ITV

Category: Television

  • First-ever on-ground ABP LIVE Auto Awards recognises automotive excellence

    First-ever on-ground ABP LIVE Auto Awards recognises automotive excellence

    Mumbai: ABP LIVE, India’s leading digital news platform, concluded its inaugural on-ground award ceremony, the ABP LIVE Auto Awards 2023, which was held in Gurgaon on 15 March. The event marked a historic transition from virtual recognition to a grand physical celebration of automotive brilliance. The prestigious awards honoured the best cars and bikes launched in India during 2023.

    Hyundai Verna was crowned the Car of the Year, while Triumph Speed 400 took home the Bike of the Year award.

    A jury of industry experts, including Achintya Mehrotra, auto expert and rally driver; Somnath Chatterjee, automobile journalist and consulting editor-auto at ABP Network; and Jatin Chhibber, automobile journalist, anchor/producer at Auto LIVE, meticulously evaluated contenders across 28 categories, including design, performance, safety, and sustainability. Rigorous testing was carried out at the ICAT Convention Centre (International Centre for Automotive Technology) and winners were chosen from both four-wheeler and two-wheeler segments, reflecting the breadth of automotive innovation in India.

    The ABP LIVE Auto Awards 2023 highlighted the evolving Indian auto industry, where safety, sustainability, and technology are increasingly important to buyers. The growing popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs) was also evident with awards for the best EV and Luxury EV given during the ceremony.

    As the automotive landscape evolves with groundbreaking advancements, the ABP LIVE Auto Awards 2024 stand as a testament to the industry’s resilience and innovation. By recognising achievements that redefine standards in performance, sustainability, and design, ABP LIVE remains at the forefront of celebrating automotive excellence.

    Here’s the distinguished list of winners:

    Car categories:

    •    Car of the Year – Hyundai Verna
    •    Value for money car of the Year – MG Comet
    •    Sedan of the Year – Hyundai Verna
    •    Off-roader of the Year – Maruti Suzuki Jimny
    •    MPV of the Year – Toyota Innova Hycross
    •    Subcompact SUV of the Year – Hyundai Exter
    •    Premium SUV of the Year – BMW X1
    •    Luxury SUV of the Year – Range Rover Velar
    •    Luxury Off-Roader of the Year- Lexus LX
    •    Luxury Car of the Year- BMW 7 Series
    •    Luxury EV of the Year- Mercedes-Benz EQE
    •    EV of the Year – Hyundai Ioniq 5
    •    Performance SUV of the Year – Lamborghini Urus Performante
    •    Supercar of the Year – Aston Martin DB12
    •    Variant of the Year – Mahindra Thar 4×2
    •    Facelift of the Year – Tata Nexon
    •    Performance Car of the Year- Mercedes-AMG C43
    •    SUV of the Year – Honda Elevate
    •    Design of the Year – Maruti Suzuki Fronx
    •    Fun to Drive Car of the Year- Maruti Suzuki Jimny

    Bike categories:

    •    Bike of the Year- Triumph Speed 400
    •    Design of the Year- TVS Apache RTR 310
    •    Value for Money Bike of the Year – Honda Shine 100
    •    Off-Roader of the Year- Royal Enfield Himalayan
    •    Premium Bike of the Year- Triumph Street Triple 765 RS
    •    Green Two-Wheeler of the Year- Bajaj Chetak
    •    Performance Green Two-wheeler of the Year- Ultraviolette F77
    •    Scooter of the Year- Hero Xoom

  • Warner Bros. Discovery Kids announces festive Holi programming!

    Warner Bros. Discovery Kids announces festive Holi programming!

    Mumbai: It’s time to welcome summer filled with colours, festivities, and fun! Warner Bros. Discovery unveils an exciting new line-up for its kids’ entertainment channels – Cartoon Network, POGO, and Discovery Kids, featuring beloved animated characters and captivating tales from local and global fan-favourites. Kickstarting the Holi week, new stunts and shows promise an immersive experience with laughter, colours, and more.

    Holi Extravaganza

    This Holi season, fans will join the mysteries and heroic experiences with ‘Teen Titans Go!’ on Cartoon Network, where a marathon of specials, movies and themed episodes starts 24 March till 29 March from 11:30 am onwards. This special programming guarantees limitless enjoyment for the entire family, offering a captivating blend of humour and adventure that will keep everyone entertained throughout the Holi week.

    On POGO, starting 23 March to  29 March at 11:30 am, fans will enjoy daily specials – movies, premieres, and new tales featuring India’s favourite homegrown superhero ‘Chhota Bheem’ and supercop ‘Little Singham’. The Holi weekend will also take viewers on an exciting adventure as Bal Hanuman joins Chhota Bheem’s fight over evil with the premiere of part three of the Big Picture – ‘Chhota Bheem aur Bal Hanuman’, ensuring a colourful and joyous celebration for kids and families on Sunday, 24 March at 11:30 am.

    Holi specials don’t end here. Join the festivities with ‘Titto’ and ‘Fukrey Boyzzz’ on Discovery Kids as the toons take centre stage in a delightful movie marathon from March 23 to March 29 at 10:30 pm onwards. Titoo with his friends and the Fukrey gang extend a warm invitation to viewers for an adventurous and joy-filled Holi extravaganza. Exclusively featured on Discovery Kids, this movie marathon promises a perfect blend of excitement and fun for the entire family to enjoy during the festive season.

    Welcoming April fun with Discovery Kids

    The anticipation builds as ‘Titoo’ and ‘Fukrey Boyzzz’ blend in their masterful pranks in the new special, ‘April Fool aur Hum Cool’, promising mysterious tales and wholesome entertainment. Starting at 10 am on 1 April, the curated special will take viewers into a world of spoofs, twists, and laughter for a delightful April Fool’s Day experience for parents and kids. Brace yourselves for a captivating journey filled with clever pranks and heartwarming moments as Titoo and the Fukrey gang bring their unique charm to the special celebration.

    Get ready for an entertaining experience, as the channels deliver non-stop fun tailored for kids and families this festive season. Whether it is the enchanting tales of ‘April Fool aur Hum Cool’ or other exciting programming, this month promises to celebrate laughter and entertainment.

     

  • JioCinema introduces brands for JioCinema brand spotlight at TATA IPL 2024 Opener

    JioCinema introduces brands for JioCinema brand spotlight at TATA IPL 2024 Opener

    Mumbai: JioCinema, the official streaming platform for the TATA IPL 2024, has announced the first-ever set of brands that will feature on its newly launched advertiser innovation, JioCinema Brand Spotlight. Charged by Thums Up, Parle, Britannia, Dalmia Cements, and PayZapp by HDFC Bank will debut their respective campaigns for the TATA IPL 2024 during the first five overs of the opening game between MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, on March 22. As the nation aggregates to catch the start of the opening season of the TATA IPL, the five brands will be a part of this golden moment by showcasing exclusive spots of their campaign within the first five overs of the match on the opening day.

    In addition to having a priority spot to launch their engaging TATA IPL opening day blitz, JioCinema Brand Spotlight will facilitate a first-of-its-kind marketer’s moment for the five brands with the campaign makers and the brand custodians sharing exclusive insights and stories about how the campaign and brand film showcased on JioCinema Brand spotlight was conceived and built. These campaign stories will be available to viewers on an exclusive JioCinema brand spotlight rail on the JioCinema App.

    Brand Spotlight is one among a slew of innovations for advertisers around the upcoming TATA IPL season. The packages and offerings have been specifically designed to help advertisers across the board, no matter what the objective, category, and scale of business. Each proposition from JioCinema has been carefully curated to enhance the brand’s proposition and increase the potential of scale and targeting possibilities they can extract digitally.

    “The mood around the opening day of the TATA IPL has evolved over the years to become a moment where fans don’t just anticipate thrilling match action but also eagerly look forward to brands putting their best creative foot forward,” said Viacom18 Sports head of revenue, Anup Govindan. “With digital, it is possible to harness this euphoria into an actionable moment for advertisers and that is where Brand Spotlight comes to the fore. We are delighted to have Charged by Thums-Up, Parle Products, Britannia, Dalmia Cements, and PayZapp by HDFC Bank on board with us. The first five overs of the TATA IPL 2024 are going to be historical with the spotlight on these brands, and we believe Brand Spotlight is going to be an anchor offering in the coming years.”

    Speaking about partnering with JioCinema, HDFC Bank group head, chief marketing officer and head direct to direct-to-consumer business Ravi Santhanam said, “Our PayZapp campaign for the TATA IPL is built on the idea that customers can pay anyone, anyhow, anywhere and we felt this proposition synchronises almost perfectly with JioCinema’s vision for digital, which is to make digital omnipresent. Introducing this communication right at the beginning of the season under Brand Spotlight is going to help us give it the platform it deserves by taking it far and wide in the country.”

    Speaking about partnering with JioCinema, chief marketing officer, Britannia Amit Doshi said, “With Hungry For Gold, we aspire to instil pride in every Indian and inspire a nation hungry for victory in all areas. By partnering with six remarkable athletes and integrating an engaging gaming promotion, we are not only showcasing their incredible journeys but also fostering a deeper appreciation for various sports. We are excited to partner with JioCinema for Brand Spotlight to make this message reach millions.”

    On being part of the Brand Spotlight stable, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd COO Sameer Nagpal said, “We have tried to make our communication highly distinctive from the norms of the cement category. We have a differentiated consumer proposition and have presented it in a unique style using engaging visuals and music, along with one of the most unique stars of this generation, Ranveer Singh. We truly feel that JioCinema’s Brand Spotlight will do justice to our creative efforts by giving our campaign the kind of reach and scale that only TATA IPL on JioCinema can.”

    Commenting on being a part of Brand Spotlight, Parle Products VP Mayank Shah said, “The objective behind our TATA IPL 2024 campaign is to further our cause started in 2017-18 of positioning ‘Parle’ from ‘House of Brands’ to a ‘Branded House’ while building an emotional connect with consumers. Our TVC is packaged to deliver the message with classic elements of wit and humour but underscores the core thought of positioning Parle as a top corporate brand. We took that finished product to JioCinema’s Brand Spotlight, as in addition to giving us unprecedented reach and customization options, the Brand Spotlight rail on the app is a great platform to take viewers behind the scenes to talk them through this campaign in a never-been-done-before manner.”

    Fans will be able to catch the latest season of the TATA IPL for free in 4K across 12 languages introducing Haryanvi for the first time, multi-cam options including the much-hyped Hero Cam, and many more fan-engagement features including Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan.

     

  • Rathikant Basu: A bureaucrat who pushed boundaries

    Rathikant Basu: A bureaucrat who pushed boundaries

    Mumbai: He loved the high life. A career bureaucrat from the Indian Administrative Services, Rathikant Basu, shifted from the civil services to a private sector corporate job as head of Star TV India (yes, the same Disney Star TV India which has today been subsumed in the Big A’s Reliance Industries) in the late nineties.

    He had impressed Rupert Murdoch (who was then the owner of Star TV India) with the work he had done for Doordarshan when he, along with information and broadcasting secretary Bhaskar Ghose, privatised the news bulletins on the state-owned channel by handing production to the Prannoy Roy-owned NDTV.

    Additionally, he had also faced the influx of private general entertainment channels, Zee TV, Sony Entertainment, ATN, Star Plus (a hotch-potch of Chinese language and international programmes) -head on in the early and mid-nineties.

    He injected freshness into DD programming by inviting private producers to churn out popular shows on its buzzing with entertainment spinoff called DD Metro. This was at a time when Zee TV had revolutionized TV consumption with its dose of Anchor Ek Minute, Saregama, Antakshari, shows which struck a chord with starved-for-entertainment Indian viewers.

    Suddenly, DD which seemed to be losing its hold on the media planner and buyer trade, got it back, thanks to the spurt in ratings.

    And that is what had enamored Murdoch about Mr Basu – as he addressed him – and he hired him as the CEO. Former Star TV India CEO Peter Mukerjea had a moniker for him – he simply called him Rodney. Says he in his book Star Struck – Confessions of a TV executive: “..it was a friendlier and more informal way of referring to him than Mr Basu, which sounded very much more like a school headmaster. .He himself was an excellent thinker, super bright and also exceptionally amiable – clearly a highly talented individual.”

    Peter then talks about Mr Basu’s sojourn at Star India when the latter thankfully failed in his bid to transform its biz model to a slot-fee-air time model just like DD used to operate. He then talks about other failed forays of Star India into the DTH business with the government getting wind of it and disallowing it without it jumping through regulatory hoops. Basu’s attempt at localizing the foreign and English language shows like Baywatch, The Bold and the Beautiful into Hindi led to Star Plus becoming a laughing stock. His efforts at playing out reruns of shows such as Chandrakanta and Saans also flopped miserably. And led to confusion amongst advertisers who deserted it.

    What he was certainly successful at, was in the setting up of the lobbying group the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which he did as a knee jerk reaction to the government raising the red flag on the Star India DTH service ISkyB. He also did a great job in launching the first private satellite news channel in India under the brand Star News in partnership with Prannoy Roy’s NDTV, with whom he had a prior and also good working relationship since his days at DD

    The confusion about Star Plus’ identity and Basu’s hiring of former government personnel led to a period of some chaos in amongst content producers and advertisers which then forced Murdoch’s hand and led to his being elevated as non-executive chairman with Peter becoming CEO.

    What also worked against Mr Basu as CEO of Star TV India was some envy from his peers in government service who saw him as a turncoat, thus retarding the network’s progress in India. 

    Not one to be put down, Basu,  after the completion of his contract at Star India launched channels under the brand Tara (a takeoff on Star India), which he continued to run for more than a decade and a half. Not very profitably. But ran them he did. Until he discovered he was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

    Basu, on his part, also knew how to give back. He had kindly consented to be on indiantelevision.com’s The Indian Telly Awards jury for at least a couple of years. Far from being just a serious former bureaucrat, he cracked a few jokes and he chortled. Yes, he did – an antithesis to the strict and sombre exterior he normally presented to the media. 

    The industry veteran passed away on 17 March 2024, following a harrowing descent while grappling with the mind-robbing ailment. He was just nine days short of completing his eighty-second birthday.

    Says Peter in his book: “Rodney was never a bad chap, on the contrary he was rather fun to be with. Alongside his intelligence, I admired so many aspects of his admittedly quirky personality. As a boss, he had always been very civil with me and I, in turn, gave him due regard and respect. There was no doubt in my mind he was a gentleman.” 

    May the gentleman RIP.

  • TV9 Network, Sensodyne urge people to take first step for their oral health

    TV9 Network, Sensodyne urge people to take first step for their oral health

    Mumbai: After the overwhelming response to the first edition of the oral health summit in 2023, TV9 Network and Sensodyne have joined hands again to create awareness around oral hygiene. In the run-up to World Oral Health Day on 20 March, a unique initiative has been launched calling upon people to #TakeTheFirstStep towards oral health. The campaign, urging people to follow their Funda-dental duties culminates into the second edition of Oral Health Summit. Experts and dignitaries from various segments of dental sciences shall engage in discussions around oral health problems that are pertinent to people of all ages.

    “In the post-Covid scenario, people are prioritising health and fitness. However, oral health holds key importance when it comes to well-being as it contributes to one’s overall health and quality of life. With this idea in mind, TV9 Network has partnered with Sensodyne to spread awareness and enable people to #TakeTheFirstStep towards oral hygiene,” said Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer (Broadcasting & Digital), TV9 Network.

    Talking about the initiative, TV9 Network chief revenue officer Amit Tripathi said, “Optimal oral health is crucial to the wellness of people of all ages. With its wide reach in 7 languages, TV9 Network is well poised to help Sensodyne reach out to our viewers to disseminate the impactful message of being sensitive to oral health. With media amplification across digital and broadcast, we are spreading awareness in multiple languages.”

    Key members from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Niti Aayog, Indian Dental Association, National Oral Health Forum and Dental Council of India shall be sharing their valuable insights on dental health and sciences.

    “It’s an absolute privilege to continue our partnership with TV 9’s Oral Health Summit for the second consecutive year. As an organisation committed to improving everyday health with humanity, we proudly support this significant initiative and thank all the stakeholders from various sectors including government, public health experts, and representatives from key dental forums, for joining us. I’m confident that through our collaborative efforts and collective expertise, we will be able to set the right tone for oral health in India and elevate our country’s overall health. After all, oral health, often overlooked, is intricately linked to general well-being. Additionally, with Sensodyne’s latest education campaign #BeSensitiveToOralHealth, launched this World Oral Health Day, we’re further taking forward our agenda of bolstering oral health literacy and tackling preventable oral health issues through free dental consultations across the country,” said Navneet Saluja, area general manager, Indian sub-continent, Haleon who took immense pride in the awareness campaign and the initiative undertaken.

    The summit highlights shall be aired on all channels of TV9 Network on World Oral Health Day on 20  March 2024.

  • Pune to host first chapter of AI Alliance by CNBC TV18 and Moneycontrol on March 27

    Pune to host first chapter of AI Alliance by CNBC TV18 and Moneycontrol on March 27

    Mumbai:  Pune is home to diverse sectors – from auto to SaaS to e-commerce to fintech to engineering services. The city is also becoming a crucial hub for AI adoption, given its growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs. With an aim to foster this growth, CNBC-TV18 in collaboration with Moneycontrol, has announced the first edition of the ‘AI Alliance’ in Pune, scheduled to be held on 27 March 2024, from 3 p.m. onwards at Hyatt Regency. The ‘AI Alliance’ platform aims to bring experts and enthusiasts under one roof and serve as a platform to connect knowledge seekers with leading minds in the AI domain.

    Building upon the success of the ‘Global AI Conclave’ held in December 2023 in Bengaluru, this initiative seeks to explore the transformative potential of AI across sectors. The event will feature engaging panel discussions and topics focusing on the evolution and future of AI and the crucial role individuals and organisations can play in this revolution.

    The themes will focus on how AI is impacting IT services, governance, manufacturing, software as a service, fintech, e-commerce and public transportation. ~Founders of Five of Pune’s unicorns (Druva, Icertis, Mindtickle, OneCard and ElasticRun) will be speaking at the AI event, cutting across SaaS, financial services and B2B e-commerce. Other top speakers include Shrikant Shinde, MP, Lok Sabha, Mumbai metro chief Ashwini Bhide, Bharat Forge’s Amit Kalyani and Kishor Patil of KPIT. Apart from talking about the impact of AI on their respective sectors, they will also shine a light on why Pune is poised to emerge as India’s AI hub

    Speaking on the first chapter of AI Alliance, Moneycontrol Deputy Executive Editor Chandra R Srikanth said, “The AI Alliance marks an important chapter in our commitment to create platforms that will enhance understanding of AI and its transformative impact across industries. Responsible AI, in particular, is a vital pillar of the AI alliance. Pune stands as one of the largest technology hubs in India, and this AI Alliance initiative will help shine a light on the innovation and AI adoption in the city. The AI alliance will help in assembling and building a strong AI community in Pune” 

  • Republic Media Network Unveils Groundbreaking Pre-Election Campaign: “Nazar Ka Tikka – Vote Jaroor Kare!”

    Republic Media Network Unveils Groundbreaking Pre-Election Campaign: “Nazar Ka Tikka – Vote Jaroor Kare!”

    Mumbai: Republic Media Network proudly announces the launch of its latest campaign, “Nazar Ka Tikka – Vote Jaroor Kare!” This pre-election initiative is poised to become the largest pre-election campaign, with over 10 esteemed brands joining forces to inspire voter turnout and foster a profound sense of national duty among citizens. The campaign, expected to reach 44 crore people during this election season, aims to leverage the cultural significance of the ‘Nazar ka Tikka’ to encourage active participation in the electoral process.

    Drawing upon the belief in the protective powers of the ‘Nazar ka Tikka’ in Indian culture, the campaign seeks to associate the act of voting with safeguarding the nation’s interests. At its core, the campaign strives to instill a sense of responsibility and pride in citizens towards their country. By symbolically linking the inked finger of a voter with the protective charm of the ‘Nazar ka Tikka,’ Republic Media Network underscores the importance of each individual’s role in shaping the nation’s destiny.

    Key strategies of the campaign include:

    Harnessing the widespread recognition of the ‘Nazar ka Tikka’ as a cultural symbol to foster a positive perception of voting.

    Presenting voting not merely as a right but as a solemn duty towards the nation. The campaign slogan, “Desh ko lagae nazar ka tikka – Vote Jaroor Kare!” encapsulates the essence of protecting the nation through active electoral participation.

    Invoking citizens’ patriotism and their responsibility in shaping the country’s future by emphasizing the significance of each vote.

    The campaign will be extensively promoted across Republic Media Network’s platforms and for the first time the largest number of brands leveraging pre-election visibility, featuring compelling content aimed at engaging and inspiring audiences. The network extends an invitation to esteemed guests to contribute to the campaign by endorsing the slogan, “Desh ko lagae nazar ka tikka – Vote Jaroor Kare! Thanks.”

    “Republic Media leading the election initiatives from the front.”

  • Hyundai Exter shines at Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards

    Hyundai Exter shines at Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards

    Mumbai: The prestigious Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards, an annual event hosted by the Zee Marathi, celebrates excellence in both artistic and technical aspects of the Marathi-language film industry in India. The award ceremony attracts top talents from the industry and has a history of successful collaborations with renowned brands. This year marked a significant milestone as Hyundai, with their latest offering Exter, joined as a co-sponsor for the Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards for the first time.

    During the event, Hyundai Motors India the chief operating officer Tarun Garg had the honour of felicitating deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar. Marathi Superstar Siddarth Jadhav delivered a captivating performance with Hyundai Exter, adding to the glamour of the evening. Additionally, key personalities from Zee Marathi partnered with Hyundai for the engaging ‘Aapli Manasa, Aapli Car’ contest. The collaboration extended to various Hyundai showrooms across Maharashtra, garnering an enthusiastic response from the audience. The inaugural collaboration between Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards and Hyundai as co-sponsors proved to be a resounding success for both parties.

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. chief growth officer, ad revenue Ashish Sehgal said – “We are thrilled to partner with Hyundai Motors in this curated 360-degree promotional campaign, leveraging the massive reach and popularity of our shows and characters. Zee Marathi has deep-rooted connections with people across Maharashtra and this campaign ably synergizes the brand values of Hyundai and Zee to create everlasting bonds with the audiences. Looking forward to creating more such memorable experiences for our consumers and wishing superlative business outcomes for Hyundai, as we grow together.”

    ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd chief cluster officer, North, West & premium channel Amit Shah said, “The collaboration with Hyundai for the Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards has been a resounding success, showcasing the perfect blend of creativity and innovation in the entertainment industry. The positive feedback highlights the productive outcome of this partnership, indicating a successful and mutually beneficial relationship between the two entities.”

    Highlighting the transformative effect of the collaboration on the event, Zee Marathi chief channel officer V.R. Hema shared, “Each year, Zee Chitra Gaurav flourishes with exceptional content and unwavering industry support. Our continuous improvement is fuelled by sponsors who amplify our event’s reach and impact. Collaborating with Hyundai Motor this year posed unique challenges, but our extensive teamwork ensured a memorable experience. We eagerly anticipate more such partnerships to elevate our content and meet brand objectives for our clients.”

  • PM Narendra Modi to deliver keynote address at News18 Rising Bharat Summit

    PM Narendra Modi to deliver keynote address at News18 Rising Bharat Summit

    Mumbai: The latest edition of News18 Network’s marquee leadership event, ‘News18 Rising Bharat Summit’ is set to be held in New Delhi on 19-20 March 2024. With insightful discussions, thought-provoking panels and visionary keynote address, the two-day event will bring together prominent thought leaders to explore Bharat’s ascent as a global power.

    India has evolved into a formidable global force, making significant contributions in several sectors from technological innovation to economic resilience. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a key architect of this transformation, will deliver the keynote address at the Rising Bharat Summit.

    The summit will see participation from the country’s most revered policymakers including Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of Road, Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani, Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant and BJP leader K. Annamalai.

    News18 Rising Bharat Summit will also host numerous eminent International speakers such as Michael R. Pompeo, 70th Secretary of State of the United States, John Mearsheimer, American political scientist, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former president of Mauritius, Erik Solheim, former executive director, UNEP & former Environment Minister of Norway, Ryan McInerney, CEO at VISA Inc, Aleqa Hammond, former Prime Minister of Greenland and Salvatore Babones, American sociologist and associate professor at the University of Sydney among others.

    Some of the key Indian speakers include Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson – SEBI, Falguni Nayar, founder and CEO of Nykaa, Prasoon Joshi, chairperson of CBFC and CEO of McCann World Group, Harsh Jain, CEO & co-founder, Dream Sports, Jayen Mehta, MD, Gujarat co-operative Milk Marketing Federation and Ashish Dhawan, Founder-Trustee, Ashoka University, Pawan Verma, Author-Diplomat.

    The summit will see participation from renowned personalities such as actor Sidharth Malhotra, former South African cricketer AB de Villiers, former Australian cricketer Brett Lee, cricket commentator and former cricketer Akash Chopra, para-cricketer Amir Lone, fashion designer Rahul Mishra, and Grammy winners — Singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V. Selvaganesh, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia.

    Covering a broad spectrum of subjects like nation-building, technology, manufacturing, trade, sustainability, sports, entertainment and others, Rising Bharat Summit will deep dive into India’s multifaceted global influence and its role in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future for all with its mantra — ‘Leading for Global Good’.

    News18 Rising Bharat Summit will air on CNN-News18 on March 19 and March 20, starting at 10 am on both days. It will also be streamed live on CNN-News18’s YouTube channel.

  • FridayFictionFilms: Redefining filmmaking for social impact and corporate collaboration

    FridayFictionFilms: Redefining filmmaking for social impact and corporate collaboration

    Mumbai: FridayFictionFilms,  a film production house, is celebrated for its unparalleled dedication to storytelling that transcends the ordinary. With accolades gracing its shelves, including the esteemed Limca Book of Records, FridayFictionFilms reigns supreme, masterfully crafting narratives that not only entertain but also inspire change. Their repertoire spans from blockbuster commercial ventures to soul-stirring shorts, each imbued with a profound sense of purpose. FridayFictionFilms is renowned for its unwavering commitment to social causes.

    Whether it’s shedding light on pressing societal issues or igniting empathy through the lens, every frame they capture is a testament to their dedication to making the world a better place, one story at a time.

    Indiantelevision caught up with FridayFictionFilms -founder and CEO Tanmay Shah to talk about the challenges he has encountered as a filmmaker advocating for social causes and the unique approach his company takes in collaborating with brands to create impactful commercial films while staying true to its commitment to social good

    On the inspiration behind establishing FridayFictionFilms

    After I made my first film, I felt a lot could be done beyond what I knew. This medium can be explored to not just make films about social issues I am exposed to but can cater to individuals, companies, and brands already working towards a cause they care about. It’s also quite humbling and inspiring to listen, talk, and see how things operate at the grass-roots level. An accumulated sum of all this made it clear to start FridayFictionFilms and make films that matter.

    On the significant gap in your YouTube channel’s content, particularly the last video titled ‘Horn ok please’’; Are you currently involved in the development of new projects

    After the successful completion of the 52 Films Project, we started working on real-life stories. We moved from fiction to nonfiction and made two short documentaries, one feature-length documentary, and many in collaboration with NGOs. These films garnered 33 international film festival awards and ran across continents. This also led us to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through CWAS (Centre for Water and Sanitation) in India and Circulate Capital to fund innovations in ocean recycling and upcycling in Southeast Asia. Currently, we are working on two short documentaries and a feature-length documentary about the art and craft of local artisans.

    On the challenges that you have faced as a filmmaker, especially in advocating for social causes through your work

    What I have realised over the past decade in making films with social causes is that we have to be deeply invested in the cause or have a mindset towards progressively weaving the voice of the film towards a larger goal to be able to bring about any real change of any kind. If the film only leads to a space where it will be stuck at the same point as the cause itself, I guess it won’t be able to transcend the block. This entire process then becomes quite challenging because now how much to deal with stakeholders beyond the film and how much to pursue beyond making the film becomes an interesting self-journey.

    On FridayFictionFilms collaborates with brands to create impactful commercial films while maintaining its commitment to social good

    Brand and social good can also be a subtle introduction. It has to come out in company communication internally and externally and not necessarily always as leading the front for a cause voice. It could be more implementation-driven by showing how a brand first cares as an establishment and how it cares for and manages its employees and stakeholders and builds trust in the market. We bring out these subtle underlying aspects of brands and include them in the narratives we build for them.

    On FridayFictionFilms setting itself apart from other film production companies in terms of its USP

    We at FridayFictionFilms, utilise film as a solution and not just as a service. We use film also to simplify a lot of internal communication between companies and brands. The process of making the film goes even beyond making the film, it becomes a step towards bringing together the underlying values of the company to its employees and stakeholders and gives everyone more ways to connect with company goals and objectives.