Discovery Channel to launch 'Discovery Atlas' on Republic Day

By Juhan Samuel

Kochi, Jan 24 : Discovery Channel will launch 'Discovery Atlas', a portrait of the world's greatest and unique nations seen through the lives of their extraordinary people, on Republic Day.

Starting with two-hour episode on India named 'India Revealed', the series will be narrated by film director Mira Nair.

"'Discovery Atlas', one of the most ambitious high-definition projects commissioned, provides exceptional narrative, stunning imagery and cutting-edge special effects to capture the world like never before," said Rajiv Bakshi, Associate Director, Marketing and Communications Discovery Communications India.

The series creates a complete visual record of the history, civilization, geography, industry, technology and people of the world.

Apart from India, there will be shows on China, Australia, Mexico, Italy, South Africa and Brazil.

Each two-hour episode is narrated by a celebrity, among them are Academy Award Winning 'Gladiator' actor Russel Crowe (Australia Revealed), renowned film director Mira Nair (India Revealed), three-time Emmy award winner James Spader (China Revealed), Oscar nominee and multiple award winner Edward James Olmos (Mexico Revealed),

Episodes on Russia, France, Japan and Egypt are currently under production and will air later in the year.

The production team of Discovery Atlas traveled to different locations within each country using various forms of transportation, including hot air balloons, propeller planes, bamboo rafts, canoes, riverboats, helicopters, bicycle taxis, motorbike taxis and subways.

"As India strives to join the leading edge of the world's powers, century old conventions are coming under pressure forcing deep shifts and changes within the Indian society. 'India Revealed' will capture all those shifts and changes, tensions and conflicts," Bakshi said.

Discovery Communications is the number-one non-fiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries.

ANI