'Jungle Talkies' to showcase documentaries on animal kingdom

"Jungle Talkies", a new TV offering, will give viewers a dekko at documentaries from around the world on the animal kingdom.

Scheduled to air on January 27, its first episode "African Cats" captures the real-life love, humour and determination of the majestic kings of the savannah.

The series will bring together selected films exploring a wide range of topics. "Chimpanzee" and "Survivor" are some other titles to be showcased, read a statement from channel Animal Planet.

Filmed over two and a half years in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, and narrated by actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson, the story focuses on Sita, a mother cheetah with five cubs, and Mara, a lion cub whose parents, Layla and Fang, are the aging rulers of their pride.

As a single mother, it falls to Sita alone to ensure the survival of her progeny, while Mara faces a more immediate threat-- if another lion topples Fang, Mara and her siblings will be killed or driven off.

"Animal Planet offers addictive wildlife content and enjoys high stickiness amongst its viewers. 'Jungle Talkies' is an endeavour to showcase world-class documentaries that epitomize the very essence of Animal Planet's DNA - great storytelling, incredible drama, great characters and powerful images," said Sameer Rao, Vice President at Real World Entertainment, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

"The drama and emotion evoked is aptly characteristic of what millennials look for on the small screen," Rao added.

--IANS

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