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Tag: Marzdi Kalianiwala

  • Indian & Singapore artistes come together for cross-cultural virtual chat

    Indian & Singapore artistes come together for cross-cultural virtual chat

    NEW DELHI: BookMyShow (BMS) and the Singapore Tourism Board have teamed up to launch My Singapore Connect, an initiative that brings together acclaimed talents from India and Singapore, through a four-part web series which will be released exclusively on the streaming platform BookMyShow Online, on 28-29 November and 5-6 December.

    A true reflection of the initiative’s tagline ‘Where Passions Meet’, the web series celebrates creativity across various art forms, including film-making, music, food and comedy through interesting, candid conversation between renowned artists across India and Singapore. Each episode will be headlined by an Indian artist in an engaging interaction and conversation with their Singaporean counterpart, giving consumers a rare opportunity to catch them as they share stories of their passion for their respective crafts.

    The line-up will feature MasterChef India judge Chef Ranveer Brar partner with MasterChef Singapore counterpart Chef Bjorn Shen to share their culinary pursuits, passion for food and what keeps them busy when they are not cooking. Zoya Akhtar, critically acclaimed director-producer of Gully Boy and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Boo Junfeng, an award-winning Singapore film director will share how they unwind after a hectic filming schedule, why food plays a prominent role in deciding a shoot location and what first excited them to pursue filmmaking.

    Audiences will witness the candid bonhomie between Singapore’s home-grown DJ and music producer Manfred Lim (Myrne) and Prateek Kuhad, singer-songwriter who was among the line-up of international artists at the off-track entertainment gala at the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and see them perform their popular music sets and chat about how they keep their fans engaged during this pandemic and the urge to perform live once again. Varun Thakur, the crowd-favourite Indian comedian who performed in Singapore in 2018 and Sharul Channa,  female stand-up comedian based in Singapore, will reminisce the time they met in Mumbai, upcoming gigs they are planning and test each other on who can remember the most number of shopping brands at the Changi airport.

    While entertaining audiences with lesser known facts about the artists from both countries, the videos will also showcase the different locations in Singapore and the affinity between the artists, thus furthering the initiative’s underlying theme of My Singapore Connect – Where Passions Meet.  

    Singapore Tourism Board regional director India, Middle East & South Asia (IMESA)  G B Srithar said, “India and Singapore share many cultural similarities and we want to use this opportunity to further highlight and strengthen the emotional connect between both countries. We are delighted to bring together these virtual experiences and continue reaching out to people of common passions. The STB’s association with BookMyShow reaffirms our commitment to innovatively engage with our consumers by bringing together renowned artistes from both countries to collaborate and deliver engaging, entertaining content. We hope that the ‘My Singapore Connect’ videos will delight the viewers and inspire visits to Singapore, when the time is right.”

     BookMyShow head – marketing and business Intelligence Marzdi Kalianiwala said, “BookMyShow’s extensive capabilities of robust data analytics, customer insights and an entertainment-loving user base of millions of loyal consumers along with STB’s rich and deep understanding of the cultural ethos of Singapore as one of the most loved global travel destinations meant this partnership was a natural fit.”

    Beyond the episodes, the partnership will also look to take ‘My Singapore Connect’ to the next level by enabling the artists to meet in person in Singapore, when normalcy returns and travel is possible, to turn their inspirations to reality across their art forms. 

    Speaking on their association with My Singapore Connect, the artists said:

    Zoya Akhtar: "The appetite for cinema is fast continuing to evolve, with audiences across the globe having access to content like never before! Cinema as an art form has been transcending geographical barriers for decades now but technology has enabled it to reach everyone. My association with ‘My Singapore Connect’ – an initiative by the Singapore Tourism Board and BookMyShow is a true reflection of that evolution. I am so excited to catch up with Boo Junfeng and see the world through his films, his eyes as he takes me through some of the most iconic locations in Singapore, a country that remains one of my most favourite destinations to visit and I can’t wait to shoot there now that I have seen locations that were as yet hidden away to a tourist."

    Ranveer Brar: “For me, food and travel always go hand in hand because I connect with a cuisine better when I have understood how it has evolved. I have fond memories of my last few visits to Singapore and exploring its diverse culture and cuisine, especially, street food. I am super excited to team up with Chef Bjorn Shen, with whom I discovered a lot of common ground, not just w.r.t food, but life and business too! All this and more coming your way, thanks to ‘My Singapore Connect’ by Singapore Tourism Board and BookMyShow.”

    Varun Thakur: “Singapore was the first international destination I went to as a child so it always holds a special place in my heart. Going there as an adult last year brought all the fun memories back and helped me make some more. I’m grateful to ‘My Singapore Connect’ for the opportunity to collaborate with Sharul, someone whose personality, vibe and comedy I admire a lot. I’m excited to chat with her about food, music, culture and get all possible tips and tidbits for my next Singapore visit. I want to thank the Singapore Tourism Board and BookMyShow once again for this opportunity that’s bringing artists together from both countries.”

    Prateek Kuhad: “While I only got to travel to Singapore in 2016 for the Music Matters festival and a couple of shows at the F1, I’d love to find more of a ‘My Singapore Connect’ with the city. I’m looking forward to chatting with Myrne to understand and learn more about Singapore, its music and the food surprises they have to offer. Hopefully our stories of touring and travels make for an interesting conversation for you guys. Shout out to Singapore Tourism Board and BookMyShow for putting this piece together!"

    Boo Junfeng: “Cinema has always held sway over the Indian audiences and even here, in Singapore we have seen how popular Indian movies can be. I am very fond of Zoya Akhtar’s film, Gully Boy, and it’s a privilege for me to share screen space with her in a video where we talk about our shared passion for filmmaking. In addition to this, I shall be taking Zoya through the vivid cultural scenes of Singapore and rediscovering the source of ideas for our favorite art form. I am thrilled to be a part of this initiative by Singapore Tourism Board and BookMyShow for offering this platform to reach out to the Indian audience.”

    Chef Bjorn Shen: “Food is always a subject of great interest whenever I travel; and having visited India, I have seen first-hand the buzzing food culture of the country. I’m thrilled to join hands with rockstar Indian chef Ranveer Brar in discussing our passions for cooking and swapping stories of the great culinary cultures of both our countries. I hope that through ‘My Singapore Connect’, viewers are able to taste these delights, even if only through their screens for now.” 

    Sharul Channa: “The world has seen some really grey days over the past few months and I think we all collectively value the power of a good laugh now. I’ve always had great fun when I’ve visited and performed with an Indian audience and I’m thrilled to collaborate with Varun Thakur for ‘My Singapore Connect’. I’m sure we both have some interesting anecdotes to share and this will translate into a friendly banter. Through all of this we also hope to showcase a lot of common ground between both countries. This is a wonderful and unique platform for us to connect with our fans.”

    DJ Myrne: “For me, music has always transcended barriers. So, I am thrilled to collaborate on this project with Singapore Tourism Board and BookMyShow to engage with Indian fans! It will be great to virtually meet Prateek Kuhad and understand the roots of his music. Also, to share ‘My Singapore Connect’ and chat about how our home base enables us to draw inspiration for our common passion of creating music. Singapore has a growing and diverse music scene, while India is well known for its rich legacy in music. I hope Prateek and I will be able to jam together someday in person representing the best of both countries.”

  • BookMyShow appeals to parents on Children’s Day

    BookMyShow appeals to parents on Children’s Day

    MUMBAI: This Children’s Day, BookMyShow has a special message for all parents

    Conceptualised and executed by BBH India, this children’s day film beautifully addresses the stigma that many Indian parents continue to face regarding the sexual orientation of their children. In consonance with the recent Section 377 verdict, it strikes an emotional chord and urges parents to love their children for who they are, regardless of who they love. 

    In the light of the historic Supreme Court judgement on section 377, BookMyShow and BBH chose to play out a story of love and acceptance against the backdrop of the magic of the movies. 

    BookMyShow SVP of marketing and business intelligence Marzdi Kalianiwala says, “Pursuant to the recent historic verdict of decriminalisation of Section 377, we wanted to put across our perspective and what better way to portray it than through the lens of entertainment. This film is our attempt in reaching out to all parents and asking them to accept their children for who they are.”

    BBH India CCO and managing partner Russell Barrett adds, “The world of entertainment is probably the most egalitarian. There are no walls and no divisions here. In fact entertainment brings people together, across geography, language, religion, sexual preference and class. We were keen to cast a real couple in the lead roles for so many reasons, the most important being, it was the right thing to do. We are so very proud to partner a brave, aware and modern brand like BookMyShow in this initiative and hope to do much more going forward.”

  • BookMyShow releases ad for I-day release ‘Gold’

    BookMyShow releases ad for I-day release ‘Gold’

    MUMBAI: BookMyShow has launched an ad celebrating Independence Day with Akshay Kumar starrer Gold which covers Balbir Singh’s triumphant journey that helped India to win the first ever gold medal for hockey at the Olympics. 

    BookMyShow marketing and business intelligence SVP Marzdi Kalianiwala said,“Consumers are usually flooded with offer advertisements during holidays and the festive season, and we thought to have a light-hearted take on the situation with our latest film. Even in the case of our past films, the objective was always to be highly relevant and get inspired directly from conversations that take place all around. We hope the audiences will love the subtle use of humour in this particular digital film.”  

    BBH chief creative officer and managing partner Russell Barrett added, ”Go to where the people are. It’s that simple. With our advertising for BookMyShow, we’ve been able to tap into conversations that people are interested in rather than force a completely new conversation on the audience. Gold is a brilliant film about India’s first gold medal as a free country at the Olympics.”

    “The movie releases close to Independence Day, when the airwaves and newspapers will be filled with ‘freedom sales’ and brands exhorting us to ‘stand’ for something. We just felt it was a great opportunity to capitalise on and we hope the audience enjoys the ad enough to go book a ticket on BookMyShow,” he added.

    BookMyShow has also released a humorous take on the plethora of discount and promotion led advertisements that usually release around Independence Day.

  • BookMyShow sells over 3.5 million tickets for Avengers: Infinity War; contributes close to 45% to its opening weekend collection in India

    BookMyShow sells over 3.5 million tickets for Avengers: Infinity War; contributes close to 45% to its opening weekend collection in India

    MUMBAI: Avengers: Infinity War set new records on BookMyShow as it became the first Hollywood film to sell an unprecedented 12 tickets a second when the bookings were at its peak on the weekend.  BookMyShow has so far sold over 3.5 million tickets for this mega blockbuster and has contributed close to 45% to the film’s opening weekend collection in India.

    The advance sales of the film were driven majorly by its English version given the high decibel buzz surrounding it. However, once the film released on April 27, 2018, BookMyShow witnessed a huge spike in the tickets sales for regional language versions of the film. 74% sales for its Hindi version happened post the release of the film indicating the massive role played by strong word of mouth.

    BookMyShow, VP- Marketing and Business Intelligence, Marzdi Kalianiwala said, “BookMyShow has received an overwhelming response for Avengers: Infinity War and combining forces with Disney India went a long way in achieving such phenomenal results. The film, with its strong fan following and powerful content and storytelling has created new records on BookMyShow. By contributing close to 45% to the film’s opening weekend Net collections, we are thrilled to have been the default movie ticketing platform for millions of Avengers fans across the country.”

    “The performance of the movie is a testament to the strength of the Marvel brand in India. Epic storytelling combined with our localization efforts has resulted in Marvel movies rewriting the box office records year-on-year. We always strive to work with the best-in class partners like BookMyShow whose efforts have enabled us to extend the experience to cinema-goers across the country,” said Bikram Duggal – Head, Studio Entertainment, Disney India.

    Avengers: Infinity War also earlier created the record for highest ever advance sales on BookMyShow among Hollywood films. It sold over 1 million tickets even before the film’s release.  BookMyShow also joined forces with Disney India to combine their digital efforts for this film and together developed a deeper understanding of consumer buying behaviour and purchase patterns. 

  • BookMyShow targets Hindi audience in new ad

    BookMyShow targets Hindi audience in new ad

    MUMBAI: Online entertainment ticketing platform BookMyShow is back with a television commercial, especially targeted at Hindi speaking markets, just in time with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif starrer Tiger Zinda Hai hitting theatres last week.

    The 40-second ad film takes a slice from reality and wonderfully brings alive that feeling of disappointment when a person so willingly walks up to the box office cinema hall only to be told that the shows are houseful or only the front seats are available. It shows the distress of a person to resort to information gathered through hearsay to make himself seem pretentiously involved in the discussions surrounding a movie. The film ends with a simple solution to this common problem- just book your tickets on BookMyShow.

    With this ad film, conceptualised by BBH India, BookMyShow effortlessly describes how it feels to be left out when you haven’t seen a film and others around you have. BookMyShow arrived at the insight after a detailed consumer research conducted with India’s leading research and measurement company Nielsen India.

    The TVC also has a shorter edit and will be supported by digital campaigns in select markets.

    BookMyShow VP of marketing and business intelligence Marzdi Kalianiwala says,“When we decided to use television as a medium to bring on board new users on BookMyShow, we wanted to come up with a simple film that would resonate with many of us. Conceptualised by BBH India, our ad film has been specifically timed with the release of Tiger Zinda Hai to capture the hype and existing awareness and excitement around the film.”

    “We are confident that viewers will find the film’s honesty very reassuring and comforting when they see that they are not the only ones to feel left out when they haven’t seen a film and that more importantly, there is a solution to this problem- BookMyShow,” he adds.

    BBH India chief creative officer and managing partner Russell Barrett mentions, “We have to thank BookMyShow for a clear, sharp and definite brief. The feeling of missing out in life is universal, it’s instinctive and in a world where new things trend every 15 minutes, it’s also more relevant now than ever. We have managed to tell a fun story in a memorable, modern and stark way. As a brand that lives in the world of entertainment, an ad for Book My Show, must also be, first and foremost, entertaining as well. This film, conceived of and written by Sapna and Yohan is simple, funny and celebrates both the fans and the movie really very well.”

  • BMS & PVR empower you to pick movies that play in theatres

    BMS & PVR empower you to pick movies that play in theatres

    MUMBAI: BookMyShow (BMS) has joined hands with PVR Pictures for Vkaao, a web-platform that enables individuals to choose the films that play in their local cinemas.

    People can pick the films they like, its screening time and even a particular PVR theatre they want it to be shown. PVR will give a variety of options and BMS will use its analytical capabilities to target the right audience.

    Since its inception in January 2017, Vkaao has screened hundreds of shows, including exclusive paid previews. Vkaao currently has a library of over 400 studio and independent titles and plans to grow this collection manifold over the next 12 months.

    BookMyShow VP-marketing and business intelligence Marzdi Kalianiwala said, “Over the last decade, BookMyShow has redefined the access to movies for millions of its users and through Vkaao, we are excited to bring them a curated selection of niche and exclusive films. This will be coupled with Vkaao’s cinematic experience that is highly personalised, and driven by people themselves, empowering them to share it with others with similar interests. Our analytical capabilities will definitely be able to bring together a new generation of cinema lovers and create a community that shares love for such films.”

    With this strategic tie-up, Vkaao will have the capability to be the turnkey theatrical distribution arm for filmmakers, providing promotional services, campaign strategy, advertising and theatre booking services. Vkaao will continue to provide its standard theatre on-demand model for films not positioned for traditional theatrical release.

    PVR Pictures COO Deepak Sharma said, “Our successful association with BookMyShow spans decades and we are really excited to work with them on Vkaao. As we continue to grow the Vkaao collection of films, our mission is to enable audiences to share an endless selection of films with friends, families and local communities, and to provide for a rich and engaging experience at PVR Cinemas. This new collaboration will help create a more seamless relationship between the theatrical and the digital experience. As part of this association, Vkaao, which is currently run as an independent platform will soon be integrated with PVR’s native digital platforms and BookMyShow.”