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  • Bihar turns centre stage as India News Manch 2025 fuels poll fire

    Bihar turns centre stage as India News Manch 2025 fuels poll fire

    MUMBAI: Democracy had its loudest drumroll in Patna as India News Manch 2025 lit up Hotel Maurya with a day-long spectacle of fiery speeches, charged debates, and political one-upmanship. Billed as Bihar’s grandest political conclave yet, the event didn’t just host discussions, it set the narrative for the state’s fiercely awaited 2025 assembly elections.

    From the opening mantrochchar by Pandit Dr. Ranjit Narayan Tiwari to the final curtain call, the conclave was a political marathon that gripped audiences both in Patna and nationwide. The dais was nothing short of a power parade: Deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, veteran voices Ravi Shankar Prasad and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, challenger-in-chief Tejashwi Yadav, strategist Prashant Kishor, and a chorus of leaders including Mukesh Sahani, Upendra Kushwaha, Ashok Choudhary, and Shambhavi Choudhary.

    Each session packed in headlines of its own. The debate titled “क्या PK का परचम लहराएगा?” turned into a spirited battle over Prashant Kishor’s political roadmap. The NDA vs INDIA clash lived up to its billing, with sparks flying as party representatives went head-to-head. And Sachchidanand Rai’s session, rooted in his IIT and industrialist background, struck a chord as he spotlighted youth, industry, and Bihar’s developmental trajectory.

    But the Manch wasn’t just politics, it was culture too. Bhojpuri stars Ritesh Pandey and Gunjan Singh brought the flavour of Bihar’s art and entertainment into the mix, reminding the audience that the state’s identity is as much about music and cinema as it is about manifestos and mandates.

    “This conclave shaped narratives and presented Bihar’s politics in its raw, unfiltered form,” said India News managing editor for input Rakesh Singh adding that Patna had never before seen such a convergence of power and ideology. Echoing this, Dr. Aishwarya Pandit Sharma, Founder of Itv Foundation, called it “a democratic celebration like no other,” emphasising how the conclave connected citizens directly with decision-makers.

    With India News Manch 2025 drawing over a dozen heavyweight leaders and thousands of engaged viewers, the conclave has firmly cemented Patna as the crucible of India’s electoral pulse, a place where not just Bihar’s, but the nation’s political future is being scripted.

  • RR Kabel serves up power as title sponsor of Prime Volleyball League

    RR Kabel serves up power as title sponsor of Prime Volleyball League

    MUMBAI: Talk about an electrifying partnership RR Kabel has spiked into the spotlight as the Title Sponsor of the Prime Volleyball League powered by Scapia, just in time for its fourth edition. The announcement was made in Mumbai, where RR Kabel’s leadership sealed the deal alongside league organisers, unveiling the official match ball with plenty of flair.

    The tournament, set to begin 2 October 2025 in Hyderabad, will see 10 teams including debutants Goa Guardians battle it out across 38 matches and 21 action-packed days. The defending champions, Calicut Heroes, will face off against hosts Hyderabad Black Hawks in the opening clash. The stakes climb as the top four sides advance to the semi-finals on 24 October, with the grand finale scheduled for 26 October. Fans can catch all the high-energy action live on Sony Sports Network and the league’s Youtube channel.

    For RR Kabel, one of India’s leading wire and cable manufacturers, the tie-up is more than just branding, it’s about plugging into the spirit of sport. “Volleyball embodies energy, teamwork, and resilience values that resonate strongly with our brand,” said RR Global director Kirti Kabra calling the partnership “historic”. RR Kabel CMO Shishir Sharma added that the title sponsorship is a “commitment to fuelling India’s youthful, forward-looking spirit” through sport.

    The league itself has been steadily growing in scale and appeal. Baseline Ventures MD & co-founder Tuhin Mishra hailed the deal as proof of volleyball’s rising commercial traction. With RR Kabel on board, he believes Season 4 will deliver bigger visibility, more opportunities for players, and an expanding fan base across the country.

    From double-headers to do-or-die finals, the RR Kabel Prime Volleyball League is gearing up to be India’s most electrifying sporting festival this October, a season where the game, quite literally, runs on power.

  • Kaya finds its true glow with Fatima Sana Shaikh as brand ambassador

    Kaya finds its true glow with Fatima Sana Shaikh as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: When science meets stardom, the glow is hard to miss. Marico Limited has announced actor Fatima Sana Shaikh as the new brand ambassador for its Kaya range of skincare products, bringing together 20-plus years of dermatological expertise and a star known for her bold, authentic persona.

    Kaya, trusted for formulations designed specifically for Indian skin, boasts a portfolio of over 75 products spanning acne care, sun protection, anti-ageing, pigmentation, hair, and body solutions. The brand’s dermat-led approach aims to simplify routines while delivering visible results cutting through the clutter of skincare trends that often leave consumers confused.

    For Marico, the move signals a fresh chapter for Kaya. Marico executive vice president and head of beauty & styling digital business Akash Banerji said Fatima embodies “confidence, relatability, and a progressive take on beauty,” qualities that resonate with today’s informed yet overwhelmed skincare audience. He added that Kaya’s mission remains simple: science should empower, not complicate.

    Fatima echoed this sentiment, saying Kaya stood out because it “cuts through the noise” with products co-created with dermatologists and built on trust. For her, authentic beauty is about confidence and clarity, not chasing fleeting trends.

    With this partnership, Kaya looks to sharpen its storytelling edge while reinforcing its credibility as a science-backed, results-driven skincare brand. In an industry crowded with quick fixes, its pitch is clear, stop second-guessing, trust the experts, and let confidence be the true glow-up.

  • Pee Safe’s new DVC champions toilet hygiene, one spray at a time

    Pee Safe’s new DVC champions toilet hygiene, one spray at a time

    MUMBAI: Think your spotless toilet at home is squeaky clean? Think again. Pee Safe, India’s leading hygiene and wellness brand, is out to change the way the country views bathroom hygiene with its new digital video campaign: “Hygiene ki aadat banao, Pee Safe ke saath.”

    This isn’t just another health PSA. It’s a call for a culture shift. The campaign highlights a blind spot in everyday hygiene: while people are cautious about using public toilets, they often overlook the invisible germs lurking on toilet seats in their own homes.

    “A toilet that looks clean can still be teeming with bacteria,” said Pee Safe, founder, Vikas Bagaria. “We want people to understand that hygiene doesn’t end at what the eye can see. Sanitising toilet seats should be as routine as brushing your teeth.”

    Backed by data showing India’s female workforce participation rising to 40.3% in 2023–24, the campaign also underscores the increased exposure to shared work and public restrooms. With more women navigating dynamic environments, Pee Safe is championing a hygiene habit that supports both health and confidence.

    But the initiative isn’t just for office-goers or commuters. It’s inclusive and family-focused, targeting everyone: men, women, and children with a simple, powerful message: sanitisation is self-care.

    By encouraging Indians to adopt toilet seat sanitisation as a daily ritual, the campaign aims to make the act as instinctive as washing hands. With this bold push, Pee Safe hopes to spray away old habits and usher in a new era of mindful, everyday hygiene.

  • India streams ahead with 601 million OTT users in Ormax 2025 report

    India streams ahead with 601 million OTT users in Ormax 2025 report

    MUMBAI: When it comes to streaming, India is no longer buffering, it’s booming. Ormax Media has unveiled the fifth edition of The Ormax OTT Audience Report: 2025, pegging the country’s OTT universe at a staggering 601.2 million viewers (60.12 crore), or 41.1 per cent of India’s population.

    The report, based on a robust survey of 15,600 respondents across urban and rural India in June and July 2025, defines an OTT audience as anyone who has watched at least one online video free or paid in the past month. While the audience base grew by 10 per cent year-on-year, the rate is slightly slower than the 13–14 per cent surge in 2023 and 2024.

    Paid subscriptions are also gaining ground, with 148.2 million active subscriptions (including telecom bundles and aggregator deals) recorded in the report. Meanwhile, the most dramatic growth has come from the living room: India’s Connected TV user base now stands at 129.2 million, translating to 35–40 million homes, marking a jaw-dropping 87 per cent jump in just a year.

    Ormax Media Founder & CEO Shailesh Kapoor said the Connected TV surge was a turning point: “India has long been regarded as mobile-first, but this sharp rise in CTV usage signals a paradigm shift in viewing behaviour.”

    Since its launch in 2021, the Ormax OTT Audience Report has become the industry’s go-to yardstick. This year’s edition goes further, adding fresh parameters on time spent, preferred languages, content formats, and media habits. Ormax head of business development (streaming, Tv & brands) Keerat Grewal said these updates were driven by industry feedback: “The 2025 edition widens the scope, complementing business and monetisation insights with a richer picture of content consumption.”

    The full report, available on subscription, is aimed at streaming platforms, advertisers, media agencies, investors, and production houses, offering a data-backed lens on the ever-expanding OTT ecosystem.
     

  • Goquest and Rains Pictures spark drama with new Turkish saga Arafta

    Goquest and Rains Pictures spark drama with new Turkish saga Arafta

    MUMBAI: When love meets vengeance, sparks aren’t the only things that fly. Fresh off the global success of Kuma (The Other Wife), Goquest Media has greenlit its next premium Turkish drama, Arafta, teaming up with acclaimed production house Rains Pictures for what promises to be one of the most explosive sagas of the year.

    Arafta, derived from “Araf,” meaning a fateful crossroads plunges its characters into a storm of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. At its centre is Mercan, played by İlsu Demirci, a young woman battling fate and survival, and Ateş, portrayed by Emin Günenç, whose intensity adds a raw edge to the tale. Their turbulent relationship forms the beating heart of this sweeping generational saga.

    Goquest, already riding high on the acclaim for Kuma and its licensing success, is partnering with Rains Pictures, the studio behind Turkish hits Rüzgarlı Tepe (Winds of Love) and Kan Çiçekleri (Vendetta). Together, they aim to build on Turkey’s soaring global drama wave, where family feuds, star-crossed romances, and high-stakes storytelling have struck a chord with audiences from Latin America to South Asia.

    “After the success of Kuma, Kan Çiçekleri, and Rüzgarlı Tepe, we’re thrilled to join forces with Sevda Kaygısız and Rains Pictures,” said Goquest Media managing director Vivek Lath. “With Arafta, we’re not just telling a story, we’re creating an unforgettable experience for global audiences.”

    For Sevda Kaygısız of Rains Pictures, the collaboration is another step in cementing Turkish dramas’ dominance on the world stage. “This is a story where love, revenge, and destiny intertwine. With Goquest’s reach and our storytelling vision, Arafta will resonate far beyond Turkey,” she noted.

    With Kuma already proving the make-to-sell model works in a crowded content market, Arafta signals Goquest Media’s growing ambition to marry local depth with international scale. The show is set to premiere globally soon, promising to tug at heartstrings and ignite debates in equal measure.

  • Zappfresh serves up IPO feast with Rs 59 crore issue on BSE SME platform

    Zappfresh serves up IPO feast with Rs 59 crore issue on BSE SME platform

    MUMBAI: When the meat is this fresh, even the markets want a bite. DSM Fresh Food Limited, better known by its consumer brand Zappfresh, is sharpening its knives for a stock market debut with a Rs 59.06 crore IPO on the BSE SME platform.

    The issue opens on Friday, 26 September 2025, and closes on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, with a price band of Rs 96–Rs 101 per share. Anchor investors will get first dibs on 25 September, a day ahead of the public opening.

    The offering comprises 59,06,400 equity shares of face value Rs 10 each. Out of these, 3,31,200 shares (Rs 3.34 crore) are reserved for the market maker, leaving a net issue of 55,75,200 shares (Rs 56.3 crore). The allocation structure follows SEBI’s book-building rules:

    . Up to 50 per cent for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), with up to 60 per cent of this portion available to anchor investors.

    . At least 15 per cent for Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs), with sub-categories for bids above and below Rs 10 lakh.

    . Not less than 35 per cent for Retail Individual Investors.

    Founded in 2015, Zappfresh has carved out a niche in India’s fragmented meat market with an integrated supply chain spanning sourcing, processing, cold storage and distribution. Its omnichannel model serves both B2C consumers and B2B Horeca clients across chicken, mutton, seafood, and ready-to-cook/eat products.

    Proceeds from the IPO will fund growth and expansion, including Rs 25 crore for working capital, Rs 15 crore for marketing, Rs 11 crore for capex, and Rs 3 crore for acquisitions. The balance will go toward general corporate purposes.

    Narnolia Financial Services Limited is the sole book running lead manager.

    With its promise of “fresh, hygienic, worry-free meat”, Zappfresh is looking to slice into India’s equity appetite just as it has cut through the clutter of the butcher’s market. The question is: will investors find the flavour worth savouring?
     

  • Bright sparks ad buzz with Diwali-ready 360 degree festive campaigns

    Bright sparks ad buzz with Diwali-ready 360 degree festive campaigns

    MUMBAI: When the diyas go up, so do the billboards and Bright Outdoor Media Limited is making sure this Diwali is as dazzling on the streets as it is at home. With a 360° marketing push, the company is rolling out a festive firecracker of campaigns designed to help brands shine brighter during India’s biggest shopping and celebration season.

    At the heart of Bright’s strategy is its network of 50 plus large-format digital LED screens across Mumbai, built to deliver high-impact motion-led campaigns that can’t be missed. Tailored festive pricing ensures that brands maximise their visibility just when consumer sentiment peaks.

    Static billboards, meanwhile, are being deployed across Tier II and Tier III cities, where festive rushes make premium locations ripe for recall. And with Diwali weekends packed with blockbuster films, Bright is also leveraging cinema screens both multiplexes and single screens to deepen brand resonance with family audiences.

    The festive footprint extends further with transit media from bus wraps and metro services to cab branding ensuring brand messages follow consumers on their shopping and travel routes. On the digital front, Bright is sharpening its OTT advertising solutions, keeping pace with surging festive streaming habits.

    But the strategy isn’t limited to conventional placements. Bright is curating real-world experiences, from a Real Estate Expo in Borivali to an awards night for the Gujarati and Marwari business community, giving brands direct access to niche yet influential audiences. The company is also acting as official outdoor partner for Navratri and cultural festivals, doubling down on community-centric visibility.

    Even print retains its spotlight, with Bright offering industry-specific campaigns across leading publications where credibility and clarity still cut through festive clutter. Add to this a robust celebrity and influencer network, and Bright ensures festive ads don’t just reach audiences, they stick.

    “Diwali is more than a festival, it’s a time of connection, celebration, and joy,” said Bright Outdoor Media CMD Yogesh Lakhani. “Our 360° framework combines traditional and digital platforms with creativity and precision to ensure campaigns don’t just reach, they resonate.”

    From store launches and product unveilings to film promotions, Bright’s media professionals are turning festive season into a brand showcase, one LED, billboard, bus, reel, and reel star at a time.

  • Zoff adds spice to digital with chef Natasha Gandhi as first ambassador

    Zoff adds spice to digital with chef Natasha Gandhi as first ambassador

    MUMBAI: When it comes to adding flavour, Zoff Foods has turned up the heat by roping in Masterchef India Season 6 finalist and Forbes India Top 100 digital star, chef Natasha Gandhi, as its first digital ambassador.

    The move marks a milestone in Zoff’s next growth phase, coming on the heels of its expansion into ready-to-cook gravies and offline retail tie-ups with Reliance Retail and D-Mart. For one of India’s fastest-growing spice brands, the collaboration is all about blending innovation with scale and adding a dash of star power to its storytelling.

    Chef Natasha Gandhi, who is also the founder of House of Millets, brings with her a reputation for healthy, millet-based recipes and clean-label cooking. Her digital presence resonates strongly with young households seeking authenticity and convenience, a perfect match for Zoff’s vision of making modern Indian kitchens both healthier and easier to manage.

    From whole and powdered spices to gourmet essentials, Zoff’s portfolio is designed for India’s evolving tastes. With Natasha’s recipes and digital voice anchoring campaigns, including past hits like #UnfilteredBandhan and #goldenglowwithzoff, the brand hopes to spark new consumer movements around flavour, health, and convenience.

    “For us, it’s about empowering every home cook,” said Zoff Foods co-founder Akash Agrawalla. “With Natasha’s expertise and relatability, we see an opportunity to inspire households to put on their chef hats and trust Zoff as a kitchen partner.”

    Chef Natasha echoed the sentiment: “This is not just about recipes, it’s about inspiring Indian households to embrace healthy eating and making flavourful cooking effortless. Zoff stands for purity and innovation, which is exactly what people want.”

    With 450 plus products across skincare, haircare, bath and body already under its belt, Zoff’s foray into digital-first food storytelling looks set to redefine the spice aisle, one millet recipe at a time.

  • Inka launches India’s first AI voice assistant for insurance buyers

    Inka launches India’s first AI voice assistant for insurance buyers

    MUMBAI: When insurance starts talking back, you know disruption has arrived. Inka, India’s digital-first insurance distribution platform, has unveiled Vaani, the country’s first voice AI assistant in the sector and it promises to turn policy planning from paperwork into conversation.

    Built on Google’s Gemini AI, Vaani doesn’t stop at basic Q&As. Instead, it draws on more than 2,400 data points to understand a user’s life stage, health profile, aspirations, and finances before suggesting tailored plans. From health, life, and term insurance to cancer and cardiac covers, long-term savings instruments, and child planning solutions, Vaani ensures every recommendation feels uniquely yours.

    What makes Vaani stand out is its voice-first, multilingual interface. Consumers can chat with it naturally in English, Hindi, Marathi, with Telugu support on the way. By ditching jargon and answering the questions people didn’t even know to ask, it makes insurance feel less like a sales pitch and more like a trusted advisor whispering in your ear.

    Beyond real-time analysis, Vaani can guide users through complex policy comparisons and even book expert consultations, all triggered by a simple voice command. Currently available on the Inkasure platform across desktop and mobile, the pilot rollout aims to refine user experience before a national launch.

    “In a market where buying insurance often feels overwhelming, Vaani represents a giant leap,” said an Inka spokesperson. “It’s about trust, utility, and empowering customers to make informed choices.”

    With insurance penetration in India still hovering around 4 per cent of GDP, the launch signals a bold step to bridge the trust gap and widen access. And with Vaani’s ability to cut through complexity, Indians might finally find their policies speaking their language.