MUMBAI: Popular kids' show Sesame Street could soon appear in an Indian avatar, if the producers manage to find a local production partner.

The top rated American children's infotainment show that has won the maximum Emmys thus far, is looking for an Indian partner who can choose relevant subjects to be tackled on the show, as well as possible broadcasting alliances, local characters and other feasibility details. A delegation of the New York based Sesame Workshop which produces Sesame Street, is currently in India to tap local partnerships.

Sesame Workshop is a non-profit organisation that has conceptualised and produced Sesame Street, on air since 1969 in the US. A Sesame Workshop group had probed the possibility of a similar tie up here seven years ago, but the response has been encouraging only this time round. 

According to media reports quoting Sesame Workshop business development manager Sean Love, it could be another 18 months till a model specific to Indian requirements is developed. The team is yet to finalise which channel will telecast the Indian version of the monster muppets, which have imparted education and entertainment to generations of kids. Finer details like the language to be used, number of episodes and duration of episodes too have to be worked out.

Sesame Street currently runs as an afternoon block on Hallmark channel in India, using the TV to teach pre schoolers skills that make for a smooth transition from home to school. Sesame Street has received the most Emmys in TV history. Studies have revealed that teens who watched the show excelled in many ways and expressed less aggressive attitudes than those who did not watch the show, says a report in Mid-day.