MUMBAI: No surprise here. Summer time is children's time and the pubcaster is all geared to set the ball rolling.

DD will kick start it's summer special with a new show for kids- Bongo. Boasting of special effects like 2D and 3D animation characters interacting with real human actors, the show is scheduled to air on Sundays at 12:30 pm.

Produced by Deepak Punjabi, Harish Punjabi and Sanjay Punjabi of Rudrakshaa Arts, Bongo's cast includes Lalit Parimoo, Sooraj Thapar, Swapnil Joshi, Sushmita Dann, Raj Kanojiya, Yash Sinha, Flavin, Master Shadaab, Master Smit, Shammi and the animation character Bongo.

On the unidentified planet Zapata, the species are far more advanced. One day, some dangerous forces threaten the planet's peace. The solution to ward off this danger lies on Earth. The King of Zapata summons his young and dynamic soldier Bongo. On Earth, a 10-year old boy Sunny is researching on Aliens. Sunny and Bongo become true friends, but Sunny is unaware of Bongo's mission. What happens next forms the crux of Bongo's story.

Speaking to indiantelevision.com at a press conference in Mumbai last evening, the Punjabi trio offered, "For this programme, we didn't try hard for pitching it on other channels. We would like to keep the rights of our first baby. But we are virtually ready with three more projects - Kajri, Little Hero Bharat and Captain. Talks to put up these serials on satellite channels during the course of this year are on."

Punjabis added that they were optimistic about Bongo's success because it had been slotted immediately after Shaktiman. "It should get a good spill over audience," said Sanjay Punjabi.

Punjabis are ready with 13 episodes of Bongo and have been granted a permission of 26 episodes. "We would love to carry it on till 104 episodes," they concluded.

No prizes for guessing that the Punjabi trio is trying to cash in on the success of Rakesh Roshan's super-duper hit Koi Mil Gaya. Whether they can manage to spill over the big screen craze on the small one remains to be seen.