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  • Crunchyroll takes aim at manga pirates with new digital service come 9 October

    Crunchyroll takes aim at manga pirates with new digital service come 9 October

    MUMBAI: Crunchyroll is betting that frustrated manga readers will pay up to escape the labyrinthine world of publisher-specific apps and dodgy fan-scan sites. The anime streaming giant announced that Crunchyroll Manga, a new premium add-on, will launch on 9 October  for iOS and Android users in America and Canada, followed by a web version on 15 October.

    The service promises an ad-free experience featuring hundreds of titles from major publishers including Viz Media, Square Enix, Yen Press, AlphaPolis and Compass. Launch titles span the spectrum from blockbusters like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen to cult favourites such as The Summer Hikaru Died and Delicious in Dungeon.

    For existing subscribers, the pricing structure offers both carrots and sticks. Ultimate Fan subscribers ($15.99 monthly) get access at no extra cost. Others face a $4 monthly surcharge for the Fan tier (bringing it to $11.99) or $3.50 for Mega Fan subscribers ($15.49 total).

    The move tackles a persistent headache for western manga enthusiasts: juggling multiple subscriptions across different publishers’ platforms. Square Enix’s Manga UP! limits access through daily “free currency,” whilst other publishers require separate purchases or subscriptions that quickly pile up costs.

    Crunchyroll Manga, powered by Japan’s Link-U Group, will operate as a standalone app separate from the main streaming service. Features include offline downloads, personalised reading lists and full two-page spreads across mobile, tablet and web platforms.

    Notably absent from the launch lineup are titles from Kodansha, which operates its own K Manga app using a ticket-purchase system. However, popular Kodansha series like Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga, already available as anime on Crunchyroll, may join later.

    Additional publishers including Shueisha, J-Novel Club and ThirdlineNext are slated to join post-launch, potentially creating a one-stop shop for digital manga consumption.

    The timing is shrewd. Digital comics subscription services like Marvel Unlimited have proven the model works for superhero fans. If successful, Crunchyroll Manga could deal a significant blow to manga piracy whilst consolidating the company’s position as the west’s manga and anime gatekeeper

  • Raj Kumar Singh takes charge as senior executive director at Anarock Mumbai

    Raj Kumar Singh takes charge as senior executive director at Anarock Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Raj Kumar Singh, a seasoned real estate professional, has been appointed senior executive director – residential sales at Anarock, Mumbai. With over 23 years in the industry, Singh has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s luxury residential segment.

    Singh began his career at Chesterton Meghraj, Tramell Crow Co, and JLL, where he built high-performing teams, drove revenue growth, and managed marquee clients including the Adani Group and Mariwala family. At JLL, he led Mumbai’s residential services and became senior vice president, overseeing large teams and revenue targets.

    Joining Anarock in 2016 alongside Anuj Puri, Singh helped establish the firm as a premier real estate advisory. As regional director for Mumbai, he spearheaded revenue planning, digital marketing initiatives, CRM integration, and innovative tech adoption, consistently delivering market-leading performance.

    A recognised thought leader, Singh has authored industry articles, appeared on television panels, and participated in prominent property expos. His academic credentials include a postgraduate degree from Welingkar Institute and leadership training at IIM Ahmedabad.

    Singh’s appointment reflects Anarock’s ambition to strengthen its luxury residential portfolio in Mumbai while championing operational excellence, sustainable growth, and customer-centric innovation.
     

  • Sweet notes as Mother Dairy stirs Puja nostalgia

    Sweet notes as Mother Dairy stirs Puja nostalgia

    MUMBAI: When it comes to Durga Puja, some cravings are simply set in stone, and Mishti doi tops the list. Mother Dairy has launched a heartwarming new campaign, Doi chai go, doi chai, bringing its beloved Mishti Doi to centre stage this festive season. Featuring popular Bengali actor Abir Chatterjee, the month-long campaign spans TV, print and digital, celebrating the joy of family traditions and sweet memories across West Bengal.

    Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s lyric Doi chai go, doi chai,  the film shows a school choir breaking into the famous refrain when a girl spots her father carrying in packs of Mishti Doi. The moment, wrapped in innocence and nostalgia, becomes a chorus that fills the hall, and hearts.

    The campaign highlights how fathers in Bengal often affectionately call their daughters Maa, a tender cultural detail that echoes in the brand’s sign-off, Aamar Maa’er moto Mishti.

    For Mother Dairy, Mishti Doi isn’t just dessert: it’s tradition, tenderness, and the sweetest part of Puja.

  • Engines roar as JK Tyre racing hits Coimbatore

    Engines roar as JK Tyre racing hits Coimbatore

    MUMBAI: Fasten your seatbelts Coimbatore is set for a fuel-charged fiesta. Round 2 of the JK Tyre racing season 2025 kicks off this weekend at the Kari motor speedway, promising fans an adrenaline-packed two days of speed, skill and showdowns. From September 27–28, the action will span the JK Tyre Novice Cup, the Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup and the much-anticipated debut of the single-make Levitas Cup.

    The Levitas Cup introduces identically tuned Maruti Suzuki Ignis race cars, pitting 14 rookies and gentlemen racers against each other on a level grid where sheer talent takes the wheel. Meanwhile, the GT Cup’s Pro-Am format will see champions and challengers battle it out on Royal Enfield GT-R650s, with Bengaluru’s Anish Shetty and Pondicherry’s Bryan Nicholas leading their respective tables after Round 1.

    In the Novice Cup, teenage sensation Bhuvan Bonu heads the pack, but close finishes from rivals mean the title chase is wide open.

    With new twists, debut races and nail-biting rivalries, JK Tyre Racing’s second round promises pure motorsport drama, streamed live for fans across Facebook and Youtube.

  • Akash Nihalani joins RCM as general manager, marketing

    Akash Nihalani joins RCM as general manager, marketing

    MUMBAI: Akash Nihalani, a growth-focused marketing and business leader with over a decade of experience, has taken charge as general manager – marketing at RCM, one of India’s largest direct-selling companies. With a portfolio spanning FMCG, nutraceuticals, personal care, cosmetics, fashion, and accessories, RCM reaches over 2 million households nationwide.

    Nihalani brings a proven track record in building marketing ecosystems, leading cross-functional teams of 30 plus professionals and managing portfolios of Rs 35 crore. He has delivered measurable growth across sectors including FMCG, luxury, BFSI, entertainment, logistics, and technology, consistently improving brand visibility, customer acquisition, and retention through integrated strategies.

    His leadership philosophy blends a builder mindset, business acceleration, and a global-ready approach, combining performance marketing, digital storytelling, and data-led decision-making. At RCM, Nihalani focuses on shaping brand identity, strengthening customer engagement, and scaling marketing communications to create meaningful impact.

    Reflecting on his career, Nihalani recently concluded a chapter at The Minimalist, where he led a 30 plus member team through high-pressure campaigns, describing the experience as a journey of energy, creativity, and collaborative learning. He steps into his RCM role with a purpose-driven outlook, aligning with the company’s values of health, women empowerment, and self-reliance, aiming to contribute to building a stronger, more self-sufficient India.

  • Shemaroo Youtube channel Crosses 60 million subscribers in India

    Shemaroo Youtube channel Crosses 60 million subscribers in India

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment has hit a major digital milestone as its flagship Youtube channel surpasses 60 million subscribers, ranking as the 7th most subscribed entertainment channel in India. The channel also registers over 200 million monthly views, highlighting its enduring connection with audiences across generations.

    Boasting a library of more than 2,000 titles, Shemaroo blends classic Bollywood gems like Amar Akbar Anthony, Khuda Gawah, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, and Mann with contemporary favourites such as the Golmaal and Housefull series, Highway, Welcome, Gupt, Mohra, and Tridev.

    This milestone reflects the wider impact of Shemaroo Entertainment’s digital ecosystem, which now spans over 100 Youtube channels, amassing more than 400 million cumulative subscribers and generating upwards of 2.5 billion monthly views. Channels including Shemaroo Movies (38 miliion subscribers), Shemaroo Comedy (22 million), and Shemaroo Filmi Gaane (73.3 million) continue to dominate the Bollywood and entertainment space.

    Shemaroo Entertainment, chief operating officer – digital business, Saurabh Srivastava said, “Reaching over 60 million subscribers on our flagship YouTube channel is a true testament to Shemaroo’s ability to stay relevant and resonate with diverse audiences… This growth reflects the trust of millions of viewers who turn to Shemaroo YouTube channel for wholesome, accessible entertainment, and we are excited to continue shaping the digital entertainment landscape with engaging content offerings.”

    As Shemaroo strengthens its digital footprint, the milestone underlines the company’s commitment to providing accessible, timeless, and contemporary Indian cinema to audiences across the globe.

     

  • Vijayavani promotes Arun Karadi to senior vice president

    Vijayavani promotes Arun Karadi to senior vice president

    MUMBAI: Vijayavani, Karnataka’s leading daily, has promoted Arun Karadi to senior vice president, recognising his pivotal role in the newspaper’s rise to the top of the state’s media landscape.

    Karadi brings over 24 years of experience in media sales and management, with a track record of performance-driven leadership. Since joining Vijayavani in 2014, he has steered the publication to become Karnataka’s number 1 newspaper, combining editorial integrity with market-savvy initiatives.

    He started his career at Vijaya Karnataka, before moving to the VRL Group and The Times of India, where he honed his skills in sales strategy, brand development and team building. Known for driving advertiser engagement and fostering strong reader connect, Karadi has helped craft Vijayavani’s winning formula in a competitive media market.

     

  • Safed’s festive film cleans hearts with a mother’s touch of compassion

    Safed’s festive film cleans hearts with a mother’s touch of compassion

    MUMBAI: This festive season, Safed Detergent isn’t just scrubbing away stains, it’s polishing hearts. With its new campaign, the brand captures the magic of motherhood, the quiet strength, boundless care, and that nurturing instinct to spread joy where it’s needed most.

    Built around the thought “Kuch daag hatate hai, kuch bhed mitate hai. Is tyohar chalo milkar khushiyan phailate hai,” the campaign reminds us that while stains may fade, what truly lasts is compassion and inclusivity.

    At the centre of the film is a mother, not just defined by her bond with her own child but by her instinctive kindness towards everyone around her. Amid the festive buzz of Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath Puja, she notices the small details others might overlook. In one poignant moment, while shopping for her son, she spots a boy serving tea at the store. In a gesture both simple and profound, she gifts him a kurta ensuring that he, too, feels the joy of the season.

    This act of empathy becomes the film’s heartbeat, symbolising how a mother’s care transcends her home and embraces society at large. Festivals, after all, aren’t only about new clothes and bright lights, but about making sure no one is left out of the celebration.

    Explaining the brand’s vision, Shantinath Detergents Pvt. Ltd. director Ritum Jain said: “With this campaign, we want to honour the spirit of motherhood, the compassion, support, and generosity that defines it. Safed’s heart is motherhood, and this festive season, we are celebrating how a mother’s pure heart spreads joy not only within her home but also across society.”

    Conceptualised and executed by Hatchlings Co., the campaign stays true to Safed’s enduring promise: the brand’s essence is rooted in motherhood righteous, pure, compassionate and its role extends beyond spotless laundry to spotless acts of kindness.

    By tying the campaign to India’s most awaited festivals, Safed underscores that real celebration isn’t about what we wear, but how we care. After all, mothers don’t just remove stains, they erase boundaries, lift spirits, and remind us that happiness multiplies when it’s shared.

  • L’oréal Professionnel sets guinness record with ‘India’s biggest hair colour moment’

    L’oréal Professionnel sets guinness record with ‘India’s biggest hair colour moment’

    MUMBAI: L’oréal Professionnel has literally coloured outside the lines, bringing together 422 hairstylists and 422 models to set a ‘Guinness world records’ title for “Most people colouring hair” in India. The event, Hair Color Coders 2025, turned a Mumbai hall into the country’s biggest salon, celebrating the artistry, creativity, and skill of India’s professional hairdressing community.

    Global Color ambassador Min Kim and actress Kritika Kamra were at the heart of the record-breaking day, demonstrating advanced hair colour techniques while showcasing ‘Iconic browns,’ the brand’s trend of the year. From glossing to balayage and tonal layering, hairdressers proved their prowess, blending education with a dazzling live showcase.

    The event spanned a massive one lakh square feet space at Nesco, featuring 60 backwashes and over 5,000 hair colour tubes. It created a buzz online too, generating over 1,000 social mentions in a single day, highlighting the hairstylists’ skill and creativity while giving them a platform to inspire peers and clients alike.

    “Hair Color Coders 2025 showcases our ability to set global benchmarks while celebrating India’s hairstyling talent,” said L’oréal India, director, professional products division, Zeenia Bastani. “It was a mega masterclass in creativity, skill, and sheer passion for hairdressing.”

    In the months leading up to the event, participants honed their craft through intensive masterclasses, ensuring every transformation reflected precision, artistry, and innovation. L’oréal professionnel India, head of education, Priya Kasthuri Rangan added, “This platform allowed hairstylists to upskill, showcase expertise, and embrace a community built on passion and commitment.”

    The day ended with a show-stopping makeover for Kritika Kamra, her hair emerging vibrant, glossy, and perfectly styled in iconic browns. With Hair Color Coders 2025, L’oréal professionnel not only celebrated a record but reinforced its mission: to elevate professional hairdressing in India, combining education, creativity, and innovation in one unforgettable moment.

     

  • Fevikwik glues laughter to everyday life with new humorous ad campaign

    Fevikwik glues laughter to everyday life with new humorous ad campaign

    MUMBAI: They say love sticks, but Fevikwik takes it literally. The instant adhesive brand from Pidilite Industries has rolled out a new ad campaign that fuses quick fixes with quick laughs, proving that even sticky situations can be hilarious.

    The TVC centres on a middle-aged couple whose playful quarrel over a forgotten anniversary turns into a memorable moment, sealed with Fevikwik’s signature speed and flair. True to its legacy, the campaign blends everyday relatability with humour, reminding viewers that Fevikwik isn’t just for objects, it’s a companion in life’s little sticky moments.

    “Fevikwik’s latest campaign is a reminder that strong bonds can come with a smile,” said Pidilite Industries, chief marketing officer, Sandeep Tanwani. “We’ve woven humour into relatable situations to make Fevikwik more than an adhesive, it’s a brand that connects emotionally too.”

    Ogilvy India, chief creative officer west, Anurag Agnihotri added, “The ‘Anniversary’ film illustrates how Fevikwik stays true to its legacy, offering quick fixes not just for objects, but for life’s tiny, precious moments. Ingenuity, wit, and heart continue to define the brand.”

    The campaign is now live across television, digital, and social media platforms, sticking its signature humour firmly in the minds of viewers, one laugh at a time.