Krish, Trish and Baltiboy

Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy is an Indian animated series that aired since 2009 produced by Graphiti Multimedia.^[6] Created and Directed by Munjal Shroff and Tilak Raj Shetty of Graphiti Studios, the series aims to introduce audiences to various regional art forms, folk tales, and musical traditions.^[7] It was first aired in 2009 on Cartoon Network and later at Pogo in India.^[8][9] There are total 8 episodes in the first season of the series. In 2023, the animation was renewed for second season Krish, Trish & Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum.^[10]

The animation series explores the India's diverse cultural heritage through the narratives of three animal characters: Krish the monkey, Trish the cat, and Baltiboy the donkey. The series stands out for its unique approach to storytelling, blending traditional narratives with vibrant animation styles. Each episode showcases a different folk art form, such as Mughal miniatures, Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, and many other Indian arts had been adapted seamlessly into the animation.^[11][12]

The eight episodes of the animation series feature a total of 24 Indian folk tales with each presents three distinct stories. It showcased through the traditional Indian folk art styles and music, drew inspiration from various Indian regions like Rajasthan, Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.^[13][14]

• Damandeep Singh Baggha/ Tarun Ratnani as Krish: He is a monkey who is always messing with Baltiboy and he makes everyone laugh with his humor.^[15]
• Smita Malhotra as Trish: She is a cat who is well behaved, disciplined and the most intelligent character.^[15]
• Baba Sehgal/ Deepak Chachra as Baltiboy: He is a donkey who is very slow but he’s not completely dumb. He is just a simple character.^[15]

The films have been broadcast on various platforms, including Cartoon Network India, and have been made available on home video formats. The series has been lauded for its innovative approach to storytelling, effectively blending traditional Indian art forms with contemporary animation to educate and entertain. Critics and audiences have praised its role in preserving and promoting India's rich cultural heritage, making it accessible to younger generations. The educational value of the series has been highlighted, with particular emphasis on its ability to introduce children to diverse regional art forms, music, and folklore.

Krish, Trish & Baltiboy 2 received a nomination at 21st Cairo International Film Festival for the category under Best Children's Animation Film in 2012.^[16]

On 15 August 2023, Graphiti Multimedia announced the second season of the series as Krish, Trish & Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum. It was jointly produced by Central Bureau of Communication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Graphiti Studios. In this series, the trio of Krish, Trish & Baltiboy relates the stirring history of The Freedom Struggle of India through real-life tales of courage and sacrifice of Indian Freedom Fighters of 1500s to 1947.^[17]

On 11 October 2023, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched the trailer of KTB- Bharat Hain Hum.^[18]

In November 2024, during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting unveiled the second season of the animated series as Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy 2: Bharat Hain Hum. The event was graced by superstar Nagarjuna, who emphasized the importance of educating the younger generation about India's unsung heroes.^[19][20]

All episodes were aired at DD National and All India Radio. Later it were digitally streamed at Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Prasar Bharati's OTT platform, Waves available in 12 Indian languages and seven international languages, reaching audiences in over 150 countries.^[21][22]

In 2024, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, praised Krish, Trish & Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum in his Mann Ki Baat programme. He said that:

Friends, now in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ i.e. MKB, we will talk about KTB. Many of the elderly may not know about KTB. But just ask children, KTB is a superhit among them. KTB means Krish, Trish and Baltiboy. You might know that the favourite animation series of children is called KTB – Bharat Hain Hum and now its second season is also out. These three animation characters tell us about those heroes and bravehearts; men and women associated with the Indian freedom struggle who are not discussed much. Recently, its season-2 was launched in a very special way at the International Film Festival of India, Goa. The best thing is that this series is broadcast not only in many Indian languages but also in foreign languages. It can be watched on Doordarshan as well as other OTT platforms.^[23]

• Krish, Trish and Baltiboy on Netflix
• Krish, Trish and Baltiboy on Amazon Prime Video
• Krish, Trish and Baltiboy on IMDb