Category: Press Release

IceWarp CEO Pramod Sharda Takes 100% Pay Cut In Light Of COVID 19

The Corona Virus outbreak has pushed the entire world to witness a pandemic, circulating waves of panic across the globe. Due to uncertainty in business owing to the current scenario, businesses are slowing down bringing the growth of the economy to a halt. There has been a sudden slow-down of the economic activities at an unparalleled scale globally, raising the number of job losses and salary cuts.

In the wake of the current scenario, owing to the pandemic, IceWarp, an internationally renowned company known for developing solutions for email communication and collaboration has devised a protocol wherein, Pramod Sharda, CEO, IceWarp India & Middle East has decided and announced to take a 100% pay cut for the rest of the year safeguarding the employees of IceWarp and promising no salary-cuts or layoffs. It is invariably important for companies to take the right step while taking care of their employees, assuring them certainty.

Commenting on the same, Pramod Sharda, CEO, IceWarp India & Middle East said, “The Coronavirus outbreak has affected numerous aspects of our living, however, we at IceWarp believe, every employee to be an asset and safeguarding them is a necessity. To overcome such a critical period as a cohesive team, we have devised a strategic plan of operations and to begin with, I, myself have decided to take a 100% salary cut for the balance of 2020 in order to avoid layoffs”.

“At IceWarp, the security of our employees is of utmost priority, considering the fact owing to security concerns even after the lockdown period, we will be emphasizing to continue WFH till the time we feel the situation is better. ”, added Sharda.

With a complete lockdown in action industries- small, medium and large have deviated from traditional mode of working and have undertaken the work from home culture respecting social distancing. Keeping a similar mindset, IceWarp is offering its complete collaboration suite for all existing customers regardless of their license setup, to aid a hassle-free collaboration within teams in the time of crisis. The features are free of charge till June 18, 2020. To add up the beta version video conferencing solution is also FREE to everyone across the world. The beta version would help organizations and teams to collaborate and stay productive, it supports up to 20 video call participants while the audio calls are unlimited. The video conferencing service is free of cost to anyone irrespective of whether they are IceWarp’s Customer or not.

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May 28, 2020
Wildcraft gives New India’s defining anthem – ‘Hain Taiyyar Hum’, exhorting Indians to be Ready for Anything!

Today, when India & the world is grappling with fear and uncertainties, with Lockdown 4.0 coming to an end, the country is taking steps to live and adapt to the New Normal. This requires one to relook at our ways, our beliefs, our attitudes & while we do this, at Wildcraft we believe we should use our passion as fuel, & propel ourselves to embrace the uncertain, says India-born Wildcraft India through its inspirational anthem ‘Hain Taiyaar Hum’, which enables & equips Indians, to step out with confidence and be ready for anything.

Hain Taiyaar Hum beautifully captures India’s vibrant diversity, indomitable spirit and its zest for life. Composed by Abhishek Arora, sung in the uplifting voices of Nooran Sisters & conceptualized by Ogilvy India, the anthem aims to empower Indians to be prepared for the New Order with a blend of safety, style & self-belief.

Wildcraft’s brand philosophy has always been to encourage people to “rekindle the explorer within each of us, by embracing the uncertain” & the anthem through its powerful track, appeals viscerally to all of us to take the road less travelled!

Talking about the anthem Gaurav Dublish, Co-Founder, Wildcraft India said, “We genuinely believe that each one of us has it in us to use these trying times as an opportunity to take a fresh guard & resurrect ourselves with a renewed zeal for life. The ‘Hain Taiyaar Hum’ campaign is our clarion call to our nation to step-out with confidence as we help them equip themselves to follow their passion. As part of our commitment to enable people rekindle the explorer within, Wildcraft – an Indian-born head to toe outfitter, that pursues MAKE IN INDIA truly in spirit, is equipping Atma-Nirbhar Bharat to set the tone for the world.”

Siddharth Sood, Co-Founder, Wildcraft India, further added “In 2016, we forayed into the Tactical & Safety Gear category, & have recently innovated the ‘Wildcraft Supermask™’ W95. The Supermask™ W95 offers a three-layered filtration system and adheres to the Bureau of Indian Standards of quality & safety. We strongly believe that what is today a health crisis, & is evolving into an economic crisis, will also turn into a global environmental crisis with the mammoth non-biodegradable disposables being left behind in its wake. At Wildcraft we have worked on revolutionary technologies, that provides an exceptionally safe, stylish, reusable and hence an environment-friendly solution, at incredible prices. To ensure Supermask™ W95 is easily accessible to every citizen, we have also ramped up our distribution & are available across 1000+ cities, in 1,00,000+ retail points-of-sales across India. Additionally, we have also partnered with multiple platforms to augment our ability to create access & awareness in these unprecedented times.”

Ensuring that the inspiring anthem reaches every citizen across the length and breadth of the country, it will be released in seven languages – Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. This high-decibel 360-degree campaign will run across Television, OTT, video sharing platforms, social media and music streaming platforms across India.

Mr. Piyush Pandey, Chief Creative Officer, Worldwide and Executive Chairman, Ogilvy India while commenting on the campaign said, “Masks are a physical necessity. But human beings also have an emotional necessity to step out and explore the world. The product – Wildcraft Supermask™- fulfils the first physical necessity by providing a very safe mask. The communication takes on the task of the emotional need to explore and to actualise. I am very happy with the communication package that Ogilvy Bangalore has put together."

May 28, 2020
Weekend Homes become a preferred real estate investment post COVID-19

During the two past months, most of us have been confined to our homes due to the nationwide lockdown declared in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Even while grappling with the possibility of a further extension or pondering over the graded lifting of the lockdown, one theme that keeps recurring during discussions is the possibility of gradually moving to a weekend home permanently. With work from home being accepted as part of the ‘new normal,’ many people are seriously considering a shift of residence, away from the crowded cities for obvious reasons.

To help them take a better, more informed decision in this regard, that too while staying in the safety and comfort of their homes itself, INMASO has just released its Research Report & Buying Guide titled ‘Weekend Home Sector Outlook Post COVID-19: MMR & Pune.’

Sharing the rationale behind preparing the report, Santosh Naik, Founder, INMASO, explains, “Everyone is concerned about the impact of COVID-19 from a health and economic perspective. Being in the weekend home industry for the last 15 years, we tried to find out the impact of COVID-19 on this niche but very important sector of the real estate industry. Our research indicates that new habits and behaviours are being formed, which will continue beyond this crisis, permanently changing what we value, how and where we shop, and how we live and work. Post COVID-19, the biggest shift we found is that a weekend home which was once an aspirational ‘want’ is now emerging as a ‘need’ for a safe and secured home and sensible real estate investment.”

Emphasising that this tectonic shift in perception will change the entire outlook, structure and the future of this sector, Santosh underlined that this report is based on data and information from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune. “We are sure the findings and outcomes can be extrapolated across all metros and tier one cities of India. Our objective to compile this research is to provide analysis and consumer insights of this fascinating sector post COVID-19, which will be useful for developers, home buyers and all stakeholders of the real estate industry as well as other sectors,” he added.

The prime objective of this report is to understand the outlook of the Weekend Home sector post COVID-19, which includes the following parameters:

Ø The reasons / objectives for buying weekend homes

Ø Buyer’s requirements / features while buying weekend homes

Ø Customer profile and the target segment

Ø Preferred types and budget for weekend homes

Ø Preferred destinations for weekend homes

Ø Demand estimation for weekend homes in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and nearby areas) and Pune

Ø New trends in weekend homes post COVID-19

Top 10 trends in Weekend Homes post COVID-19

1) A weekend home is emerging as a NEED and not just an aspirational asset to invest in. It will no longer be a discretionary purchase.

2) Weekend homes close to a city with good infrastructure and internet connectivity will be used as a workplace as well as a first home.

3) In addition to being a weekend retreat, weekend homes will be safe and secured homes to stay in crisis situation like COVID-19, away from the city.

4) People will prefer to spend holidays and vacations in their weekend homes instead of travelling to holiday destinations.

5) People will buy weekend homes in gated communities with all amenities instead of investing in stand-alone farmhouses or villas.

6) Millennials (age 21 to 37 years) will invest in weekend homes.

7) For many buyers, this will be their first real estate purchase.

8) Fractional ownership of weekend homes will emerge and become popular.

9) Preference for apartments and villas instead of plots.

10) Demand for farmhouses with farming instead of luxury villas.

The INMASO report concludes that with a demand of almost 2 lakh units in MMR and 50,000 units in Pune, the Weekend Home sector will emerge as the next big thing in the real estate industry. Most of the buying will happen for value for money for projects in the price range of Rs. 20 to 80 lakh.

Decision drivers identified in the report for this segment in the present scenario and going forward are:

· Safe and secured home to stay during crisis like COVID-19

· Go back to nature / Roots to live a quality life

· Spend holidays and vacations with family and loved ones

· Retirement home

· Investment

· Activities like organic farming and gardening

· Live a healthy life in a pollution-free environment away from hectic city life

· Status symbol / Aspiration to own a weekend home

Buyer’s requirements include:

1. Safe and secured project, which can be used as a safe house during crisis like COVID-19

2. Good infrastructure with internet connectivity

3. Close to market and medical facilities

4. Home loan options

5. Pleasant weather and non-polluted environment

6. Within 150 km/ 3 hours of driving distance

7. Well connected by road/ rail

8. Reputation of the developer

9. Natural surroundings (hills, greens and water bodies)

10. Budget – value for money project

11. Recreation facilities like clubhouse, pool, restaurant, etc.

12. Clear title and legal approvals

The report analyses the profiles of Weekend Home buyers, their preferred types, budgets, prime destinations (Khandala, Lonavala, Alibaug, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Goa), popular destinations (Karjat, Talegaon, Igatpuri) and emerging locations (Khopoli-Pali Road, Wada, Murbad, Dahanu, Kamshet). The demand is estimated at 1.8 lakh units in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane (MMR) and 0.54 lakh units in Pune. It also explains the challenges faced by the Weekend Home sector.

INMASO is a business solutions and advisory organisation for the Real Estate sector specializing in marketing and finance. It is founded by real estate professionals with vast experience in management, marketing, finance and digital technologies. With their innovative marketing concepts and out of the box sales methods, INMASO has successfully marketed several real estate projects across Maharashtra over the last 15 years.

May 28, 2020
ZEE Rajasthan Organizes Rajasthan E-Vimarsh: Direct with Ministers, an e-Conclave with Cabinet & State Minsters

Zee Media Corporation Ltd’s regional channel ZEE Rajasthan which is also Rajasthan’s No. 1 news channel, conducted an E Conclave with 12 Ministers including Cabinet Ministers and State Ministers on 27th May 2020. Rajasthan E-Vimarsh, Direct with Ministers, was a continuous 6-hour session with ministers participating from various departments of Indian and Rajasthan Government.

Corona positive cases are continuously increasing in Rajasthan and have crossed 7500 mark on 27th May 2020. After 2 months into the lockdown, Rajasthan has faced many challenges like protecting its people from Covid-19, protecting its crops and farmers and reviving the economy so that the livelihoods can be restored. As the people of Rajasthan are coping with this situation and trying to find answers to their future, ZEE Rajasthan took the initiative to organize an E Conclave with Cabinet Ministers and Minister of States so that our viewers may get a clear picture of the road to recovery.

Each session lasted for half an hour where the leaders put forward their strategy for the coming days in their respective departments and encouraged our viewers to stay strong. Ministers who graced the session were: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, Bulaki Das Kalla, Vishvendra Singh, Kailash Choudhary, Parsadi Lal Meena, Ramesh Meena, Govind Singh Dotasara, Tikaram Jully, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, and Raghu Sharma. The conclave covered various government ministries so that viewers can understand the revival plan in different sectors.

Speaking on the occasion, ZMCL Cluster 2 CEO, Mr. Purushottam Vaishnava said, “After recently conducting the e-conclave with CMs of different states, we realized that it is equally important to narrow down the Government’s revival plan to state level. ZEE Rajasthan conceptualized this event to bring authorities of Rajasthan on one platform and to clarify numerous questions that our viewers had.”

After the successful completion of Rajasthan e-Vimarsh, in the coming days, similar state level conclaves are planned for Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar & Jharkhand and Odisha on ZEE 24 Kalak, ZEE 24 Ghanta & ZEE Bihar Jharkhand and ZEE Odisha respectively.

May 28, 2020
Daawat Basmati Rice celebrates relationships with #PehliDaawat Campaign

Amidst this lockdown, even though life has come to a standstill, hope for a return to normalcy and happier times has not. The #PehliDaawat Campaign by Daawat Basmati rice celebrates this hope and optimism and the special moments when we all come out safe and healthy from this pandemic.

Daawat recognizes that during this lockdown we have missed the presence of a lot of people who are important to us in our lives who went unnoticed and taken for granted. These difficult times have also created some new bonds and relationships. A series of 4 TVC’s, the campaign is an initiative by the brand to acknowledge the presence of all such people in our lives and thanking them for their support and presence. The people who helped dispel the darkness.

#PehliDaawat campaign connects with the heart as it acknowledges and appreciates the support we all have received. And acknowledges our deep desire to invite such people who have been so meaningful to us for that special moment when we first welcome someone into our home post the lockdown. The campaign ends by asking everyone that as and when they can, who will be this special person whom we will invite for this special “Pehli Daawat”. Conceptualized on the grounds of the hope, which is still alive, that things will be normal soon, people will meet, doorbells will ring, doors will open, and life will be beautiful again. When life gets to that, we will invite the ones most special.

Speaking about the Initiative, Mr. Ashwani Arora, CEO and MD, LT Foods, said, ‘Through this campaign we wanted to build a personal connection with our audiences and recognize the heroes in their lives. We all have formed bonds that will outlast the current crisis. We Indians love feasting and show our love by indulging our guests in delicacies. A series of 4 TVC’s, the campaign brings about stories of individuals who want to invite people who have been a part of their lives but their contributions have gone unnoticed, whether in these tough times or day to day lives. A gesture to thank them for their support by inviting them for the first Dawaat, when life gets back to normal.’

Video Links

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJXe3EVg0o4&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRsR7212404&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYoq2u29rxo&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oALA9XhDogs&feature=youtu.be

May 27, 2020
RIO launches new campaign on Menstrual Hygiene day

RIO-Heavy Flow Pads, the only sanitary pad you will ever need to manage heavy flow, from the Nobel Hygiene family, launched a new campaign today to coincide with the upcoming Menstrual Hygiene Day to raise awareness about the challenges that women face due to heavy flow.

In our society, women have normalized the extremeness of their period due to lack of awareness about heavy flow and therefore do not realize that their condition might require them to use different products than the norm. This often results in leakage, staining, the napkin overflowing, a higher rate of infections because of leaving on a full pad for longer than it should in addition to rashes and discomfort because of having to compensate by using multiple pads at once. All of these are signs of poor menstrual hygiene practices.

This Menstrual Hygiene Day i.e, 28 May 2020, RIO addresses this issue via a campaign with a series of analogies to showcase how women feel when they use a regular napkin during heavy flow and calls out the oxymoronic habit that we have become accustomed with. This is questioned through instances that elaborate on the need for the usage of the right product that can handle heavy flow, which is essential for good menstrual hygiene.

Sharing his views on the campaign, Kartik Johari, Vice-President, Nobel Hygiene said “An overwhelming majority of women in India who suffer from heavy flow are undiagnosed and ill-informed about their condition. We understand that the journey from using a cloth to sanitary napkins has been a long and arduous one. However, this needs to be refined further as a few sizes do not fit all. There are a lot of missed sizes in between that lead to hygiene issues that need to be addressed. And a huge chunk of it deals with heavy flow which has so far been ignored.

With this campaign, we want to reach out to women and help raise awareness about the repercussions that ignoring and not recognizing heavy flow as a unique condition might have on their bodies. It also raises awareness about how the usage of the right products can help maintain good menstrual hygiene to a large extent. The normalization of this condition cannot continue in the interest of their wellbeing. The campaign will show solidarity with women facing this challenge and let them know they are not alone along with busting age-old myths surrounding this condition.”

The campaign will also create awareness and education on the brand’s blog articles about good menstrual hygiene practice, busting myths and about sanitary pads including the purpose of wings and length of pads.

The campaign will be showcased on their Instagram page @theriopads and Facebook page @theRIOpads. The concept has been put together by Schbang. Brand Pages:

RIO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theriopads/?hl=en
RIO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-RIO-Pads-111702830401404/
RIO Website: https://www.riopads.in/s

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May 27, 2020
Students of Amity University Launch #ISalute campaign to thank healthcare heroes

During these testing times the medical professionals have been the fabric of humanity, with their tireless efforts and dedication and passion towards helping people. As the entire world is showing their appreciation and gratitude to all the professionals of the medical field in various ways, the students of Amity University launched the “I salute” campaign, a unique and modern way to salute the medical staff by creating an Instagram filter. This endearing salute to the doctors and nurses on the frontlines of the deadly pandemic was on full display by many students and other staff of the University.

It is a gesture to show solidarity during the pandemic and thanking people who are acting like our saviours. An amazing step by the students of the university, to send out a message of encouragement and appreciation to various doctors and nurses and the caregivers, to show that we all are truly grateful for their services. They also encouraged their friends and family to curate their own message of thanks and send it out on social media.

Overall, the campaign reached 17180 people on the first day of its launch.

Prof. (Dr.) Raghav Chari, HOI, Amity School of Communication, Amity University Mumbaistated, “It is overwhelming to see how our medical professionals have come together as heroes to fight off this deadly pandemic. No amount of praise will be enough to describe their efforts. I am delighted to see how the younger generation, especially the students have taken a modern turn to spread the message of thanks on social media, and have made “I Salute” campaign popular by involving everyone to come together to salute all the medical staff.”

Puneet Baviskar, Student (Amity School of Communication, Amity University Mumbai) a student stated, “The world is seeing a huge health crisis and the medical staff around the world has been doing a great job by dealing with the virus and saving lives. We are showing our support by staying indoors and giving them a shout out through the “I Salute” campaign applauding them for their work. The filter introduced in the campaign is good and adds a perfect touch to the message. My friends have actively shared their note of thanks using the filter and it is becoming a hit on the internet.”

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May 27, 2020
Paytm enables Vodafone Idea recharges for crores using feature phones with their UPI ID

India’s leading financial services platform Paytm is now empowering feature phone users to recharge for their Vodafone Idea numbers with just a valid UPI ID. Along with the telecom major and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to extend this service throughout the country. The move would help crore of citizens who mostly use feature mobile phones to now top up their numbers without having the need to visit physical stores. The company added said that there is no need to have a mobile-internet data facility and non-Paytm app users can also easily avail of this service.

Paytm said that this service is based on the NPCI’s innovative payment service *99# which works on the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel. This service allows mobile banking transactions using basic feature phones without the need of having a mobile internet data facility for using USSD based banking. It is envisioned at the financial inclusion of the underbanked in mainstream banking services.

Paytm which is working towards the ultimate goal of bringing half a billion Indians into the mainstream economy, has taken part in this initiative to ensure that millions of migrants who might be away from home and have limited means, stay connected with their families.

Abhay Sharma, Sr. Vice President – Paytm said, "There are over 550 million feature phone users in the country. A majority of them are migrants and daily wage earners. Due to the ongoing lockdown, many people who rely mainly on mobile phone stores, recharge kiosks are finding it difficult to top-up their basic feature phones which rarely have internet data facility. This USSD based service would help all these individuals. Through this partnership with Vodafone Idea and NPCI, we will reach out to all these individuals and support them in these testing times."

Praveena Rai, COO, NPCI said, “We believe our USSD service would facilitate feature phone users having a UPI ID, to constantly keep in touch with their near and dear ones even if they don’t find mobile recharge shops in their localities. The *99# service is a welcome move, especially in the current situation. With just a UPI Id, people using feature phones can recharge their phones on-the-go without the internet. The USSD service would also help people register their UPI IDs on BHIM UPI and provide them with a seamless mobile recharge experience”.

Avneesh Khosla, Director-Marketing, Vodafone Idea Limited said, “It is our constant endeavour to ensure that our customers remain connected and safe during these times. In the last 2 months, we have launched a slew of initiatives to help consumers stay connected. We believe that this partnership with Paytm will help facilitate a large number of our digitally unconnected customers to recharge through USSD without being dependent on mobile internet, any digital app, or a physical retail touchpoint. Through this partnership we will be able to provide a simple and secure solution, enhancing the convenience factor to these pre-paid customers during very testing times so as to ensure that our consumers do not have to leave the safety of their homes to recharge their phones." The company said that there are two ways of recharging the phone using this service. If a customer's UPI ID is not registered with BHIM UPI, they then need to Dial *99# after which they are shown all bank accounts linked with the mobile number from where the USSD is dialled in. The customer then selects the bank account he wants to register his UPI ID with and sets up a UPI PIN.

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May 27, 2020
Science Fiction Noteworthy Novelist Orson Scott’s Ender’s Game Airing On &PrivéHD

In this futuristic thriller of an extra-terrestrial invasion over mankind, humanity’s grasp over what is left, lies in the hands of gifted children where strength lies in mind over matter. Featuring yet another tale of unforeseen escapades and fantastical journeys, &PrivéHD, is set to air ‘Ender’s Game’ on Friday, May 29, 2020 at 9 PM. Based on the best-selling and award-winning novel, the film is a doorway for the ‘Journeys Beyond’ – an ongoing property on the premium destination for nuanced cinema.

Child prodigy and cadet in the international fleet, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) draws the attention of Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and Major Gwen Anderson (Viola Davis) based on his aptitude in simulated space combat. Similar cadets like Ender are put in rigorous simulations games to devise new battle strategies for an upcoming battle between two races. Impressed by Ender’s tactful strategies that have never been witnessed before, he soon climbs the rank to steer his own fleet pitting him against an enemy he has never come across before. Testing his limits and putting his wits on the line, decisive action is what could possibly make or break the final solution to humanity’s war for existence.

Academy Award winning director Gavin Hood brings you an inter-galactic battle like never before as ‘Ender’s Game’ premieres on &PrivéHD this Friday, May 29, 2020 at 9 PM

May 27, 2020
Cosmos-Maya’s next animation magnum opus is a series inspired by Chulbul Pandey, the iconic cop immortalized by Salman Khan in the blockbuster Dabangg, produced by Arbaaz Khan

The Eid announcement is for the first of its kind animation adaptation of a Bollywood blockbuster where the lead character is his own self, and not a child avatar.

Chulbul Pandey is back, this time in an animation avatar. Leading animation studio Cosmos-Maya is producing the animation series adaptation of Arbaaz Khan Productions’ highly successful Dabangg franchise. The animated comic-caper series is being created with the same characters as the films and universal storylines which cater to a wide range of audiences. Two seasons of the adventure-comedy series are being produced with Season 2 coming out in 2021. The first season will have 52 half-hour episodes. Targeted at kids & family, the series is a wholesome entertainer for all audiences and promises a full family viewing experience. The studio will announce the Pay TV & OTT partners soon.

The series chronicles the day to day life of Police Officer Chulbul Pandey (played by Salman Khan in the films). Backed at each step by his entourage, he stands in the face of evil to keep the city safe. Fighting evil is a tough job but whatever the situation may be, Chulbul always has the time to lighten up the mood with his jokes, limericks, and one-liners. Chulbul is joined by his endearing younger brother Makkhi (played by Arbaaz Khan in the films), who is new in the police force and who keeps trying to emulate him. Makkhi does make his brother look better at his own expense, but then again, it is his large heart and child-like innocence that set him apart anyway. Needless to say, both Chulbul and Makkhi have immense brand equity with the youth.

The show will feature the animated avatars of all iconic characters of the franchise including the three antagonists Chhedi Singh, Bachcha Bhaiya and Baali, Rajjo (played by Sonakshi Sinha in the films), Prajapati Ji (played by the late Vinod Khanna in the films) and the ‘BhaiyaJi Ismile’ guy.

Speaking on the development, Arbaaz Khan said, “Dabangg’s biggest USP is that it is a complete family entertainer & thus, the next logical step to further grow the franchise was to enter the animation space. The medium offers unparalleled creative freedom with storytelling, and we can focus on shorter standalone stories in lieu of longer, linear narratives. Chulbul’s persona is larger than life and in animation his adventures will be showcased as never seen before. We are very happy to be working with Cosmos-Maya on this glorious franchise which has won the heart of millions. The union has been organic in the sense that the franchise and the studio have both captured the pulse of the Indian masses with entertaining grassroots level storytelling and relatable narratives. Exciting times lie ahead.”

Anish Mehta, CEO Cosmos-Maya said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Arbaaz Khan Productions in this historic merger of Bollywood and Animation. Cosmos-Maya which has for long been the trendsetter in the industry, for the first time ever, is bringing a major Bollywood franchise to animation with the adult protagonist being portrayed as an adult. With more and more content viewing platforms shifting their onus to animation, a medium which can adapt itself beautifully to all narrative formats, people of all ages are becoming more accepting of the medium which has traditionally been associated with kids’ viewing. With never seen before animation quality and responsible, Bollywood inspired storytelling, it will be our endeavor to further extend the reach of this iconic brand so that more kids, teenagers and families are engaged and entertained.”

The three films in the Dabangg franchise have grossed more than INR 7 Billion worldwide making it one the most successful Bollywood franchises of all times. The films have also done exceedingly well on TV and Digital platforms. Dabangg garnered an astounding TRP of 9.2 when it was premiered on TV. Salman Khan is one of the most loved celebrities in the world and children are one of the most significant contributors (directly and as influencers) to his box office and TV numbers. After Motu Patlu, which is viewed by close to 500 million people, this is Cosmos-Maya’s second show featuring adult protagonists. The series promises audiences all-out entertainment, and with never done before action-comedy sequences, larger than life characters, gadgets straight out of a Bond movie, there is something for everyone.

May 27, 2020