Emmy Award nominees Matthew Tishler (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) and Jeannie Lurie (The Muppets) write and produce the original songs, and Amritha Vaz (Miss India America) serves as composer. The series is produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior, with animation provided by Technicolor India.
Source: Disney Channels
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
