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Category: News Headline

  • Sanjay Mehta launches Ananta Quest to reimagine life after 50

    Sanjay Mehta launches Ananta Quest to reimagine life after 50

    MUMBAI: Sanjay Mehta, best known for founding Mirum, a pioneering digital agency, has launched a new venture, Ananta Quest. The platform targets Indians aged 50 to 65 who are grappling with questions of identity, health and purpose.

    Ananta Quest is built on three pillars: health (prana), wealth (artha) and community (ekatra). Its aim is to provide structure and action, not just reflection.

    Mehta has a record of spotting opportunities early. He created Homeindia.com in 1998, among the country’s first e-commerce sites, and Mirum in 2009, when social media marketing was nascent. His latest project stems from his own exploration of ageing, which he has documented through a content series called What If You Live to Be 100?.

    “Even the most accomplished individuals face hard questions after 50,” he said at the launch. “We want to create a trusted space where they can move from ambiguity to reinvention.”

    India’s over-50 population is expanding fast. Ventures such as Ananta Quest seek to shift the narrative about ageing, framing later life not as decline but as renewal.

  • Oneindia taps Sushant Yattam to spearhead video push

    Oneindia taps Sushant Yattam to spearhead video push

    MUMBAI:  It’s hoping that this appointment will help it go one up on competition. Oneindia, India’s multilingual digital news platform, has named Sushant Yattam as business head for video as it seeks to capitalise on the country’s surging appetite for video content. The appointment signals the platform’s ambitious pivot towards video-first revenue generation and audience expansion.

    Yattam brings 15 years of media and entertainment experience to the role, having held senior positions at Wizcraft, Qyuki Digital Media, Walt Disney India and UTV Indiagames. His brief centres on scaling Oneindia’s video operations and developing creator-led content strategies across the platform’s network.

    “Video represents the future of digital storytelling and revenue growth,” says Oneindia chief business officer Sunder Venkatraman.  “With Sushant’s proven track record in scaling businesses and creator innovations, we’re positioned to lead the market in building an innovative video ecosystem that truly represents Bharat.”

    The platform, which reaches over 280  million users, sees significant scope for video expansion as Indian audiences increasingly shift towards multilingual video formats.  Yattam aims to develop scalable intellectual properties that blend data-driven insights with regional storytelling.|

    “Audiences worldwide are rapidly moving towards video and multilingual formats,” Yattam notes. “Oneindia is uniquely positioned not only to lead this transformation in India but also set benchmarks for digital markets globally.”

    The appointment comes as Indian digital platforms face intensifying competition for video eyeballs and advertising revenue in one of the world’s fastest-growing internet markets.

  • Gujarati blockbuster Jhamkudi haunts Hindi screens on ShemarooMe

    Gujarati blockbuster Jhamkudi haunts Hindi screens on ShemarooMe

    MUMBAI: Witching hour just struck again, this time in Hindi. After smashing box office records in Gujarati cinema, supernatural horror-comedy Jhamkudi is now ready to spook and tickle audiences across India with its Hindi world digital premiere on ShemarooMe from 18 September 2025.

    The film, which stars National award-winner Manasi Parekh and viral comic sensation Viraj Ghelani, has already carved a cult following. Set in the cursed village of Raniwada, it weaves together folklore, frights and funny bones, with a vengeful witch unleashing chaos during Navratri. But unlike your average haunted tale, Jhamkudi balances scares with laugh-out-loud moments, and even a rap-style title track sung by Parekh herself.

    Shot inside the 500-year-old Gondal Palace, where whispers of real ghost stories floated through the crew, the film oozes atmosphere and authenticity. directed by Umang Vyas, it boasts a stellar ensemble including Ojas Rawal, Sanjay Goradia, Jayesh More and Bhavini Jani.

    Reflecting on the film’s Hindi debut, Parekh said, “We wanted to explore horror-comedy in Gujarati cinema, and the audience response has been overwhelming. Bringing Jhamkudi to a wider audience in Hindi feels like the natural next step: it’s fun, spooky and full of madness.”

    Ghelani, who dubbed his own Hindi lines, added, “This film marked my debut and will always be close to my heart. Reliving the character in Hindi was such a joy, and I hope viewers everywhere connect with the humour and thrills.”

    With its mix of scares, satire and superstition, Jhamkudi is now spreading Gujarati cinema’s magic beyond borders. For ShemarooMe, it’s another step in making regional blockbusters mainstream, giving India’s diverse stories the stage, and the scares, they deserve.

  • NDTV to snap up GoodTimes channel in Rs 18 crore slump sale

    NDTV to snap up GoodTimes channel in Rs 18 crore slump sale

    NEW DELHI: New Delhi Television has approved the purchase of the GoodTimes channel from Lifestyle & Media Broadcasting in a slump sale valued at up to Rs 18 crore, a move that deepens its push into lifestyle broadcasting. The transaction will be funded through a mix of cash and television advertising inventory and is structured on a cash-free, debt-free basis. NDTV made this known through a regulatory filing on the Bombay stock exchange last weekend.

    GoodTimes, a fixture for fashion, food, travel and entertainment programming, will shift to NDTV as a going concern. Because Lifestyle & Media Broadcasting is a joint venture of NDTV, the deal qualifies as a related-party transaction, though the broadcaster emphasised that it is being executed on an arm’s-length basis and backed by an independent valuation from a registered valuer. NDTV added that its promoters and group companies hold no direct stake in the seller beyond any indirect shareholding.

    Completion is subject to routine corporate and regulatory clearances, including approval from the ministry of information and broadcasting for the transfer of the channel licence. NDTV expects the process to close within roughly three months.

    Executives say the acquisition aligns with NDTV’s long-term growth strategy, broadening its content portfolio and operational reach. The company believes folding GoodTimes into its network will strengthen its brand presence, diversify revenue streams and enhance value for shareholders as competition in India’s broadcasting market heats up.

  • ChuChu TV appoints Cookbook Media to drive North America expansion

    ChuChu TV appoints Cookbook Media to drive North America expansion

    CHENNAI:  Chennai’s own ChuChu TV, the preschool YouTube sensation with a global following, has appointed New York-based Cookbook Media as its exclusive content and consumer-products representative for North America. The deal marks the Indian brand’s most aggressive international push yet, aimed at transforming its digital stardom into a broad entertainment and retail franchise.

    Under the mandate, Cookbook will broker distribution of ChuChu TV’s existing catalogue and forthcoming releases to broadcasters, streamers and AVOD platforms across the United States and Canada. The agency will also steer licensing deals spanning publishing, toys, apparel, live entertainment, gaming and digital products. Experiential activations and retail partnerships are on the slate, with Cookbook showcasing the brand at major markets including Mipcom in October.

    “From humble beginnings, ChuChu TV has grown into one of the most loved and watched preschool brands worldwide,” said founder Vinoth Chandar. “We see tremendous opportunity to connect with children and families in North America through new formats, consumer products and experiences, and we are excited to work with Claudia and Rob to bring these dreams to life.”

    Cookbook co-founder Claudia Scott-Hansen called ChuChu TV “a global success story that has captured the hearts of children and families everywhere”. Her partner Rob Bencal added: “We are in the golden age of fandom. Consumers have so many ways to show their love for favourite brands and characters. This is the perfect moment to expand ChuChu’s reach and make it a true lifestyle brand for preschoolers.”

    Launched in 2013, ChuChu TV began with animated nursery rhymes and simple songs. It now commands more than 180 million subscribers and over 100 billion views across multiple YouTube channels, with its flagship feed regularly ranking among the platform’s top ten worldwide. Its blend of bright animation and catchy tunes has won a loyal audience of children and parents from India to the Americas.

    By tapping Cookbook’s franchise-management expertise, ChuChu TV aims to convert that digital dominance into a 360-degree presence on screens, shelves and stages—turning a once-humble YouTube channel into a North American preschool powerhouse.

  • India opens Waves Bazaar pavilion at Busan film market

    India opens Waves Bazaar pavilion at Busan film market

    BUSAN:  India unveiled the Waves Bazaar – Bharat Pavilion at the Asian Contents & Film Market, held alongside the Busan International Film Festival, to pitch its fast-growing media and entertainment sector to global buyers and partners.

    Set up by the ministry of information and broadcasting with the Indian embassy in Seoul, the pavilion will run until 23 September, promoting co-productions and partnerships across film, television, gaming and emerging creative technologies.

    The launch drew industry figures including Kang Sungkyu of the Busan Film Commission, Agnieszka Moody of the British Film Institute and Ferdinando Gueli of the Italian Trade Agency. Indian filmmakers Arfi Lamba, Pradip Kurbah and Tannishtha Chatterjee joined officials Prithul Kumar, joint secretary at the ministry, and Nishi Kant Singh, chargé d’affaires at the embassy.

    Speakers highlighted India’s rising weight in the global content economy and the pavilion’s role as a bridge for collaboration. The space hosts screenings, B2B meetings and showcases in animation, VFX, gaming and immersive storytelling, underscoring New Delhi’s ambition to position India as a global content hub.

  • Micro-dramas set to race to $9.5 b global market as China leads the charge

    Micro-dramas set to race to $9.5 b global market as China leads the charge

    SINGAPORE: Micro-dramas, once a fringe curiosity, are now a juggernaut. China’s revenues rocketed from $0.5 billion in 2021 to $7 billion in 2024 and will overtake the domestic box office this year, according to Media Partners Asia’s latest study, The Micro Drama Economy 2025.

    More than 830 million Chinese viewers are tuning in, nearly 60 per cent paying or transacting. Profitability is no longer theoretical: DramaBox booked $323 million in revenue and a $10 million net profit last year, while ReelShort (Crazy Maple Studio) has scaled fast despite heavy costs.

    Outside China the market hit $1.4 billion in 2024 and is on track for $9.5 billion by 2030. Affluent women aged 30–60 drive demand in the United States, while younger mobile-first audiences dominate Asia.

    Artificial intelligence is accelerating the boom, from content personalisation and rapid creative iteration in China to dubbing and localisation worldwide.

    “There are too many players with limited differentiation and too much churn, but winners are emerging,” said MPA executive director Vivek Couto. “Production is cheap but distribution is costly. Success depends on speed, scale and repeatable IP. China shows what’s possible when content is tied to social and payments rails, while the US proves the global opportunity. Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America are next.”

    The report maps viewership patterns, key demographics and profitability benchmarks, charting how micro-dramas leapt from niche experiment to multi-billion-dollar global category.

  • Wipro marks 20 years of its global run with record turnout

    Wipro marks 20 years of its global run with record turnout

    BENGALURU: Wipro’s annual Spirit of Wipro Run hit a milestone on Sunday as over 62,000 employees, families, clients and partners pounded the streets in more than 100 cities worldwide.

    Executive chairman Rishad Premji flagged off the flagship event at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium, while chief executive and managing director Srini Pallia led the East Brunswick, New Jersey leg. Bengaluru alone drew 14,000 runners, the highest ever.

    “This year we celebrate not just a number, but the spirit of togetherness that defines Wipro,” said Saurabh Govil, chief human resources officer.

    Each registration is matched by a corporate donation through Wipro Cares, aiding more than 85 non-profits in healthcare, education and environmental projects. The run unites employees of Wipro Limited, Wipro Enterprises, Premji Invest, the Azim Premji Foundation and Azim Premji University.

    The event dovetailed with the Wipro Bengaluru Marathon, where 35,000 runners—including elite athletes—took part. Wipro remains title sponsor for the third year running.

  • Maheima Kapur takes charge as Kayura’s chief marketer

    Maheima Kapur takes charge as Kayura’s chief marketer

    BENGALURU:  Maheima Kapur has joined Kayura as chief marketing officer, adding heavyweight experience to the digital-first lifestyle brand’s leadership bench.

    Kapur is a marketing and product specialist with nearly 20 years in consumer goods and start-ups. She founded culinary-tourism platform Talking Street, scaled interior-design player Design Cafe as vice-president of marketing and customer experience, and has advised a clutch of health-tech and B2B firms on go-to-market strategy, product design and digital communication.

    Earlier, she drove innovation at Tata Global Beverages, relaunched Lifebuoy Hand Wash at Unilever with a 250 per cent growth spurt, and shaped Britannia’s dairy portfolio. Recent projects include Manam, a mental-wellness programme for Manipal Academy of Higher Education students, and digital-transformation mandates for Nutriwiz, Vectura Fertin Pharma and The Media Ant.

    At Kayura, Kapur will steer brand strategy, product marketing and growth, sharpening the company’s push to become a pan-India lifestyle name.

  • Vivek Makker returns to NDTV as national revenue head

    Vivek Makker returns to NDTV as national revenue head

    NEW DELHI: NDTV has brought back seasoned sales leader Vivek Makker as national revenue head for NDTV India, NDTV Madhya Pradesh–Chhattisgarh and NDTV Rajasthan, entrusting him with the task of supercharging advertising revenues across its flagship Hindi news network.

    Makker knows the terrain well. From 2012 to 2022 he climbed the NDTV ladder to become national head of NDTV India, shaping strategy and client relationships in the intensely competitive Hindi news segment. He now returns after a three-year stint at News Nation, where as executive vice-president he steered national sales, digital marketing and customer experience.

    His earlier career spans nearly every corner of India’s broadcast and out-of-home market. At Star India he managed northern-region sales, while at JSL Media he headed the outdoor revenue function. At Times Innovative Media he was part of the core team that launched airport advertising in Delhi and Mumbai in 2007, taking monthly billings from zero to Rs 10 crore within a few years. He recruited and retained a high-performing team and built direct relationships with top developers such as DLF, Emaar and Unitech, as well as brands from Volkswagen to GM and BMW.

    Makker started out in media marketing at Hindustan Times in 1999, later moving to Star TV to handle marquee real-estate and IPO clients. Across these roles he earned a reputation for meticulous client servicing, sharp sales strategy and the ability to build lasting partnerships in a sector known for churn.

    The NDTV executive say his mandate is clear: grow advertising share in Hindi heartland markets while deepening ties with national advertisers and agencies. With more than two decades of experience and a track record of turning fledgling revenue streams into major profit centres, Makker is expected to give NDTV’s Hindi channels fresh commercial momentum as the network readies for the next phase of expansion.