India’s Applause strikes licensing deal for 400+ comic titles

Rani Of Jhansi

India’s Applause Entertainment has partnered with prominent local children’s publisher Amar Chitra Katha to adapt its 400+ comic titles into animated content.

The deal marks the first foray into animation for Applause, which is the content studio belonging to the Aditya Birla Group and led by Sameer Nair. The company recently struck a deal to remake BBC mystery thriller Guilt, and has previously adapted scripted formats Hostages, Your Honor, Call My Agent and Fauda.

Founded in 1967 by Anant Pai, the Amar Chitra Katha catalogue spans 20 languages and includes titles across epics & mythology, history, fables and more and is a major publisher of comics and graphic novels in India, including Rani Of Jhansi, Hanuman and Ashoka.

“At Applause, we only strive to deliver the best in storytelling. Over the last four years, we have significantly pushed the envelope in curating and creating the most disruptive stories for Indian audiences that cut across genres and geographies,” said Nair.

“Amar Chitra Katha is a household name in India with a diverse and celebrated library which deserves to be retold. Like millions of other people, I have grown up reading these iconic comics and as a child, imagined them with dynamic visuals and dramatic sound & action.

“This is our opportunity to realize that dream. This partnership is also a small step towards helping export Indian culture by taking a unique and deep rooted cultural brand like Amar Chitra Katha to screens across the globe.”