ITV

Category: News Headline

  • Reel luxe: Mukta A2 rolls out Opulence format in Vadodara

    Reel luxe: Mukta A2 rolls out Opulence format in Vadodara

    MUMBAI: Forget first-class, Vadodara’s movie buffs can now go full throttle with ‘Opulence’. Mukta A2 Cinemas has just unveiled its most premium offering yet with the launch of ‘Opulence’, a swanky four-screen multiplex housed inside The Emperor Mall, Vadodara. With 528 plush seats, Dolby Atmos sound, 2K laser projection, all-silver screens, and immersive 3D, it’s not just a trip to the movies, it’s a full-blown affair of the senses.

    From recliners and loungers to couple’s beds and leather sofas, comfort here doesn’t come in small measures. Add to that gourmet snacks, ambient lighting and a thoughtfully designed lobby, and you’ve got yourself a cinematic spa day.

    As a cherry on top, the launch syncs with the release of ‘Housefull 5’, giving audiences a blockbuster to match the opulence.

    “This isn’t just a format, it’s a reimagined moviegoing experience,” said Mukta A2 Cinemas managing director Rahul Puri. “We wanted to launch where the love for cinema runs deep, and Vadodara was the perfect fit.”

    Located beside VCA Ground on Vasna-Bhayli Road, the venue features a gourmet F&B counter with wraps, pizzas, desserts, and a range of beverages all served up in style.

    Satwik Lele, COO, added, “With Opulence, we’ve married comfort, technology, and hospitality into one seamless space. It’s cinema, but elevated.”

    With this launch, Mukta A2 Cinemas which operates nearly 100 screens across India and overseas including Bahrain reaffirms its ambition to lead with innovation. And if the seats at Opulence are anything to go by, they’re not just raising the bar they’re reclining in it.

  • Try time for India as GMR backs Rugby Premier League debut

    Try time for India as GMR backs Rugby Premier League debut

     MUMBAI: Rugby’s big break in India just got a power-packed boost courtesy GMR Group. One of India’s largest conglomerates has scrummed down with Rugby India to become the title partner of the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL), a first-of-its-kind franchise-based Rugby 7s tournament set to kick off in Mumbai on June 15, with the final scheduled for 29 June 2025.

    Organised in collaboration with GMR Sports, the league promises to be a landmark moment for Indian rugby. The action will unfold at Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex), featuring six founding franchises and a mix of global and homegrown talent.

    The GMR Rugby Premier League (GMR RPL) will welcome players from rugby powerhouses like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, and Spain, along with 18 international athletes from Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany. On the home front, 30 Indian players were picked from a competitive auction pool of 71, putting the spotlight on the country’s emerging talent.

    GMR’s entry as title sponsor is no token gesture. With a strong track record in nurturing sport be it cricket with the Delhi Capitals, kabaddi, or grassroots initiatives the group’s involvement signals a serious intent to grow rugby’s footprint in India.

    Calling it a “very important opening season,” Rugby India president Rahul Bose hailed the partnership as one rooted in “mutual belief and optimism.” He added, “We are confident this partnership will stand the test of time.”

    For Indian rugby, this isn’t just a league, it’s a leap. And with GMR’s backing, the sport finally looks set to convert potential into points. Let the rucks and tries begin.

  • CRM gets chatty as Expedify plugs AI into the sales script

    CRM gets chatty as Expedify plugs AI into the sales script

    MUMBAI: Who needs dashboards when your CRM talks, thinks and works like a teammate? Expedify, the conversation-first platform that wants to make CRM feel more like collaboration than chore, has just launched what it claims is India’s first truly agentic, AI-native CRM. Designed to function more like a human team member than a data dump, the system uses built-in voice and chat agents to hold natural, real-time conversations across sales, marketing and service.

    Instead of humans endlessly toggling between spreadsheets and dashboards, Expedify flips the script: its AI agents do the calling, following-up, qualifying, scheduling, analysing and even launching campaigns all through a unified conversational interface across WhatsApp, voice, email and web.

    “This isn’t another tool you have to babysit,” said Expedify CEO and founder Shashank Shekhar Sharma. “It’s an intelligent teammate that thinks and talks in context, helping your team act faster and smarter without the usual drag of legacy CRMs.”

    Here’s what sets it apart:

    1    Lead qualification kicks off within 30 seconds of form submission.

    2    An AI Analyst delivers on-demand insights without dashboard deep dives.

    3    Multichannel campaigns across WhatsApp, email and voice can be launched without ever switching tabs.

    4    Teams can chat with the CRM itself to ask questions, trigger actions or close deals no dashboards needed.

    Expedify’s edge lies in its omnichannel default. Whether it’s a Whatsapp message, voice call, email or SMS, everything runs off a single rule engine and every customer interaction reflects back into the CRM automatically. For sectors like BFSI, edtech, real estate and retail, the tool dramatically reduces response time while ramping up personalisation.

    Setup takes just 30 minutes, making it plug-and-play even for lean teams. It also undercuts traditional enterprise CRM pricing with a freemium model and premium tiers starting at  19 dollar/month (Growth) and  200 dollar/month (Teams) for up to 10 users.

    Already in use across fintech, healthcare and edtech brands in India and Southeast Asia, Expedify is continuing to expand its AI agent library. The platform’s goal? To automate not just data but decisions so that sales teams can stop searching for insights and start acting on them.

    With its eyes set on redefining post-sale engagement, Expedify might just be the CRM that finally talks the talk and walks the walk.

  • Casagrand bats for a third term with Sourav Ganguly as brand face

    Casagrand bats for a third term with Sourav Ganguly as brand face

    MUMBAI: From test matches to testaments of trust, Sourav Ganguly is playing a long innings off the pitch this time, as the face of Casagrand for the third year running. South India’s leading real estate developer, Casagrand, has extended its partnership with the cricketing icon, reaffirming its national ambitions with a familiar, dependable face. With its eyes set on expanding footprints in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Coimbatore, the brand is sharpening its game plan and who better than the man who redefined Indian leadership on the field?

    Known for his fearless captaincy and ability to build winning teams, Ganguly echoes Casagrand’s own growth story: bold, strategic and future-focused. “A home isn’t just a structure, it’s a dream nurtured,” said Ganguly. “Casagrand reflects that belief by building spaces that care for well-being and legacy. I’m proud to partner with a brand that understands the spirit of togetherness and vision.”

    Founded in 2003, Casagrand boasts over 160 completed projects and a cumulative 53 million square feet developed across urban hubs. In FY 2024–25 alone, the company launched over 18 projects, ramped up activity in Hyderabad and debuted in Pune cementing its reputation as one of India’s fastest-scaling real estate players.

    But Casagrand isn’t just about handing over keys. It’s pioneering post-handover support with features like assured rentals, resale assistance, and maintenance services, giving homeowners more than just square footage peace of mind. Its communities prioritise green spaces, smart layouts and multi-generational amenities, built with a vision that housing should enable legacy, not just lifestyle.

    The renewed Ganguly partnership goes beyond celebrity endorsement, it positions Casagrand as a brand built on shared values of trust, resilience, and ambition. With India’s property landscape getting more competitive, this brand–captain duo seems ready for a new innings complete with boundary-pushing aspirations and a stadium full of dreams.

  • Pandit hits the write note with memoir on adland, music and more

    Pandit hits the write note with memoir on adland, music and more

     MUMBAI: From the buzz of boardrooms to the rhythm of raag, Bipin R. Pandit’s journey finally finds its hardcover harmony. At Goafest 2025, amidst Abby cheers and industry nostalgia, The Advertising Club’s beloved COO Bipin R. Pandit launched his long-anticipated biography titled Impassioned. The launch wasn’t just ceremonial, it marked the culmination of 28 years spent scripting not just award shows, but a legacy in Indian advertising’s cultural corridors.

    Released by Ad Club President and Havas India group CEO for SEA & North Asia, Rana Barua, the book dropped during the 58th edition of the Abby Awards, a fitting venue, given Pandit has helmed 28 editions himself.

    But Impassioned is no dry professional recollection. Co-authored by Gokul Krishnamoorthy and supported by Gour Gupta’s Tribes, the book oscillates between Pandit’s rise from Castrol’s data division to becoming the backbone of India’s most prominent advertising secretariat and his other passions: cricket, Kishore Kumar and Khumaar, the live music IP he founded.

    It also swings into his personal innings, including a rooftop romance in Dadar that turned into a lifelong partnership. Reflections from industry stalwarts Piyush Pandey, Prasoon Joshi, Ramesh Narayan and Barua himself add emotional resonance to a story that’s both deeply personal and distinctly adland.

    The book also traces the birth of now-iconic properties like the Effies and Emvies, first conceptualised under Pandit’s watch in 2001 as part of a three-day Mumbai festival alongside the Abbys. Today, these awards stand as pillars of the Indian advertising industry.

    “Writing started with a LinkedIn blog post post-Abbys,” Pandit shared. “Rana called me and said ‘You need to make this a book’. The rest, as they say, got written.”

    Barua added, “Bipin’s been the pulse of the Club steady, smiling and always switched on. This book lets us meet the man behind the magic.”

    Adding heart to history, Pandit has pledged 10 per cent of all proceeds from Impassioned to the Light of Life Foundation, which supports underprivileged communities.

    From overseeing award ceremonies to belting out old classics, from managing committees to cricket trivia debates Bipin R. Pandit hasn’t just worked in adland, he’s lived it. And now, finally, it’s all on record with rhythm, recall and a whole lot of raag.

  • Nippon TV’s Golden SixTones lands on Netflix from 6 June

    Nippon TV’s Golden SixTones lands on Netflix from 6 June

    TOKYO: In a pitch-perfect move for pop fans, Netflix is rolling out Nippon TV’s Sunday night sensation Golden SixTones for global streaming starting 6 June. The zany variety show, fronted by Japan’s chart-topping boy band SixTones  (pronounced “stones”), becomes the first regular entertainment series from Nippon TV to be snapped up by the streamer for international audiences.

    Launched in April 2025 and clocking in at 60 minutes per episode, Golden SixTones has quickly hit the high notes in Japan — bagging ratings gold and topping social media charts every week. With Netflix now turning up the volume, the show will be subtitled in multiple languages and streamed worldwide, alongside its existing availability on Hulu and TVer in Japan.

    Packed with laughs, gourmet grub, quizzes and madcap competitions, Golden SixTones is a riotous studio variety show aimed at all age groups. The band’s infectious energy, mixed with celebrity guests and unpredictable segments, has already struck a chord with fans.

    Nippon TV producer Yoshihiro Miyazaki called the global release “an immense honour”, adding, “We can’t wait for fans around the world to experience the electric vibe that SixTones brings each week.”

    Netflix  director of content Rie Sawaoka echoed the enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to partner with Nippon TV featuring the popular boy band SixTones, to audiences around the world. Netflix is committed to bringing the best of uniquely Japanese entertainment to our members globally, and we are honored to bring the energetic charm of SixTones and this wonderful program, produced by Nippon TV, to their existing fanbase and new viewers alike. We eagerly anticipate Golden SixTones  captivating audiences worldwide on Netflix, allowing them to experience the power of Japanese entertainment.”

    With Golden SixTones  now marching onto the global stage, it’s clear that this boy band isn’t just striking a chord at home — they’re set to rock screens worldwide.

  • Sony strikes the right chord with THG to amplify India’s global music pitch

    Sony strikes the right chord with THG to amplify India’s global music pitch

    MUMBAI: India’s musical ambitions just got a global mic check. In a pitch-perfect move set to reshape India’s live music industry, Sony Music India has teamed up with Los Angeles-based entertainment heavyweight The Hello Group (THG) to launch THG India, a joint venture that promises to give Indian artists a global stage and the backing to own it.

    Billed as the first international collaboration of this scale for Sony Music India, THG India blends the local label’s deep industry roots with THG’s international clout in live touring, publishing, and artist development. Based out of Mumbai, the new entity aims to provide a complete support system from artist management to worldwide bookings to help Indian talent break into international circuits without missing a beat.

    “This is more than a business deal, it’s a bridge for Indian music to go global,” said Sony Music India managing director Vinit Thakkar. “With THG’s unmatched touring network and our homegrown muscle, we’re unlocking a future where Indian artists can thrive not just locally, but on the world’s biggest stages.”

    From Bts and Enhypen to The Chainsmokers and Twice, THG’s publishing and tour booking legacy is packed with platinum plaques and packed stadiums. THG India now aims to channel that pedigree into India’s booming music scene, which has seen a surge in independent acts and a hungry live-event audience post-pandemic.

    “The talent in India is phenomenal and the world is listening,” added The Hello Group CEO Taylor Jones. “THG India will ensure they’re heard. With a team on the ground and decades of experience behind us, we’re here to make Indian music truly borderless.”

    As live music becomes a serious economic engine for the Indian entertainment industry, the joint venture directly addresses one of its most glaring gaps sophisticated infrastructure for touring and artist development. Backed by Sony’s investment and creative ecosystem, THG India is poised to become the launchpad for the country’s next wave of breakout stars.

    With names like Steve Aoki, I.M of MONSTA X, and Kang Daniel already on its international roster, The Hello Group brings proven star power to the partnership. And for Indian artists who until now have struggled to convert local fandom into global visibility this could be the stage door they’ve been waiting for.

    In a world where music travels faster than ever, THG India is putting Indian artists on the global tour bus no passport needed, just pure talent and the right push.

  • Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International

    Sunil Raina calls the shots as new managing director at Lava International

    MUMBAI:  Sunil Raina has officially taken the reins as managing director at Lava International, stepping into the hot seat after a stellar 15-year rise through the ranks at the homegrown mobile brand.

    From leading marketing at Xolo to steering strategy as president and business head, and most recently serving as executive director, Raina has been the driving force behind Lava’s brand identity, market expansion, and product innovation over the years.

    His journey with the company began in 2010 as chief marketing officer, and since then, he’s been pivotal in Lava’s evolution from an emerging player to a Make in India torchbearer.

    With earlier stints at Telenor, Reliance Communications, Airtel, and Tata Teleservices, Raina’s telecom roots run deep. His marketing chops and GTM savvy are expected to play a key role as Lava navigates India’s fiercely competitive smartphone battleground.

    Industry insiders say Raina’s elevation signals a renewed push for domestic dominance and global ambition, as the brand looks to consolidate its positioning against Chinese rivals and double down on manufacturing, design, and distribution.

    As the handset wars heat up, all eyes are on how Lava’s homegrown hero plans to dial up growth—and ring in a fresh era of desi disruption.

  • Ketan K Bharati joins The House of Abhinandan Lodha to lead media

    Ketan K Bharati joins The House of Abhinandan Lodha to lead media

    MUMBAI: Ketan K Bharati, the marketing maverick who has shaped campaigns across telecom, FMCG, tech, and media giants, has now planted his flag at The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) as head – media strategy & performance marketing.

    With a career spanning nearly two decades and marquee brands like Truecaller, Reckitt, Vodafone, Disney Star, and GroupM in his rearview mirror, Bharati’s next chapter promises to blend data muscle, storytelling flair, and go-to-market wizardry for one of India’s most ambitious real estate disruptors.

    Bharati, was most recently VP – global marketing ops at Truecaller, where he steered GTM rollouts, global launches, and even lit up Times Square.

    Backed by stints managing Rs 500 crore media portfolios, landing Gold at Spikes Asia, and anchoring revenue surges at Fox International and Reckitt, Bharati is no stranger to performance-led growth. His Vodafone days saw him turn cricket carnivals into brand goldmines with the IPL and World Cup. At GroupM, he cracked efficiency gains for brands like Dove and PepsiCo with data-first media buying.

    At HoABL, he’s expected to fuse full-funnel performance with digital-first thinking, supporting the brand’s audacious land-tokenisation push and national expansion.

    In a world where land is being reimagined as a lifestyle asset, HoABL’s latest hire signals it’s not just playing the game. It’s rewriting the script.

  • Venu Takes the Wheel as TVS Shifts Gears at the Top

    Venu Takes the Wheel as TVS Shifts Gears at the Top

    MUMBAI: TVS Motor’s leadership engine just got a new ignition, Sudarshan Venu is in the driver’s seat now. In a landmark move signalling the next chapter in its leadership journey, TVS Motor Company has announced that Sudarshan Venu will take over as chairman and managing director effective August 25, 2025. The company’s board of directors made the decision unanimously, underscoring Venu’s instrumental role in shaping TVS Motor’s strategy and global ambitions over recent years.

    Venu, currently serving as managing director, will succeed Ralf Speth, who has opted not to seek reappointment as director at the company’s Annual General Meeting on August 22, 2025. Ralf, the former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover and a seasoned automotive veteran, will officially step down as Chairman at the conclusion of the AGM.

    However, this isn’t a full stop, it’s a strategic shift. Ralf will continue his association with TVS as its chief mentor for a three-year term starting 23, August  2025, offering strategic counsel and drawing on his vast experience in automotive leadership.

    Expressing his gratitude, Venu said, “I am really honoured and excited for the future. TVS has been built on a foundation of customer centricity, quality, and technology values we must preserve as we reimagine our future. I’m deeply thankful to our chairman emeritus for his vision, and to Ralf for pushing us to think global and act bold.”

    The leadership change comes at a time when TVS Motor is expanding aggressively across global markets and investing in next-gen technologies, including electric mobility and connected vehicles. Venu has been central to this transformation, overseeing strategic acquisitions, international collaborations, and product innovations that have given the company new momentum.

    Ralf Speth’s stint as chairman was marked by a greater global orientation for TVS, including talent onboarding, enhanced R&D processes, and bold investments in future-ready technologies. In his new role as chief mentor, he is expected to help guide the company’s long-term vision and innovation roadmap.

    With this transition, TVS isn’t just changing drivers, it’s fine-tuning for the next lap of growth. And with Venu at the helm and Speth still in the pit lane, the company seems all set to accelerate into its next evolution.