Mumbai: Warner Music India has announced that Sujal Parekh has been promoted to become general manager, operations for Warner Music India and other territories in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). He will report to Jay Mehta, managing director of Warner Music India and SAARC territories.
In his new role, Sujal will drive Warner Music India’s sustainable and profitable growth, provide leadership in all aspects of fiscal management, help develop the company’s long-term business strategy, and act as an effective co-pilot for business.
Sujal will focus on spearheading artist management, digital operations, legal affairs, publishing, live events, people initiatives, and strategic mergers and acquisitions.
The announcement comes as Warner Music India is poised for strategic expansion, and it will leverage Parekh’s expertise to navigate the diverse and dynamic Indian music market.
Sujal Parekh said: “I am excited to have this opportunity to spearhead Warner Music India’s comprehensive operations, ensuring that we deliver even more support to our artists and develop our amazing team. This will enable us to offer even more incredible music to fans in India and around the world.”
Jay Mehta added: “I’m delighted to announce Sujal’s elevation to general manager, operations. We believe in empowering our team by offering greater responsibilities and nurturing leaders within the organization. This marks a pivotal moment as Sujal’s leadership will help guide many aspects of our business. His expertise will be vital as we strategically expand our local operations and empower our artists and partners to leverage Warner Music’s global resources to deliver unparalleled success.”
Sujal has served as Warner Music India’s head of finance since February 2021, and been instrumental in propelling the company’s growth and nurturing crucial alliances.
Prior to that, Sujal was associate vice president – finance at Bigtree Entertainment’s BookMyShow, India’s premier comprehensive entertainment ticketing applications and analysis solutions provider. While there, he handled many challenging assignments, including raising resources from domestic and global markets, corporate restructuring and regulatory matters.
Mumbai: Revenant Esports, the esports organization, has onboarded AMD, the leading global semiconductor manufacturer as its title partner. As a part of this collaboration, the two companies will be working together to grow esports communities and strengthen PC gaming rosters in the country and beyond.
Commenting on the partnership, Revenant Esports founder and CEO Rohit Jagasia, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with AMD once again as our title sponsors. At Revenant Esports, our ethos revolves around aligning with the absolute best. It’s not just about enhancing the brands we collaborate with but also about propelling the gaming industry to greater heights. Therefore, a title partnership with AMD, who is a veteran in the Indian esports industry, represents a mutually beneficial deal that will take steps toward mutual growth and industry advancement. Additionally, it will elevate our upcoming PC team rosters’ performances as they will now be powered by AMD processors.”
As the title sponsor, AMD will receive branding on the strategic torso jersey spot, gaining maximum visibility across all of Revenant Esports’ rosters in tournaments. Furthermore, AMD will be providing infrastructural support to Revenant Esports’ PC rosters by powering them with their cutting-edge processors.
Revenant Esports, is the most popular esports organization in India, especially within the PC gaming community due to its consistently high performances across different esports titles. The team has previously competed across VALORANT, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends – scoring multiple podium finishes and even qualifying for the $1 million Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2022 Split 2 Playoffs.
The team also won the Esportz Premier Series VALORANT LAN, an on-ground event in Mumbai in early 2023. Most recently, Revenant Esports secured the runners-up spot in the Skyesports Masters for Counter-Strike, which was India’s first-ever franchised esports league with a whopping Rs 2 Crore Prize Pool.
Stepping into 2024, Revenant Esports will be re-entering top PC gaming esports titles to once again secure the top spot. Stay tuned to Revenant Esports’ Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube handles for more information.
In mobile gaming, Revenant Esports boasts highly skilled rosters in Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Brawl Stars. The Brawl Stars team were also the sole representatives for India at the 2023 World Finals in Sweden where they competed against the world’s best for the title and a share of the $750,000 prize pool.
Mumbai: This evening when the telecast of the three-match India-Afghanistan T-20 series begins on JioCinema and Viacom18 Sports, the roster of advertisers will impress one and all. Amongst the ones who have got on board include: Tata Commercial Vehicles and HDFC Bank as co-presenting partners.
On the associate partner list figure: Matrimony.com, Eureka Forbes, Beam Suntory, Oppo, Kajaria, Hero Electronix and Farmley.
Crex, MPL, Komaki EV and MP Birla bring up the rear as associates.
The white ball series has been generating a lot of interest courtesy of the comeback of both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the Indian squad after an absence of 14 months. Also noteworthy is the absence of world-class all-rounder Rashid Khan from the Afghanistan squad. Khan is recovering from surgery a few weeks ago. Additionally, the Afghanis proved a world-class side, beating some of the better-known teams in the recently concluded ICC run One Day World Cup.
Mumbai: QYOU Media India’s Hindi General Entertainment Channel, Q TV, is set to elevate the entertainment quotient for its viewers with the launch of a new show, ‘Mridul Ki Duniya’, in line with the channel’s Zara Hatke proposition. The show, starring the internet sensation Mridul, promises to bring laughter into households with its family-friendly, light-hearted content. Starting 15 January 2024, ‘Mridul Ki Duniya’ is scheduled to air from Monday to Friday at 8:30 PM, only on Q TV.
‘Mridul Ki Duniya’ showcases the humorous brilliance of Mridul, a talented creator known for his unique and hilarious take on the everyday lives of people around him. Set in a household where Mridul lives with his parents and older brother, Nitin, the show provides a delightful insight into their daily escapades. While Mridul’s mother, who manages the household with a strictness that elicits laughter and relatability, adds a touch of realism to the amusing narrative, Mridul’s father, known for his frugality, becomes the unwitting target of schemes concocted by Nitin and Mridul to extract a bit of pocket money from the household expenses. Mridul’s specialty lies in infusing satire into the narrative of his videos, ensuring family-friendly entertainment that resonates with viewers of all ages. The show brings forth funny and light-hearted content tailored, with Mridul’s distinct accent fostering a strong connection with the target audience.
Speaking on the launch of ‘Mridul Ki Duniya’, QYOU Media India group CEO Raj Mishra said, “In the dynamically evolving space of entertainment, we at QYOU Media India, continue to successfully navigate the uncharted formats of entertainment that resonate across demographics. Our flagship Hindi General Entertainment Channel, Q TV, spearheads growth with innovative formats, setting a precedent for engaging and relatable content. As we surge ahead, our focus remains steadfast on identifying avenues and crafting shows that not only captivate but also connect with the diverse tastes of our audiences. We are dedicated to continuously raising the bar, ensuring our viewers experience entertainment that mirrors their evolving preferences.”
Mumbai: Ultimate Kho Kho, India’s first-ever professional Kho Kho league, has onboarded IndianOil, the country’s leading diversified, integrated energy major as the Powered By Sponsor for its ongoing Season 2. Aligning with Ultimate Kho Kho’s vision of bringing a modern twist to the traditional sport, this partnership solidifies the league’s commitment to shaping the future of Kho Kho in India.
Having recently secured Series A funding from UK-based BNP Group after successfully raising its valuation, Ultimate Kho Kho became the first sports league in India to secure private equity investment to grow the trajectory of Kho-Kho in India and globally.
Their partnership with IndianOil is set to unfold through an extensive marketing campaign, encompassing digital and on-ground activations. This collaborative effort will showcase player engagements, social media promotions, and fan-centric initiatives, all geared toward amplifying the league’s reach and influence throughout the nation.
Reflecting on the strategic association, Ultimate Kho Kho CEO & league commissioner Tenzing Niyogi commented, “We are thrilled to welcome IndianOil as our Powered By Sponsor to elevate the stature of Kho Kho in India. Ultimate Kho Kho was conceived with the vision of not only reviving the rich heritage of Kho Kho but to propel it into a new era of dynamism, and entertainment. Our commitment to making Ultimate Kho Kho larger, bolder, and the ultimate source of entertainment for Bharat aligns perfectly with IndianOil’s dedication to leaving a lasting legacy on the Indian sporting landscape. We are confident that this partnership will act as a catalyst for the growth of Kho Kho in India.”
With a presence in almost all the streams of oil, gas, petrochemicals, and alternative energy sources in the country, IndianOil stands as the nation’s highest-ranked Energy-PSU in the Fortune 500 of 2023.
As part of their association with Ultimate Kho Kho, IndianOil will secure the naming rights for the post-match award, recognizing the ‘Attacker of the Match.’ Additionally, IndianOil will also have the naming rights to the league’s exciting powerplay segment, which was dominated by Chennai Quick Guns’ stalwart all-rounder Ramji Kashyap who accumulated a total of 24 skydive points this season.
According to a YouGov Report, the first season of Ultimate Kho Kho reached a massive audience of 164 million across various media touchpoints, emerging among the top 3 non-cricket leagues in India.
Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, the ongoing season 2 of Ultimate Kho Kho will witness high-octane action between the top four teams – Chennai Quick Guns, Odisha Juggernauts, Gujarat Giants and Telugu Yoddhas during its semi-finals which are scheduled to be played on 11 January 2024.
Mumbai: Starting the new year with renewed vigour and anticipation, Sony BBC Earth brings in an interesting line-up of premieres for its viewers. Adding to the promise of making viewers feel alive by offering a fresh perspective on knowledge and adventure, the channel is premiering ‘World’s Most Dangerous Roads’, ‘Ancient Powers’, and ‘Spy in the Ocean’.
‘World’s Most Dangerous Roads’ takes viewers on a virtual expedition along with six British celebrities as they navigate the planet’s most treacherous highways, awe-inspiring landscapes, and captivating characters. The show guarantees an adrenaline rush and the thrill of a lifetime. With ‘Ancient Powers’ viewers can journey through time as they unravel the secrets concealed within ancient monuments and landmarks. It is a remarkable story of the social, technological, and physical challenges five powerful civilizations faced in their battle for survival and domination of the ancient world. Whereas ‘Spy in the Ocean’ takes people to an extraordinary underwater spy mission. With state-of-the-art hidden cameras, the show offers unprecedented perspectives on the ingenious creatures that call the ocean home. A new secret is unveiled of ocean life, into the heart of the underwater world.
Watch ‘Ancient Powers’ on Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm from the 13 Jan, ‘World’s Most Dangerous Roads’ on Monday to Friday at 10 pm from the 15 Jan, and ‘Spy in the Ocean’ premiering on the 22 Jan at 12 pm and 9 pm from Monday to Thursday.
Mumbai: Atrangii App Hindi OTT helmed by media baron Vibhu Agarwal, has elevated Nivedita Basu to senior vice president group. Earlier Nivedita was the vice president content & business alliances at Atrangii. The relatively new OTT platform was launched in June 2022 and is gaining immense love from audiences each passing day with its distinctive programming line-up. Nivedita joined the company two years ago and her new role will entail developing, creating, and producing original content and leading strategic business alliances.
She has been extensively involved in creating content on Atrangii’s platform with highly successful shows in diverse genres such as fiction and reality television like Johri, Libaas, KINK and Ansuni. She has been instrumental in bringing Atrangii to new heights by developing new sub-verticals like Firangii, Satrangii, Flaunt and Imli under the visionary leadership of Vibhu Agarwal.
Speaking on the announcement, Atrangii founder Vibhu Agarwal said, “Nivedita has been an integral part of Atrangii since its launch. We are pleased to elevate her as the Senior Vice President Group as she has new roles and bigger responsibilities with Atrangii App growing as an all-in-one super app. As we have entered a new phase of Atrangii with various sub platforms, fiction and non-fiction shows, Nivedita in her elevated role, will lend her expertise, aligned with our vision in growing our brand Atrangii to reach newer and higher heights in the OTT entertainment space.”
To further bolster its exhaustive content offering, the platform is gearing up to roll out a slew of shows for 2024 spanning genres, which includes Baghin, KINK 2 and multiple exciting fiction and non-fiction shows.
Mumbai: Castrol India Ltd, lubricant manufacturer, in association with TV9 Network, announces the ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ initiative, building on the ethos of its latest campaign ‘#BadhteRahoAagey’. This purpose-led initiative aims to spur entrepreneurial zeal and enhance the professional competencies of truck drivers across India with an on-ground planned reach to over 100,000 truckers. In a show of support, Nitin Gadkari union minister of road transport and highways of India, launched the campaign by unveiling the logo, along with Castrol India Ltd managing director Sandeep Sangwan, and TV9 Network chief growth officer (Broadcasting & Digital) Raktim Das.
In its first phase ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshala’ will embark on a two-and-a-half-month journey on two specially designed trucks taking different routes covering all four regions across India. The enroute journey will engage truck drivers in interactive, on-ground Paathshaalas across planned Transport Nagars on their way. The knowledge sessions have been curated to upskill truckers around four key aspects—Driving Safety, Truck Ownership, New Technology and Business Profitability—empowering them to #BadhteRahoAagey.
Appreciating the initiative, Nitin Gadkari, union minister of road transport and highways, said, “The road ministry of India is committed to ensuring the safety, well-being and progress of truck drivers by undertaking multiple initiatives. The Government has built state-of-the-art expressways and enacted laws to curb road accidents, but lack of fear and discipline among motorists is a huge challenge. I congratulate Castrol India for launching Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ which is a step towards building awareness and encouraging truckers to #BadhteRahoAagey.”
Castrol India managing director Sandeep Sangwan stated, “The trucking community has always been an integral part of Castrol India, and we have been continuously striving to ensure their safety and livelihood through various transformative initiatives. ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ is a purpose-led programme through which we aim to reach more than 100,000 truckers on-ground across India, upskilling over 10,000 truck drivers with live Paathshaalas enabling them to #BadhteRahoAagey. We are humbled by the encouragement from Shri Nitin Gadkari, as he himself has steered initiatives to ensure the safety and well-being of truck drivers over the years. His show of support vindicates our commitment to improving the lives of India’s trucking community.”
Highlighting the challenges of the trucking community and the benefits availed through the initiative, Sangwan added, “More than 50 per cent of India’s truckers operate in unorganised
fleets or as individual owners. The programme aims to boost their entrepreneurial mindset and directs them towards the path of progress – bringing alive the idea of #BadhteRahoAagey.”
Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, well-known for his earnest altruism in helping the common man, has come on board to endorse the noble cause as the campaign ambassador for ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’. He will pay tribute to the often-unsung trucking community for their selfless service and encourage them to #BadhteRahoAagey.
“I salute our unsung heroes of the transportation industry – the truck drivers – for their relentless hard work. ‘Castrol CRB TURBOMAX Pragati Ki Paathshaala’ will help truck drivers equip themselves with the skills and expertise to progress in life. I wish them luck on their journey to a brighter future and would like to tell them ‘Pragati ki Paathsaala ke saath #BadhteRahoAagey,” Sonu Sood, said.
TV9 Network, which has been championing the cause of truck drivers through multiple campaigns, is again at the forefront of empowering this often-neglected community. Commenting on the partnership, Mr Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer (Broadcasting & Digital), TV9 Network, said: “Truck drivers literally keep the wheels of India’s economy moving but they are rarely accorded any recognition and promise of a better life. As India’s No. 1 news network, we deeply care about people and their progress. Our association with Castrol CRB Turbomax for the pathbreaking Pragati Ki Paathshaala campaign shows our unwavering commitment to the empowerment of our truck drivers. We believe a skilled truck driver will steer the country on the path of progress.”
Talking about the social cause initiative, he added: “Upskilling of truck drivers assumes importance, especially in the backdrop of India’s automotive space witnessing a rapid transformation. Truck drivers also need to constantly hone and upgrade their skills. This campaign aims to provide them with the essential knowledge and guidance needed for success and growth.”
Mumbai: South United Football Club (SUFC), the country’s only profitable private club whose first team plays in the Bengaluru super division currently, has officially announced the opening of three training centres in Pune, intending to bolster the rich footballing culture of the city and make it a hub for the sport in Western India. These three centres of the South United Football Academy that have already begun their enrolment process are based out of Undri, Bavdhan and Kharadi, in the city of Pune, providing FIFA-Grade state-of-the-art facilities to identify and nurture budding talent from the city and also from other parts of Maharashtra.
These centres will provide an opportunity for people from all age groups to build a community around the sport. The club, which is well established in Bengaluru with their FIFA-standard facility in Ulsoor, has chosen Pune as their first port of call as they begin to act on their expansion plans.
Speaking on the development, South United Sports Foundation sporting director Terrence Phelan said, “SUFC’s aim has always been to develop a structure for grassroots football in India, which we believe we have done quite successfully in Bengaluru. We want to replicate the same success in Pune. We know that the city and some surrounding regions have a rich tradition of football and we want to help the talent here realise their potential, while at the same time give everyone a feeling of community at our centres and academies subsequently. We are excited about Pune’s future in football.”
SUFC will provide demo sessions at their centres on 14, 21, and 28 of January, to give a glimpse of the activities that the club will provide at the centres. This will also allow upcoming talent not only from Pune but also from other footballing hotbeds of Maharashtra like Kolhapur, Mumbai, Sangli etc.
They have partnered with Ileseum Clubs in the three centres. The centres in Bavdhan and Kharadi have an 11-a-side pitch while Undri will have a 7-a-side pitch. SUFC will run their Elite Programme, which will provide free training to talented kids, enabling free coaching for selected talent from June in Bavdhan and Kharadi only.
SUFC CEO Pranav Trehan said, “We have chosen Pune strategically for our first step of expansion. Pune has a very good football culture and SUFC will provide a space for all football lovers to come together and be active around the sport. The youth programmes in our academies is the perfect step for young kids to take the next step in the sport. With our state of the art infrastructure and development programmes focusing on grassroots development, we are sure that SUFC can make Pune the footballing hub of Western India.”
SUFC’s dedication extends beyond its training programmes. The Academy actively participates in community outreach and development initiatives. These efforts ensure that football reaches every corner of society, irrespective of socio-economic backgrounds and the club aims to provide such a community feeling in Pune also.
Mumbai: The Mumbai leg of the Pro Kabaddi League commenced with a glamorous launch, featuring notable personalities like Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi. Tiger Shroff, the ambassador for Pro Kabaddi League Season 10, brought an additional dose of excitement as he graced the stadium during the recent match between U Mumba and Dabang Delhi, infusing the event with his charismatic presence.
The star of ‘Student of the Year 2,’ who portrayed a Kabaddi player in the film, fondly reminisced about his experience learning the sport for the movie. He expressed admiration for the Kabaddi players’ fitness and dedication, stating, “The dedication I witness in their fitness routines is truly inspirational. Kabaddi demands a specific level of flexibility, agility, and strength, and I can confidently say that these players have set a commendable standard. Without a doubt, we have some of the fittest men in the country playing this game.”
Shroff also emphasised the pride he feels as the brand ambassador for Kabaddi, said, “It’s truly an honor to be associated with this organization. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Pro Kabaddi League on reaching its 10th season. Managing and sustaining numerous seasons is an arduous task, and today, it’s commendable to witness the league’s endurance. I recognize Kabaddi’s impressive ascent, swiftly becoming the second most-watched sport, following cricket, in a relatively brief period”.
During his visit, the ‘Heropanti’ actor engaged in a playful segment with Dabang Delhi’s Ashu Malik and U Mumba’s Mahender Singh, where both players recited dialogues from his movies. Tiger Shroff also took the opportunity to practice some Kabaddi moves and skills, adding a touch of fun to his visit.
