MUMBAI: Probably when Rakesh Roshan concieved his big screen 'cutsie' star, Jadoo, he didn't quite realise that small screen would lap it up with such a gusto.
But this time on, Jadoo is not alone. On his small screen avtaar, on J Bole Toh Jadoo on MTV's kid channel Nick, he is accompanied by Tona, Half Time, Ki2 and is back on his home planet Tarkopar. The mission this time is not to entertain, but to impart some public message as well.
The animation-cum-live action is a weekly programme that airs at 12 pm on Sundays. The show sketches Tarkopar, as a colourful fantasyland with rhythmic, organic and spiral structures and landscapes.
Jadoo
The star of J Bole Toh Jadoo, Jadoo is 21 in Tarkopar years (each equaling 100 human years), standing four feet tall. He has telekinetic powers that can impart knowledge, but has a weakness that drains him of his energy in the lack of sunlight. He detests pollution, but likes lots of sunlight, a green environment, children and of course Tona.
Tona is a female alien about 18 Tarkopar years, a little taller that Jadoo. The character of Toon is chalked out as a lively, bubbly and over excited most of the time. She possesses the same powers and weakness as Jadoo, but dislikes girls latching on to Jadoo. Her main aim is to protect her home planet and to teach combat to her fellow aliens.
To introduce Half-time, he is a teacher and mentor for all Tarkaporites. The character is show as immortal. And gets half his balance lifespan as bonus every time he reaches his half life. The media release adds, considering his immortality, half of his body is like a baby - constantly replenished while the other half of the body continues to age. Half Time is virtuous, patient and considered the superpower of Tarkopar. He likes kids and Jadoo but completely detests falsehood and evil.
And then there is Ki2 who is brave, mischievous and only 12 years old. Ki2, like all Tarkoparites, hates evil. He is still an understudy of Jadoo and wants to eventually be like him.
The planet, Tarkopar receives its energy from two suns, which are situated 180 degree apart on the either side of the planet and keep revolving around it.
The concept of evil was unknown on Tarkopar until a mad scientist Dr. V Nash created three creatures whose main goal is to harm the environment. They are Dhuandhar, a smoke-spewing monster who pollutes the air we breathe, Jadanu an underground creature who thrives by destroying vegetation and Gaatru, a huge lump of sludge who grows in strength due to overflowing garbage and litter where they don't belong.
The communities in the planet reside in individual mushroom-kind of structures mostly made of glass or transparent materials. Along with Jadoo, new characters from Jadoo's home planet include Tona, Half Time, Ki2 amongst many others.
The media release says, the Enlightenment Centre is equivalent of a school in earth. The center holds a sophisticated look with and has virtual classrooms.
The kids can log in from their respective homes and attend the class. Half Time and Tona are part of the faculty. Half Time takes his knowledge sessions in the central dome of the center. He has floating LCD panels in front of him one for every student logged in and attending his class. There is also an interactive virtual reality sparring room with force feedback. This is where students get trained for combat.
The planet has a Space Transport Depot (ST Depot) which is a terminal from where Tarkoparites take an ST to travel to different destinations in space. It has a ticket counter, a boarding zone and a large parking cum garage area for the STs.
The series is brought in Hinglish which also has its high point of two young kids Nina and Chakki on Earth, unaware of how their lives would shape up when they meet Jadoo. The show is brought in association with Parle-G Magix and the title song has been sung by the pop-star, Shaan.
