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Tag: Niharika Rai

  • Netflix battles boredom with Kurukshetra, Mahabharata comes alive in animation

    Netflix battles boredom with Kurukshetra, Mahabharata comes alive in animation

    MUMBAI: Forget history class, Netflix is taking viewers straight to the battlefield. The streaming giant, in collaboration with the GNCT of Delhi, hosted a special screening of Kurukshetra, its first animated mythology series, at the Delhi Secretariat Auditorium, blending epic storytelling with anime flair.

    The event saw dignitaries including Kapil Mishra minister for art, culture & language, and Niharika Rai, IAS, managing director & CEO, Delhi Tourism, gracing the premiere. A fireside chat with series writer-director Ujaan Ganguly and Hitech Animation CEO Ashish Thapar offered insights into bringing India’s epic war to life for a modern audience.

    Comprising 18 episodes, Kurukshetra revisits the Mahabharata through the eyes of 18 warriors over 18 fateful days, mixing poetry, anime, and music. With the legendary Gulzar lending his lyrical genius, the series balances reverence for the original epic while presenting it in a format that resonates with both younger and older audiences. The series launches on October 10, 2025, exclusively on Netflix.

    Shri Kapil Mishra praised the initiative, saying, “The history of the Mahabharata is an integral part of Delhi’s heritage, and Kurukshetra brings this to life in a way that is accessible to millions of future generations… I urge the creative community to continue sharing India’s real history hidden stories, tales of brave women, and examples of courage and sacrifice.”

    Echoing this sentiment, Niharika Rai added, “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to showcasing India’s cultural richness. Kurukshetra makes this timeless epic accessible to younger generations while honouring its legacy. Preserving our epics in modern formats is vital, and Delhi Tourism is proud to partner with Netflix for this screening.”

    Netflix director of global affairs for India Mahima Kaul, highlighted the global reach: “Kurukshetra resonates with those who grew up with the Mahabharata and wish to share it with younger audiences in a fresh format. Available in multiple Indian and international languages, subtitled in 34 more, and inclusive with Hindi audio description, this epic can now be experienced by audiences everywhere.”

    With Kurukshetra, Netflix cements its role as a storyteller rooted in India’s culture, bringing the country’s rich tapestry of narratives to screens worldwide, one warrior at a time.

  • Tourism heavyweights gather in Delhi for Iconic Summit 2025

    Tourism heavyweights gather in Delhi for Iconic Summit 2025

    NEW DELHI: The Iconic Tourism Summit 2025, staged by Redhat Communications in collaboration with TV9 Network, drew policymakers, diplomats, industry bosses and cultural figures to ITC Maurya for a day of discussion and recognition of excellence in tourism.

    The morning sessions, under the banner “Innovation, Transformation and Impact”, tackled themes from content-driven travel to building “iconic experiences”. Speakers included Niharika Rai, tourism secretary, Delhi; Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group chief executive of MakeMyTrip; Mugdha Sinha, managing director of ITDC; Shriji Huzur Dr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur; Sandeep Dwivedi of Amadeus; Anshul Sethi of Indigo; and Yummi Talwar of VFS Global.

    The evening climaxed with the Iconic Awards, presented by culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who shared the stage with Amitabh Kant, Jyotsna Suri, Ishika Taneja, Manoj Adlakha, Suman Billa and Sandeep Marwah. Ambassadors from Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Greece, Serbia, Seychelles and Malta lent an international sheen.

    Awards spanned aviation, hospitality, travel tech and cultural achievement. Indigo, Emirates, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, ITC Hotels, Accor, Amadeus and VFS Global were among the corporate winners. Individual honours went to hoteliers, innovators and cultural figures—from Rajesh Magow, named Iconic Technology Innovator, to Dr Ruby Makhija for sustainability and Kavita Bhartia for fashion. Jyotsna Suri was hailed as the Iconic Beacon of Brilliance 2025, while Suman Billa was named Changemaker of Indian Tourism.

    The jury boasted luminaries such as former governor Vinod Kumar Duggal, BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi, former ITC director Nakul Anand, craft revivalist Madhu Jain and PR veteran Dilip Cherian.

    With its mix of policy talk and high-profile awards, the summit underscored India’s ambition to position tourism as both a growth engine and a soft-power asset.