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Category: News Headline

  • TV9 Festival strikes a high note with Shaan, Sachet–Parampara in Delhi

    TV9 Festival strikes a high note with Shaan, Sachet–Parampara in Delhi

    MUMBAI: When beats meet bhajans and pop collides with pujo, you know Delhi’s in for a spectacle. The third edition of the TV9 festival of India promises to be bigger, brighter and louder, bringing together music, culture, food and fashion in a five-day carnival at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium from 28 September to 2 October 2025.

    TV9 Network, which has seen huge success with the past two editions, is upping the tempo this year with star-studded concerts, celebrity DJs, dazzling dandiya nights and Delhi’s tallest Durga Puja pandal. “With the grand success of the last two editions, we are raising the bar this year. The festival reflects the spirit of India: culture, tradition, festivity and modernity,” said TV9 Network, COO, K Vikram.

    Headlining the line-up are Bollywood favourites Sachet–Parampara and Shaan. The duo, known for chartbusters like Bekhayali, Maiyya Mainu and Raanjhan, will perform on opening night, 28 September, while Shaan, the golden voice behind classics such as Chand Sifarish and Woh Pehli Baar takes the stage on 1 October.

    But the music doesn’t stop there. Dandiya nights will keep the floor alive with a Bollywood-meets-Garba twist: DJ Sahil Gulati spins on 29 September, DJ D’ark on 30 September, and a top international DJ closes the celebrations on 2 October. Add to that day-long live acts ranging from folk and fusion to indie beats, and you’ve got a non-stop sonic feast.

    The festival, however, is not just about music. A sprawling lifestyle expo will showcase everything from handicrafts and home décor to fashion, beauty, tech and jewellery, alongside international stalls. Foodies can eat their way across the country with delicacies from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, while workshops, contests and art corners keep younger visitors entertained.

    At its spiritual heart lies the awe-inspiring Durga Puja celebrations, with rituals, décor and a towering pandal that promises to be a visual and devotional centrepiece.

    With something for everyone, whether you’re a shopaholic, a foodie, a culture buff or just chasing a great night out, the TV9 Festival of India is shaping up to be the capital’s biggest festive bash. Tickets for concerts and dandiya nights are available on Bookmyshow, while the lifestyle expo is free to attend daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

     

  • Game of cons Dreamhack x Comic Con 2025 powers up in Hyderabad

    Game of cons Dreamhack x Comic Con 2025 powers up in Hyderabad

    MUMBAI: Grab your capes, consoles and comic books Hyderabad is about to become the nerdiest city in India. Dreamhack India 2025 is teaming up with Hyderabad Comic Con for a three-day pop culture takeover from 31 October to 2 November, promising a mash-up of esports battles, cosplay showdowns, comic book launches and retro gaming nostalgia.

    The festival, celebrating Dreamhack’s sixth anniversary in India, lands at a time when fandom culture is booming. Last year, Comic Con Hyderabad drew over 40,000 fans, and organisers expect to top that number this year as gamers, cosplayers and comic collectors converge for what’s being billed as India’s ultimate geek carnival.

    The line-up is stacked: Pan Fest (BGMI) brings daily lobbies for fans to squad up, KO Fight Night revives arcade rivalries with Tekken 8, Super Smash Bros and Street Fighter VI, while Chess at Dreamhack adds cerebral fireworks with Rapid and Blitz formats. The iconic Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) zone returns, letting fans lug in their PCs, consoles or mobiles (or rent high-performance rigs on-site) to play non-stop across the weekend.

    And it’s not all about pixels and joysticks the Retro & Board Games Zone will tug at nostalgia with Contra, Pac-Man, Tetris and good old-fashioned Carrom and Ludo. Throw in comic launches, cosplay showcases, music gigs and shopping alleys, and the festival promises to be a sensory overload of fandom culture.

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee called it “a one-of-a-kind celebration where gaming meets pop culture,” while Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson said the partnership takes Hyderabad Comic Con’s magic “to the next level.”

    With tickets now live on District App and official websites, Hyderabad is gearing up for three days of caffeine, costumes and controllers proving once again that when it comes to fandom, the more, the merrier.

  • Visit Dubai’s new campaign says ‘Yeh Bhi Dubai Hai, Bro!’ with Bassi & Harsh Gujral

    Visit Dubai’s new campaign says ‘Yeh Bhi Dubai Hai, Bro!’ with Bassi & Harsh Gujral

    MUMBAI: Dubai is cracking jokes and breaking travel clichés. Visit Dubai has rolled out its latest campaign, ‘Yeh Bhi Dubai Hai, Bro!’, starring Indian stand-up favourites Anubhav Singh Bassi and Harsh Gujral. The campaign takes a playful spin on discovery, showing that just when you think you’ve seen it all, Dubai pulls another surprise.

    Targeted at India’s comedy-loving audience, the campaign follows the two comics as they swap punchlines for adventures. Bassi introduces Harsh to the serene mountain landscapes of Hatta, while Harsh straps Bassi in for a heart-thumping ride across the world’s longest urban zipline at Xline Dubai Marina. Along the way, they plunge into the world’s deepest pool at Deep Dive Dubai, play chess in a sunken city, admire vintage bikes, indulge at Asia Asia in Pier 7, take a yacht ride across the Marina, and unwind at Koko Bay.

    The campaign taps into India’s love for stand-up comedy, a genre that’s exploded in popularity over the past decade. Bassi and Harsh, household names for their relatable humour, bring a touch of authenticity and friendship to the narrative. Their banter feels less like a marketing film and more like a comedy sketch-turned-travel diary.

    Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, regional director of proximity markets, Bader Ali Habib, said the idea was to capture the blend of fun, spontaneity and discovery that resonates with Indian travellers. “Their journey shows Dubai is full of moments that spark excitement, from thrilling adventures to hidden gems, all wrapped up in the city’s unbeatable energy,” he added.

    For Bassi, the project was a reunion with a friend in one of his favourite cities. “Working on something that didn’t feel like typical marketing but more like two friends exploring and having fun was amazing,” he said. Harsh echoed the sentiment, laughing about Bassi’s reaction to the zipline and reflecting on Dubai’s ability to surprise him even after multiple visits.

    With its short flight time, seamless connectivity and ever-expanding list of experiences, from adventure sports to shopping, food, culture and iconic landmarks, Dubai continues to position itself as India’s go-to getaway. And as Bassi and Harsh prove, there’s always a new punchline waiting around the corner.

  • Delhi HC blocks 35 websites for pirating JioStar’s films and TV shows

    Delhi HC blocks 35 websites for pirating JioStar’s films and TV shows

    MUMBAI: Streaming pirates just hit a legal firewall. The Delhi High Court has barred 35 rogue websites from illegally streaming films, TV shows and web series owned by JioStar India Pvt. Ltd., handing the broadcaster a decisive win in its fight against online piracy.

    The order, delivered by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, came in response to JioStar’s plea alleging widespread copyright infringement of its premium content. Among the pirated titles were blockbusters like 12th Fail, Drishyam 2, Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, alongside hit shows such as Anupamaa, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Bigg Boss, and Legends of Hanuman.

    Citing provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957, the Court ruled that the defendants were prima facie infringing JioStar’s exclusive rights under Section 14(d). It granted an ex parte ad-interim injunction, noting that the “balance of convenience” favoured the plaintiff and unchecked piracy risked causing “irreparable harm.”

    The banned sites include familiar piracy hubs such as serialmaza.my, 5movierulz.cash, vegamovies-nl.quest, tamildhool.net, sungohd.com, biggbossott3.com and hdhub4u.fail.

    The Court went further, granting JioStar a dynamic injunction, a powerful tool that allows the company to block not only the current domains but also mirror sites, alphanumeric variants, and redirect links that pop up to dodge takedowns. The Registrar has been empowered to swiftly add such sites once evidence is presented.

    Key directions include:

    ●    Domain registrars to suspend and deactivate domains, while sharing registrant details such as IP addresses, payment records, and contact info within four weeks.

    ●    ISPs to block access to the listed websites within 48 hours.

    ●    DoT and Meity to ensure ISP compliance via official communications.

    The order leaned on precedent set in the UTV Software Communication Ltd. v. 1337x.to (2019) case, where rogue website criteria from brazen infringement to silence on takedown notices were codified.

    The ruling comes as JioHotstar, one of India’s largest OTT platforms with 100,000 plus hours of programming, faces relentless piracy threats. Industry watchers say piracy not only drains revenues but discourages investment in original content, making such judicial backing critical.

    Summons have been issued to the defendants, who must file written statements within 30 days. Replications, if any, follow in another 30 days. The matter returns to court for pleadings on September 18, 2025, and for further hearing on January 20, 2026.

    For now, at least, the pirates have been benched but the game of digital whack-a-mole is far from over.

  • Calling the shots TCS and Vodafone Idea dial up AI for customer delight

    Calling the shots TCS and Vodafone Idea dial up AI for customer delight

    MUMBAI: Hello, future calling! Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has struck a five year deal with Vodafone Idea (Vi) to rewire the telecom giant’s business support system (BSS) with an AI driven digital backbone designed for speed, smarts and seamless service.

    At the heart of this transformation are TCS’ flagship platforms Hobs and Twinx. While HOBS will serve as the agile, stable and integrated foundation for Vi’s customer touchpoints, TwinX will inject intelligence with AI/ML driven analytics and scenario simulations. Together, the duo aims to fast track product launches, personalise interactions and deliver resilient performance in an industry where milliseconds matter.

    For Vi, the stakes are high. The new platform promises to help the operator launch new products faster, adapt to evolving customer needs, and elevate service responsiveness. “With this partnership Vi is embarking on a transformative journey to redefine customer experience,” said Vodafone Idea Limited CTO Jagbir Singh adding that AI infused BSS will set a “new standard” in digital experiences.

    The partnership builds on a 15 year relationship between TCS and Vi, anchored in TCS’ 25 plus years of expertise in the communications, media and information services sector. Operating out of 105 delivery centres, TCS supports over one billion telecom subscribers across 45 countries, a scale that few IT majors can match.

    “By leveraging our advanced AI capabilities and flagship products, we are committed to transform customer engagement and operational efficiency for Vodafone Idea,” said TCS president & country head for India Business Ujjwal Mathur.

    Beyond customer delight, TCS has positioned the programme as part of its larger “Made in India, for India and ready for the world” vision, with sustainability, sovereignty and security woven in.

    As India’s telecom sector braces for the next digital leap, this tie up underscores how technology heavyweights and telcos are dialling up AI not just to connect millions, but to reimagine what a call, a click or a customer interaction should feel like.

  • Cartoons, capes and catchy tunes light up kids TV this September

    Cartoons, capes and catchy tunes light up kids TV this September

    MUMBAI: Holy binge-fest, Batman! September is shaping up to be a supercharged month on kids’ TV as Warner Bros. Discovery’s Cartoon Network, Pogo and Discovery Kids roll out a line-up brimming with caped crusaders, festival adventures and musical sing-alongs.

    Cartoon Network is flying high with Batman Day celebrations on 20–21 September. Mornings will kick off with Batwheels, where Batman, Robin and Batgirl zoom through Gotham with their sentient vehicles. Come evening, fans can tune in at 6:30 pm for Bat-centric specials of Teen Titans Go!, including Batman v Teen Titans: Dark Injustice, a prank war gone too far until Raven restores order.

    Over on Pogo, Sundays are reserved for epic heroics. From 14 to 28 September at 1 pm, Little Singham & Chhota Bheem: Olympus Ke Yoddha will pit the pint-sized superheroes against villains Kaal and Kirmada, armed with solar weapons powerful enough to threaten entire universes. With help from Little Krishna and a Golden Dragon hatchling, balance must be restored.

    As festivals approach, Pogo kicks off its Superheroes Ka Superutsav from 22 September to 3 October, spotlighting 10 villains across premieres. The highlight? Chhota Bheem VS Rangda: The Battle for Bali on 28 September, where Bheem and friends fight to save the island from slipping into darkness.

    For younger viewers (and parents who hum along), Discovery Kids keeps things tuneful with Cocomelon. Every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 am, Baby JJ and siblings turn ordinary moments into musical memories, from school days to family time.

    With superheroes, classic characters and cheerful tunes, the trio of kids’ channels promise week-after-week action, adventure and music to keep children (and quite possibly their parents) glued to the screen.

  • Aaj Tak reels in half of Insta news buzz with 110 million actions

    Aaj Tak reels in half of Insta news buzz with 110 million actions

    MUMBAI: When it comes to news on the ’gram, Aaj Tak isn’t just scrolling, it’s ruling. The Hindi news giant has clinched a staggering 51 per cent share of Instagram actions in August 2025, according to the latest Comscore Social report, making it the undisputed champion of digital engagement.

    The numbers tell the story. Aaj Tak racked up an eye-popping 110 million total actions on Instagram, dwarfing its nearest competitor News24, which managed 26.3 million (12.3 per cent share). The gulf only widens from there: ABP News clocked 21.5 million (10 per cent), The Lallantop 13.6 million (6.3 per cent), and NDTV India 12.4 million (5.8 per cent). The rest, from Zee News to Republic Bharat, trailed in single digits.

    What’s driving this dominance? Aaj Tak’s digital-first playbook: snappy Reels, interactive storytelling, and a sharp grasp of Gen Z and millennial habits. The strategy doesn’t just deliver eyeballs; it’s delivering engagement that outstrips the combined total of all its rivals put together.

    For brands, the implications are hard to miss. With half the Hindi news universe’s Instagram buzz flowing through its account, Aaj Tak offers a reach and resonance that no competitor can match.

    The Comscore recognition cements what viewers and advertisers already know: Aaj Tak has successfully married editorial credibility with social-native flair. In an age where attention spans are measured in seconds, the channel has mastered the art of turning the scroll into a stop and then into a share.

  • Motorola dials up ‘Big billion moto rush’ with record-low festive smartphone deals

    Motorola dials up ‘Big billion moto rush’ with record-low festive smartphone deals

    MUMBAI: The big billion buzz is here, and Motorola is leading the charge. Motorola has announced its ‘Big billion moto rush,’ unveiling its lowest-ever prices on bestselling smartphones during Flipkart’s big billion days sale 2025, which kicks off at midnight on 23rd September (early access from 22nd September).

    Leading the charge is the motorola edge 60 pro, a flagship powerhouse featuring a Pantone-validated triple 50MP camera system, the world’s most durable 6.7” 1.5K true colour quad-curved display, and a 6000mah battery with blazing 90W turbo-power charging. With motoAI and deep integration with Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity, it packs cutting-edge AI tools at festive special prices starting Rs 24,999.

    The motorola edge 60 fusion, dubbed the “all-rounder under Rs 20,000,” lands with a Pantone-validated 1.5K display, Sony LYTIA 700C camera, and military-grade durability, available from Rs 19,999.

    In the mid-range, the moto g96 5G brings a 144Hz curved Poled display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, and 50MP OIS Sony camera for just Rs 14,999, while the moto g86 power shines with the segment’s brightest 1.5K display and a 6720mAh battery, priced at Rs 15,999.

    Style meets smarts in the motorola razr 60, India’s most stylish flip under Rs 40,000. With a gesture-controlled video camera, titanium-reinforced hinge and the largest 3.6” Poled external display in its class, it’s available at a festive steal of Rs 39,999.

    But the savings don’t stop at phones. Motorola is also offering festive-first discounts on its moto buds ‘Loop’ and ‘Bass’ earbuds, moto pad 60 pro, and even laptops, TVs and washing machines.

    With flagship specs trickling down to mid-range prices, Motorola is clearly setting the tone for a blockbuster festive season.

  • V-guard launches ‘Luxecube’ water heater with romantic new ad campaign

    V-guard launches ‘Luxecube’ water heater with romantic new ad campaign

    MUMBAI: V-Guard industries ltd., a leading name in consumer electricals and appliances, has unveiled a new campaign film for its premium Luxecube water heater series, extending its popular ‘Hum, tum aur V-guard’ storyline.

    The film, titled ‘Hum, tum aur kuch extra’, brings back the much-loved couple from the summer campaign. In a playful exchange, the husband hints at “something extra” in their lives, only to reveal he was talking about the Luxecube water heater. The narrative highlights its 38 per cent extra hot water delivery and sleek design, described as “extra hot looks” that enhance the bathing experience.

    The campaign debuted during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash, ensuring mass visibility, and will now extend across OTT platforms, connected TV, and social media to capture digital-first audiences.

    Commenting on the launch, V-Guard Industries Ltd, vp – brand & communication Nandagopal Nair said, “Luxecube reflects V-Guard’s promise of making everyday living smarter, more stylish, and more comforting. By bringing back the same couple, we’ve built continuity while keeping the narrative witty, aspirational, and relatable.”

    Ralph & Das, director & cco, Anil Ralph Thomas, who wrote and directed the film, added, “The film playfully weaves product benefits into a couple’s banter, balancing romance with humor while staying true to V-Guard’s distinctive storytelling.”

    Echoing this, Ralph & Das, director & ceo, Kaustav Das said, “We’ve always believed in breaking category norms. Instead of shouting features, we’ve crafted a tone that is warm, engaging, and different: the V-guard way.”

    With Luxecube, V-Guard continues to expand its premium water heater portfolio, targeting aspirational homeowners seeking a balance of functionality, design, and comfort.

  • Siju Prabhakaran named chief business officer at Zee5

    Siju Prabhakaran named chief business officer at Zee5

    MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has appointed Siju Prabhakaran as chief business officer of its streaming platform, Zee5, in a move aimed at bolstering its digital play.

    Reporting to Amit Goenka, president of digital business and platforms, Prabhakaran will shape and execute Zee5’s strategy in India and international markets. He will oversee monetisation, profitability and consumer engagement, marrying content with technology to build scale.

    A nearly two-decade veteran at Z, Prabhakaran has led the south cluster of linear television channels and driven localised content strategies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi. His new remit involves leveraging synergies between linear and digital businesses to deepen audience connect and push growth.

    The company, which has prioritised frugality, optimisation and premium content, sees Zee5 as a core driver of its next phase. The appointment signals a sharper focus on digital revenues while harnessing Z’s language strengths.