Category: Press Release

  • Zee TV Middle East’s Parwaaz takes off with record ratings in UAE

    Zee TV Middle East’s Parwaaz takes off with record ratings in UAE

    MUMBAI: Zee TV Middle East’s Parwaaz (meaning ‘to take flight’), the first ever Hindi fiction series produced completely in the UAE in the last decade, got an opening rating of 12.52 amongst all South Asians in UAE, the highest registered by any shows across any channels in 2014. Parwaaz airs at a very competitive time band (Every Sat 2130hrs to 2230hrs) where other Hindi GECs air high profile shows like Big Boss (Colors), Everest (Star Plus) and CID (Sony).  Despite stiff competition, Parwaaz managed to top the charts on the back of a UAE-based storyline that expats living away from their home could relate to.

     

    Parwaaz is the story of 2 young men – Adarsh from India and Sikandar from Pakistan, whose lives intersect in Dubai in the early 90’s when they come here for their dream jobs. However, fate plays a cruel hand when they find that they have been duped by their employment agent back home. Their story of struggle, grit and friendship spans over 20 years – from their humble beginnings of doing odd jobs for survival, to the heights of their success, and the trials and tribulations along the way. Their story spanning 2 decades is being showcased in a series of 13 one-hour episodes.

     

    Pakistani actor Noman Habib who was last seen in the lead role of Pakistani movie Main Hoon Shahid Afridi plays Sikander while Devansa Vasan who has been seen in many cameo roles in Hindi series in India plays Adarsh. The two lead actresses are Priyal Gor from India (last seen in Ram Milaye Jodi on Zee TV) and Suzain Fatima who has acted in many dramas in Pakistan.  In another first in Hindi serials, an Emirati, Adel Farooq too was part of the star cast as Alam, the negative lead. Adel also sung the title-track for Parwaaz. The music played a key role in the promotion and has been played by FM stations in the UAE. 4 versions of the title track was recorded, the OST and lounge version sung by Adel Farooq, the sufi version sung by a local talent Ejaz Ahmed and the lounge version by Krishna Beura.

     

  • Jabong and Nike create football frenzy with ‘Day of Play’

    Jabong and Nike create football frenzy with ‘Day of Play’

    MUMBAI: Jabong.com and Nike hosted ‘Day of Play’ a football tournament for young footballers in Mumbai. Kids in the age group of 13-20 years faced-off a two day football camp going through rigorous trials and a selection match assessed by AIFF licensed coaches.  Twenty four of the most promising players were chosen and mentored by the former Indian captain, Bhaichung Bhutia and current India team goalkeeper, Subrata Pal. These young players were divided into teams and the finals were played between the top two teams.

     

    The best player of the tournament and the winning team were awarded the trophies along with personalized Nike football boots in the presence of  Bhaichung Bhutia, Subrata Pal, Arun Chandra Mohan (Founder & CEO, Jabong.com) and Avinash Pant (Marketing Director, Nike India).

     

    Recently, Jabong has introduced Shoe personalization in collaboration with Nike which has happened for the first time ever in India. Reaching out to the increasing football fans in India, Nike boots can now have their name written or they can choose the flag of their favorite football FIFA ’14 team printed on various locations on the boot. Jabong as a brand has always encouraged various sports in the country, evident so from its past alliances like FIFA merchandise – NIKE soccer shoes, exclusive NBA retailer in India and much more. With an effort to further popularize sport in India, Jabong and Nike are providing this unique offering to help football enthusiast’s show off the support for their favorite teams and players. Additionally employees of Nike and Jabong played a friendly match, post which Bhaichung Bhutia and Subrata Pal got their own Nike personalized boots by Jabong.

     

    “We are at a very interesting chapter in Indian football, the sport is finally beginning to get its due and this will only increase over the next few years. I am really delighted to be here at Nike’s Day of Play with Jabong. The passion of these young footballers will help elevate the sport. I would like to congratulate the winners and all the footballers who were part of this tournament” said Nike athlete Bhaichung Bhutia.

     

    On the occasion, Mr. Arun Chandra Mohan, Founder & CEO, Jabong.com said, “We are delighted to partner with Nike to offer our customers the exclusive Nike football boot personalization feature on our website for all footballers. #Nameurshoe is a strong fashion trend amongst sports enthusiasts and personalized boot is something that we believe ardent football fans would love to own.  Personalizing their football boots with either their name, the name of their idol or their favourite football team is a cool feature that makes it unique and speaks to their individual style”.

     

    Mr. Avinash Pant, Marketing Director, Nike India said “At Nike, it is our mission to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the World. The chance to play alongside two of India’s greatest footballers is not only a unique experience but is also inspiring. Personalization on football boots is a global phenomenon and we are delighted to be partnering with Jabong to provide this feature for footballers in India”.

  • Turbo launches new series ‘American Guns’

    Turbo launches new series ‘American Guns’

    MUMBAI: The first of its kind 24-hour multi-genre channel “just for males” – Turbo brings a new series that introduces viewers to a typical suburban family which is into most unique weapons business – guns.

     

    The Wyatts family owns Gunsmoke, one of the premiere firearms facilities in the world. Located outside Denver, Colorado, Gunsmoke is where they buy, sell and trade guns – from hand canons to hunting rifles. And if you don’t see what you want, they’ll build one for you from nothing more than a block of metal. Get ready for some explosive, pump-loading action with the Wyatts in Turbo’s new series American Gunspremiering on 1 January every Thursday at 7 pm.

     

    Where there’s Gunsmoke, there’s a Wyatt! Rich Wyatt, a retired cop with over 20 years of experience, owns the shop and runs it with his family. Not only is Rich one of only six people in the world certified by Colonel Jeff Cooper, a master firearms instructor and one of the 20th century’s foremost experts on the use and history of small arms, he is an extremely talented gunsmith. Give him a block of steel and he’ll create art. Renee, the matriarch of the Wyatt clan, is a force to be reckoned with. She runs the household and the business side of Gunsmoke, and doesn’t go anywhere without her pistol in her boot. Kurt, their son, is a skilled salesman and an incredible engraver. He qualified as a pistol expert at the age of 13, and handles all of the engraving jobs that come through the gun shop. Daughter Paige graduated high school early, and now works in the shop full time, taking on additional responsibilities for the business. While this 16-year-old may look like a Barbie doll, she knows more about guns than most people who walk through the Gunsmoke door!

     

    Whether making a single action revolver for a preacher to replicating what many experts consider to be the first firearm in history, Gunsmoke is where you’d go to get it done. From a small business 19 years ago, Gunsmoke has flourished into a firearms enterprise. With custom orders pouring in, on top of the customers that walk through their doors to buy in-stock guns, register for safety classes, or engrave their firearm, business is busier than ever and the Wyatt family knows they need to step up their game to keep up with the workflow, while ensuring that no weapon leaves the shop without meeting their standards.

     

    Among the firearms featured in the premiere season of American Guns include:

    Knuckle Duster – This gun, built in the late 1800’s, was both brass knuckles AND a firearm.  It was used for ‘close combat’ because it was small and easily concealable.  It’s no surprise it was the weapon of choice for many card cheats, thugs and prostitutes at the turn of the century.  When a customer brings one in that can’t be repaired, Rich does what he does best – builds him an exact replica from scratch.

     

    ‘Colt’ Single Action Army – This is THE quintessential gun of the American west, carried by outlaws like Jesse James and lawmen like Wyatt Earp. Rich builds a one-of-a-kind Single Action Army from scratch for, proving the widespread appeal of the weapon, a Baptist preacher who wants a specialized and extremely fast six-shooter to help him win Cowboy Action Shooting competitions.

     

    Hand Cannon – Before there were handguns, there were cannons.  The Hand Cannon is the first cannon that could be held in a soldier’s hands and fired.  Some argue that this is THE first firearm, the predecessor to everything we today know of as “guns.”  Rich and his team build one from scratch for Rich’s friend Gary, an explosives fanatic who owns every type firearm built to blow things up…except this one.

     

    Adaptive Hunting Rifle – A young Colorado man lost most of the use of his right arm when his Humvee struck an IED while on patrol in Iraq.  As a right-handed shooter, his injuries have made it difficult for him to hunt with his father, the thing that will make him feel normal again. Rich boldly steps up to the challenge to build this American hero a rifle that adapts perfectly to his physical limitations and helps him feel whole again.

     

  • Fortune India launches the Fortune 500 Issue with ‘Power Talk’

    Fortune India launches the Fortune 500 Issue with ‘Power Talk’

    MUMBAI: Fortune India launched its December issue comprising the esteemed Fortune 500 list with elan at a Power Talk with Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh.

     

    The event witnessed a gathering of top decision makers, thought leaders and business analysts from the country to brainstorm and lay down the initial road map for rebuilding the state under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble CM of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu. The event began with the launch of the 2014 edition of the Fortune India 500 mega issue by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu along with Mr. D. D. Purkayastha, MD & CEO, ABP Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. D. N. Mukerjea, Editor, Fortune India.

     

    The launch of this esteemed issue was followed by a brief welcome address by D.N. Mukerjea of Fortune India where he was quick to mention how Naidu’s challenge is to build a state with the pace and discipline of a start-up. ‘This is a rare opportunity for everybody to come together and contribute to building a new state’, said Mukerjea.

     

    “The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government is developing the state as a trade and logistics hub, benchmarked against the business-friendliest countries in the world,” said chief minister Shri. N. Chandrababu Naidu in Visakhapatnam today, referring to the state’s 974 km coastline while addressing the elite gathering. Naidu outlined his strategy to make AP the largest trade gateway for India to countries in the east, citing the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Industrial Area Development Authority which will boost trade with countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, China and Japan. “It is planned as a mega city with state-of-the-art infrastructure and civic amenities,” the Chief Minister said, adding that an international airport is on the anvil, with three sea ports having excellent deep waters ready.

     

    The event was concluded with a panel discussion moderated by the Editor, Fortune India where panelists included the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Sri S.P. Tucker, Spl. Chief Secretary, Planning Department (Andhra Pradesh); Mr. Krishna Kumar Ananthasubramanian, Managing Director, Philips India; Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan, Vice Chairman, Cognizant Technology Solutions; and Mr. Sudhir Sethi, Managing Partner, IDG Ventures. The state is seeking ideas towards setting up a new state; the panelists stressed the need to bring world-class research institutions and to promote migration of skilled populations into the new cities of the state to ensure they are at par with Silicon Valley.

     

    The Fortune 500 ranking of the largest corporations is the best known symbol of corporate excellence in the world. A signature issue – a veritable tome of information on India’s best and for purposes of benchmarking there’s the China 500, the BRIC 75 (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), the CIVET S 100 (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa), and the world according to the Fortune global 500. Accompanying all the tables and rankings are some compelling stories on what makes India’s largest corporations unique. In its 5th edition, State-run Indian Oil Corporation is named the country’s largest company in terms of revenue, followed by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum in the second and third place respectively.

     

  • LinkedIn India country manager Nishant Rao on CNN-IBN’s ‘CEO Of Life’

    LinkedIn India country manager Nishant Rao on CNN-IBN’s ‘CEO Of Life’

    MUMBAI: Continuing with its commitment to providing viewers with differentiated programming, CNN-IBN announces a one-of-its-kind series ‘CEO of Life’, in association with Urbana, a premium men’s formal brand from Indus League, a division of Future Lifestyle Fashion Ltd. The show hosted by CNN-IBN’s Business Editor Karma Paljor, celebrates India’s distinguished young entrepreneurs who not only believe in driving their business but in doing it with a lot of passion.

     

    This week on CEO Of Life, Nishant Rao, the Country Manager, LinkedIn India, humbly reveals his life’s journey and his remarkable experience with LinkedIn. His mantra in life is to dream big, embrace authenticity, be focussed and simultaneously drive a healthy work-life balance. He talks about how his one-year-old child inspires the simplicity that he promotes. Aspiring to be seen as an inspirational leader, Rao believes that the secret to success in any company is transparency within employees at all levels.

     

    Tune into ‘CEO of Life’ this Saturday, December 20, 2014 @ 4:30 pm with repeat telecasts on Sunday @ 12:30 pm & 4:30 pm, only on CNN-IBN

     

  • Exotic Turkey, sensuous beauties, makes Kingfisher Calendar 2015 a must HAVE!

    Exotic Turkey, sensuous beauties, makes Kingfisher Calendar 2015 a must HAVE!

    MUMBAI: Alluring Turkey, best bods and the power of voting for the cover of the 13th edition of Kingfisher Calendar, can it get hotter than this? ‘The Kingfisher Calendar 2015’ blends impeccable style with unmatched beauty, set against the splendour of Turkey beaches and countryside. Shot in pristine locations of Cappadocia, Bodrum and Pamukkale with five gorgeous models, the calendar arrests your attention with magical reality captured through the lens.

     

    Kingfisher Calendar in the current year is turning out to be democratic like never before by allowing the fans to vote for the‘Most Gorgeous Cover Girl’ for the very first time in the history of the calendar. The voting is live on Kingfisherworld.com and same is being promoted across all social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. One can vote for their favourite girl by logging on to http://kingfishercalendar.com/2015voting/

     

    Sharing his thoughts on the current edition of the calendar, Gurpreet Singh, Assistant Vice-President, marketing, at United Breweries Ltd. said, “Kingfisher Calendar 2015 is special in many ways than ever! Be it the location, new faces or the social media engagement, Kingfisher Calendar is getting closer to its fans like never before. We are extremely excited about the ‘Cover girl voting contest’ and anticipate great enthusiasm from the admirers”.

     

    Text Box:

    The ‘Kingfisher Calendar 2015’ features five stunning models Sarah Jane Dias, Dayana Erappa, Elena Fernandes, Keisha Lalland the winner of Kingfisher Supermodels-2, a reality talent show aired on NDTV Good Times. These beauties have been styled by the talented Nupur Mehta Puriand MohitRai; make-up artist KapilBhalla; hair stylist Apeni George, and captured on lens by none other than ace photographer AtulKasbekar, who has been associated with the Kingfisher Calendar since its inception.

     

    With cities steeped in history, beaches and beautiful countryside, Bodrum, Cappadocia and Pamakulle are known for their intriguing ruins, stunning beaches and cliff-top resorts – providing a picture perfect location for the models to bring out their sensuous best.

     

    ‘Kingfisher Calendar 2015 girls:  

     

        Sarah Jane Dias: is an Indian actress, host, VJ and a former Femina Miss India beauty queen. She has acted in several Tamil and Hindi movies, ‘Happy New Year’ being the latest.

        Dayana Erappa: Hails from Coorg, Karnataka. She’s an established model and has walked the ramp at many international fashion weeks including the Milan Fashion Week.

        Elena Fernandes: Is half Goan and half Peruvian. This top model was featured in the 2013 Kingfisher Calendar too. She is currently pursuing couple of Bollywood film offers.

        Keisha Lall: Her parents hail from Guyana and she was born in London, but her roots derive from Rajasthan. Keisha was featured in Duran Duran’s pop promotion music video and Above and Beyond – A Thing Called Love.

        Watch out for the winner of the Kingfisher Super Models to be announced on December 20th on NDTV Good Times who will be fifth girl to adorn the calendar

     

    Talking about his experience on the making of the calendar, AtulKasbekar commented, “The Kingfisher Calendar has carved a niche for itself. In every edition, we endeavour to keep it exotic and exuberant. The backdrop of Turkey served as the perfect location for an outdoor shoot. It is always challenging to shoot in such set ups, but then the final shots make it worth the effort. People have showered enormous love to the Calendar always & we are confident that the ‘Cover Girl Voting’ will further add to their enthusiasm”

     

     

     

  • SAB TV unveils new issues of SAB ke Comics at Comic Con

    SAB TV unveils new issues of SAB ke Comics at Comic Con

    MUMBAI: SAB TV, India’s most loved family entertainment channel is geared up to be a quintessential part of a Comicon this Christmas season at Bombay Exhibition Center Nesco Compound, Goregaon East. SAB TV has taken an innovative step to launch SAB Ke Comics a comic illustration of SAB TV characters and popular shows in the vastly popular annual comic convention happening in Mumbai. SAB Ke Comics is published by Pepper Script Publishing and would now be available on ground and online sale as well.

     

    SAB TV believes in wholesome family entertainment and bringing a smile to the face of every member in the family. With this special initiative along with Pepper Script Publishing SAB TV is going to be a part of Comic Con the entire weekend with an attractive stall that shall display the range of comics on offer for connoisseurs.  The new issues 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 of SAB Ke Comics Books are all set to be unveiled at 1:30 PM on 19th December, 2014. Present on this exciting occasion would be children’s favorite Rani Pari – Sudeepa Singh and Dev Joshi aka Baal Veer, children’s favorite superhero that will also be a part of the unveiling of the SAB Ke Comic Books. The new issues of SAB Ke Comic books are attractively priced at Rs. 100 each.

     

    Comic Con is India’s biggest comic fare which is held across multiple cities in India. SAB TV & Pepper Script publishing felt this would be the perfect platform to bring across the comic book to the comic book readers and fans. Further to the inauguration of the comics by Sudeepa Singh and Dev Joshi, they will also offer autographed copies of the comics to the fans visiting the convention. The SAB ke Comics shall be available at Comic Con for all the 3 days wherein the stall shall also be visited by other SAB TV actors on the other days. The culmination of SAB ke comics is another facet of SAB TV’s philosophy “Asli Mazaa SAB Ke Saath Hai”.

     

    Get ready to be a part of this magical expedition this weekend with multiple SAB TV stars who would be present on this occasion to give out signed copies of these new comics to their fans!

     

  • Twitter reveals the most influential tweets for #YearOnTwitter 2014

    Twitter reveals the most influential tweets for #YearOnTwitter 2014

    MUMBAI: The year 2014 has undoubtedly belonged to social media and the digital platform. Right from the Pope to Presidents and celebrities, everyone has made a substantial impact through social media. The digital medium products such as selfies, retweets, posts on the most influential books thread, video bytes, challenges like the Ice Bucket and several other me too challenges, announcing breakups and marriages, open letters, celebrity fall outs and unisons with publications etc.; have ensured that the narrative is always chronicled on social media.

     

    As the social soundtrack to life in India, Twitter has revealed the four most influential Tweeple in India for its #YearOnTwitter 2014 campaign, namely Amitabh Bachchan (12M), Shah Rukh Khan (10.4M), Priyanka Chopra (8.05M) and Sachin Tendulkar (4.85M). The portfolios of two of these biggies – Amitabh Bachchan (@srbachchan) and Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) are handled by Fluence, a celebrity digital network that has made news throughout the year with its disruptive activities and signings.

     

    Starting 16 December 2014 till 31 December, the top five tweets that created maximum impact from this set of Indian Tweeples will be showcased under the Perspectives section on 2014.twitter.com, along with other global movers and shakers such as Lady Gaga, Robert Downey Jr. and Neymar Jr. These influencers were chosen for their reach in the country and the news they made during the year on Twitter. Sachin’s picture of him posing with his mother holding his autobiography for the first time, him receiving the Bharat Ratna, Amitabh Bachchan’s thank you message for fans wishing him on his birthday and him sweeping the streets for Swach Bharat Abhiyaan were amongst the most talked about Tweets in the year.

     

    Speaking about their influential clients, Ashish Joshi, VP Digital & Business Head Fluence says, “I would like to congratulate Mr Bachchan and Sachin, two prolific personalities who the people love and who have the power to influence the country with their statements. While it is an honour for Fluence to be associated with personalities of this calibre this association comes with the responsibility of constantly innovating and coming up with ideas that are true to their personalities and are also loved by their fans.  We hope continue to succeed in our efforts while handling these incredibly charismatic and influential people and set new benchmarks for ourselves in the years to come.”

     

    Rishi Jaitly, Market Director for Twitter India and South East Asia added, “No doubt that 2014 was a breakthrough year for Indians using Twitter to connect to their world and heroes such as Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar with 12 million and nearly 5 million followers, respectively. We’re honored to feature them on our global #YearOnTwitter site which showcases the best of the world’s Twitter celebrities and how they connect with their followers in a more personal, authentic way. We look forward to enabling many more millions of Indians to stay engaged with their favourite idols through our platform for live, public conversations on their mobile devices.”

     

    Established in 2013 by CA Media, Fluence has created waves in the nascent sector by signing on some of the biggest names in the industry such as Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Sonu Nigam, Lata Mangeskhar, etc.

     

  • Pepperfry unveils its first concept store ‘Studio Pepperfry’

    Pepperfry unveils its first concept store ‘Studio Pepperfry’

    MUMBAI: Pepperfry.com, India’s leading online Furniture & Home Marketplace launched its first concept store “Studio Pepperfry” in Mumbai today. The opening of the 2,500 sq. ft. studio represents the brand’s physical presence for showcasing products in an offline retail style setting. It has been conceived as an experience zone for customers, who are looking to enhance their living spaces. In addition to being the largest furniture retailer in the country, Studio Pepperfry forms an integral part of the brand’s strategy to provide design thought leadership and services to the evolving Indian home shopper.

     

    “Studio Pepperfry” showcases a curated range of furniture from Pepperfry’s online portfolio and serves as a design inspiration for customers interested in furnishing their homes. It has iPad wielding interior design consultants to understand consumers’ requirements and provide them consulting services on various aspects of design, specifically related to furniture. These experts have in-depth knowledge of the Pepperfry furniture portfolio. They can take customers through the various designs showcased at the Studio and the extended online Pepperfry range to suit their individual tastes and preferences.

     

    Additionally, the Studio offers customers the advantage of availing services ranging from customization to advisory related to design and other helpful tips enabling them to make the right purchase decision.

    Pepperfry understands that shopping for furniture is a complex process especially, for millennial customers setting-up homes for the first-time. They have high aspirations around design that reflects their global outlook and sense of self. These customers seek the best in terms of quality without compromising on their busy lifestyle and packed schedules.  At Studio Pepperfry they can benefit from a vastly superior furniture experience by acquainting themselves with cutting-edge designs to suit their contemporary selection. Besides that they can also understand and witness the quality and finish of Pepperfry furniture products.

     

    Talking about the first brick and mortar venture Ashish Shah Founder & COO Pepperfry said, “Customers are always posed with questions around quality and assurance while buying a high-value item like furniture. At Studio Pepperfry they will be able to get a better understanding of the quality of products and services that we offer. It will also help us build their confidence and trust in the brand.”

     

    He further adds, “Our Studio represents the best and latest from our range of thousands of furniture designs that are available on our marketplace. We looking at the Studio purely as an experience centre eventually all the orders will have to be placed on the website. We want our customers to enjoy the whole experience of designing their homes by taking them one step closer to choosing the right furniture to build their dream homes.”

     

    Pepperfry has the largest range of furniture online and offers free shipping and installation on all furniture items and ships to more than 1000+ towns in the country through its partners and their own last mile delivery infrastructure. The brand will introduce 16 similar concept stores in major metros by the end of 2015.

     

  • Henkel appoints Manish Dave as business director

    Henkel appoints Manish Dave as business director

    MUMBAI:  Henkel Adhesive Technologies, a subsidiary of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Germany and the market leader in adhesives, sealants and surface treatments has appointed Manish Dave as business director of Automotive & Metals for Henkel in India. With a career spanning over twenty years, Manish has in-depth knowledge and expertise in the automotive industry.

     

    As the Business Director for Automotive & Metals in Henkel in India, Manish Dave will be responsible for the Sales and Technical Service. He will be closely working with global teams and Germany to develop and execute various initiatives geared towards sustainable, energy efficient, light weight solutions for the Automotive and Metals market in India.

     

    Jeremy Hunter, President, Henkel Group India, said, “We are pleased to have Manish Dave on board and we are confident that with his experience and technical expertise in the automotive industry, he will create a significant impact within the organization and in the industry.”

     

    Manish recently moved to India after spending twenty three years in the United States of America. He has been a part of Henkel based in Detroit for the last seven years. Before joining Henkel India, Manish has worked with PPG Industries in numerous management roles working on various technology segments.

     

    Manish holds a Master’s Degree in Polymer Chemistry from University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan, USA.