MUMBAI: The Disney Channel original movie High School Musical, which has delivered a Platinum-selling soundtrack everywhere from Australia to Argentina and has received numerous honors including two Emmy Awards, is set to sing and dance its way in to India on 24 September at 11 am on Disney Channel.  

Customised for India‘s kids, tweens and families, the dialogue and hugely popular songs are re-recorded in Hindi with Indian instruments added for Bollywood flair.

Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director – programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “High School Musical symbolises all that Disney Channel means for kids in terms of following ones dreams and believing in oneself. Millions of kids across the globe have not just cherished the movie; they have adopted it into their lives. They have learnt the dance steps, sung the songs and relate their dreams and aspirations in those of the characters and the plot of the movie.”

“We have made the music all the more relevant to our Hindi audiences across India by adding the artistry of music industry stars including Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Kamath, Shweta Pandit, Neuman Pinto, director John Stewart and programmer DJ G and John Stewart,” added Pantvaidya.

Disney Channel will also provide an interactive experience for kids to express themselves through a nationwide music video dance contest, ‘My School Rocks,’ with announcement of audition venues and dates to be detailed on 24 September on Disney Channel.

Walt Disney Television International (India) director – marketing and communications Tushar Shah said, “Research has shown the universal appeal of song and dance among all Indian kids. ‘My School Rocks’ will be a first of its kind event that will celebrate the talent of kids while providing them a nationwide platform for translating their dreams into reality. We are excited about the response this event has already garnered among advertisers and sponsors.” 

The exciting initiative includes dance along interstitials, a viewer poll and ultimately, the televising of the winning school’s music video. ‘My School Rocks’ will be offered to 500 schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Ahmedabad and Amritsar wherein principals and arts teachers will be presented with the High School Musical kit complete with the VCD, lyric sheets, instructional dance moves and more.

The events in each metro will be spread across two days, videotaped by Disney Channel and judged by celebrity choreographers who will designate individual city winners. Those winners will travel to Mumbai, receive professional dance training and have their school music videos open to a viewer poll. The winning school’s team will then star in a special ‘My School Rocks’ music video, which will premiere on Disney Channel in December.

Since its premiere on January 20, the movie televised 14 times on Disney Channel US and was seen by over 40 million unduplicated total viewers, approximately 21 million households, 11.0 million Kids 6-11 and 11.6 million Tweens 9-14. The TV movie has delivered best-ever ratings on Disney Channels in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. It has also been licensed by free to air broadcasters including Australia‘s Seven Network (where it was #1 in the timeslot) and in December, will air on the BBC in the UK.  By the end of the year, it will reach over 100 countries.

In the US, the Platinum-selling High School Musical soundtrack is the #1 album of the year, having sold more than 3.5 million units.  It is also Platinum-selling in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines and Mexico and Gold selling in Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. 

The High School Musical DVD sold over 2.5 million copies since its US release in June and stands as the industry’s fastest-selling TV movie on DVD of all-time.

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