Tag: Ronnie Screwvala

  • In partnership with AAAI, SGF has hosted the lecture series, featuring top speakers for years.

    In partnership with AAAI, SGF has hosted the lecture series, featuring top speakers for years.

    Mumbai: The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and the Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) have announced that award-winning independent digital journalist Faye D’Souza will deliver the AAAI Subhas Ghosal memorial lecture 2025 on 5 March at St. Regis, Mumbai.

    Established in memory of Subhas Ghosal, a towering figure in the advertising industry, the Subhas Ghosal Foundation promotes the professional values he upheld. In collaboration with AAAI, the Foundation has hosted the lecture series for several years, featuring distinguished speakers such as Rajan Anandan, Uday Shankar, Ronnie Screwvala, Aroon Purie, and Sudhir Sitapati.

    Speaking on behalf of SGF, Sam Balsara stated, “We live in an era where news and views shape our daily lives. Faye D’Souza, with her fearless journalism, will discuss the challenges and opportunities for independent journalists and the implications for democracy and public discourse. It promises to be an insightful session.”

    This year’s event also welcomes a new sponsor, Amazon MX Player.

  • JioCinema Premium unveils trailer of ‘PILL’

    JioCinema Premium unveils trailer of ‘PILL’

    Mumbai:  Riteish Deshmukh starrer human drama series, PILL is all set for its premiere on JioCinema Premium on 12 July. Following the gripping motion poster, the platform has unveiled the trailer of the series, which endeavours to unravel the inner workings of the pharmaceutical industry, responsible for our everyday well-being. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP Movies and created by Raj Kumar Gupta, PILL also stars actor Pavan Malhotra in a pivotal role.

    PILL introduces you to Prakash Chauhan, played by Riteish Deshmukh, who digs through the deep-set rot in the Indian pharmaceutical world. The series showcases the process through which a pill reaches an individual, through diverse characters – from powerful pharma industrialists, corrupt doctors, to medical representatives, compromised drug regulators, politicians, journalists, and whistleblowers. Through the course of the show, tension unfolds as Prakash faces-off the manipulative CEO of Pharma company, portrayed by Pavan Malhotra and takes on an honest fight to find out the truth behind the powerful nexus that puts profits before patients. In this compelling clash of good vs. evil, Prakash’s quest to truth raises hope for the common man to be more aware and vigilant in a world where everyone is at the mercy of medicines and vaccines.

    Talking about his debut series, Riteish Deshmukh said, “It’s exciting to venture into the world of digital streaming. When you’re entrusted with a compelling story like Pill, there’s a huge responsibility to do justice to it. It’s intriguing to learn about the complexities behind something as seemingly simple as a pill that impacts our daily lives and well-being. Being a part of this journey has been incredibly enlightening. Working alongside visionaries like Raj Kumar Gupta and Ronnie Screwvala, who have poured their hearts into this project, is a true honour. Prakash Chauhan is a character of both simplicity and strength, and I am confident that his fight against the corrupt pharma players will resonate with the audience.”

    Ronnie Screwvala, also shared, “We’ve worked hard to bring an original and thought-provoking concept and story like PILL that explores untold landscapes and asks crucial questions. With PILL, we aim to entertain as well as increase awareness amongst people. Riteish brings his unparalleled acting prowess to the series, making his digital debut even more exciting. And as always, it is a pleasure working with Raj who has helmed this one with his thrilling expertise. Lastly the show’s release on JioCinema allows us the widest audience reach and together we look forward to bringing this powerful series to screens far and wide.”

    Raj Kumar Gupta commented, “Celluloid has always been my medium of expression as I’ve made films across genres to bring different stories to my audiences. And now, I am looking forward to experimenting with the long format on OTT. A story like ‘Pill’ needed to be told through a longer format and I am glad to be collaborating with JioCinema to tell this story. It has been a great experience working with Riteish, Ronnie, and the entire team on this one. We all are looking forward to bringing this story to audiences.”

  • U Mumba unveils PKL Season 10 Jersey

    U Mumba unveils PKL Season 10 Jersey

    Mumbai: In a glittering ceremony on Wednesday, U Mumba brought together the power of sport and entertainment on one stage to celebrate and unveil the landmark Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 U Mumba Jersey in the presence of Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal and the squad members at the META India studios in Mumbai.

    U Mumba is geared up for an exhilarating season ahead. Designed with careful consideration and attention to details, the new jersey serves as a powerful statement of the team’s commitment to excellence, unity, and capturing the enduring spirit and resilience of Mumbai that U Mumba team stands for.  

    The new jersey was launched in the presence of Vicky Kaushal in and as Sam Bahadur along with team owner, Ronnie Screwvala, CEO Suhail Chandhok apart from the Season 10 core team members Surinder Singh, Mahender Singh, Rinku, Girish Ernak, Guman Singh and Pranay Rane.

    “Interwoven with elements that encapsulate the heart and soul of Mumbai city, the jersey captures the energy, diversity, hustle and indomitable spirit of the melting pot of people that Mumbai represents. Each thread tells a story, echoing the pulse of a city that never sleeps, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines U Mumba,” said U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok.

    One of the key striking features of the jersey is the representation of the ocean, an homage to the original inhabitants of Mumbai, the Koli community and to the element of water that forms the essence of Mumbai, a City of Seven Islands.

    “The waves symbolise the ebb and flow of obstacles that our players may encounter throughout the Pro Kabaddi League season and it serves as a reminder to be fluid, like water, adaptable to change, agile, resilient and open to any challenges that lie ahead,” Suhail further added.

    U Mumba Captain & Vice-Captains announced the team also took the opportunity to announce the captain and vice-captains for the upcoming season with Surinder Singh set to continue at the helm and Rinku Sharma and Mahender Singh as his deputies.

    Meta India director of content and community partnerships Paras Sharma also commented, “We actively foster sports fandom on our platforms, continuously collaborating with teams and the ecosystem to broaden their audience. Collaborating with the U Mumba team enables us to connect creators and public figures, aiming to boost kabaddi’s popularity ahead of the Pro-Kabaddi League and offer creators opportunities to engage with athletes from varied sports.”

    The team also announced local (Mumbai) icon player, Girish Ernak as the Spirit of Mumba Captain, who is specially assigned the task to nurture young talents in the side from various parts of the country and ensure the positive spirit of U Mumba is always intact through the ups and downs of the competitive season.

    Follow U Mumba’s journey in the Pro Kabaddi League and witness the team wearing their hearts on their sleeves, quite literally, with the unveiling of this exceptional new jersey on our social media handles.

     

  • Industry celebrates Punit Goenka’s achievements over the years

    Industry celebrates Punit Goenka’s achievements over the years

    Mumbai: Punit Goenka has held the position of MD & CEO at ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. since 2010 and has achieved numerous notable successes during his tenure. His extensive experience, deep industry knowledge, and exceptional leadership skills have set him apart as a prominent figure in the media and entertainment sector. He is widely recognized for his pivotal role in establishing ZEE as a global entertainment brand, reaching audiences not only in India but also in 190 countries worldwide. With the support and confidence of India Inc., shareholders, employees, advertisers, and content creators, Goenka, at the age of just 48, possesses the necessary business acumen to guide the envisioned merger of ZEE and Sony towards a promising future.

    Goenka, boasts more than two decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry, stands as one of the most accomplished business leaders in the sector, characterized by his acute business acumen. Over a span of three decades, he has steered ZEE successfully, identifying trends and transforming it into a media and entertainment powerhouse.

    Distinguished as one of the youngest and most prolific leaders, he has an impressive list of achievements to his credit. His profound understanding of audience preferences has been instrumental in driving ZEE’s expansion into regional markets, revitalizing the studio business, launching India’s second-largest music label, and more.

    His active involvement in shaping the future of the entertainment landscape spans diverse capacities. Currently, he serves as a board director for the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF). In the past, he held the position of Chairman of the TV measurement body BARC India, playing a crucial role in its founding team. He has also served as Chairman of IBDF, leading important discussions with policymakers. Additionally, as the President of the International Advertising Association’s (IAA) India Chapter, he addressed crucial industry-level interests and introduced several intellectual properties tailored to the advertising and marketing community. In many of these roles, he was re-elected for a second term by unanimous member consensus.

    Goenka’s success in elevating ZEE’s performance over the years stems from his ability to identify opportune moments for scaling and constructing a diversified portfolio. His forward-looking vision has propelled the company to global recognition, with ZEE establishing an international presence in over 190 countries and reaching more than 1.3 billion viewers. In his capacity as the leader of India’s largest publicly-listed Media and Entertainment Company, Goenka demonstrates a profound understanding of the overall legal and regulatory environment. He remains unwavering in his commitment to creating value for all the company’s shareholders.

    Leading an impressive portfolio that encompasses 50 domestic channels, 36 international channels, an OTT platform, a movie studio, and a music label, his experience in consistently managing profitability and surpassing industry margins quarter after quarter positions him well to replicate the success of ZEE within the anticipated merged entity, which is poised to become a formidable force in the Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector.

    Goenka’s unwavering and optimistic approach equips him to navigate challenging circumstances, as exemplified when TRAI introduced the New Tariff Order, creating uncertainty for businesses. In response, he actively engaged with partners and key stakeholders to facilitate solutions that fostered the growth of the pay-tv ecosystem. His profound understanding of both technology and content, two crucial elements in today’s evolving entertainment landscape, underscores his competence. Notably, Goenka enjoys robust support from ZEE’s shareholders and investors, and he has cultivated substantial industry relationships. His ability to prioritize the interests of all stakeholders in his decision-making process is a hallmark of his leadership.

    Hailing from an entrepreneurial background, he has instilled strong values and an entrepreneurial spirit within ZEE, fostering an environment where talent can flourish under his guidance. ZEE is recognized today as an Academy of Talent, nurturing numerous industry luminaries to their pinnacle of success.

    Continuing to attract top-tier talent to the company, not only from the M&E industry but also from sectors such as FMCG and Banking, is a testament to Goenka’s ability. In an M&E industry facing a shortage of high-quality talent, particularly for an organization of ZEE’s scale, his talent acquisition strategy is pivotal for ensuring stability and growth. He has demonstrated his readiness to make tough decisions when they are necessary for the company’s profitability and the collective interests of all stakeholders. This includes the strategic exit from sports broadcasting when it wasn’t financially prudent, followed by a robust re-entry into the sports business, capitalizing on improved monetization opportunities in the segment.

     

     

     

     

  • Weekend Unwind with: ThinkInk Communications CEO & founder Radhika Nihalani

    Weekend Unwind with: ThinkInk Communications CEO & founder Radhika Nihalani

    Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind—a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of corporate executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.

    This week’s session features ThinkInk Communications CEO and founder Radhika Nihalani, who has a proven track record of designing and delivering strategic communication plans and campaigns that have a long-term impact on the brand’s target audience.

    Nihalani set up Think Ink Communications to offer effective and engaging PR solutions. With over 15+ years of expansive experience across fields.

    Nihalani’s repertoire of work includes corporate communications, media relations, and image management. Prior to founding Think Ink Communications, Nihalani led publicity strategies for personalities like Ronnie Screwvala and Shiamak Davar and brands like Imagine TV, Wizcraft, and Blue Dart, amongst others. In a short span of five years, Radhika has led Think Ink Communications to be recognised as one of the top ten PR agencies in the country that offers the most innovative PR solutions in the business.

    Till date, the company has serviced over 100 clients across hospitality, lifestyle, entertainment, and corporate. An avid reader and traveller, Nihalani’s passion also includes fitness and music.

    So, without further ado, here it goes…

    • Your mantra for life

    Aim for the stars, and the sky will be yours one day. 

    • A book you are currently reading/plan to read

    I haven’t found time to read a book in a while. But I am a huge fan of thrillers and plan to get my hands on the latest Keigo Higashino book soon.

    • Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic

    Every day, set aside 30 minutes for yourself to do something you enjoy, such as running, walking, stretching, climbing stairs, or dancing. Intensity is not as important as consistency.

    • Your comfort food

    Pizza, pasta, butter chicken! 

    • When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going

    There is nothing that can’t be figured out. 

    • Your guilty pleasure

    Instagram.

    • When was the last time you tried something new?

    I am a mother of two who owns and operates two businesses; I am constantly trying new things. 🙂

    • A life lesson you learnt the hard way

    Humour helps you sail through the hardest situations.

    • What gets you excited about life?

    The thrill of setting personal and professional goals for myself and seeing them come true!

    • What’s on top of your bucket list?

    Opening many new verticals in my company and buying a vacation home.

    • If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

    Never stop working hard. 

    • One thing you would most like to change about the world

    Less hate and less judgement. 

    • An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times

    Thinking of ideas and figuring out solutions. It completely revitalises me!

    • What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?

    Hanging out with my children!

    • Your go-to stress buster

    A good run!

  • Taapsee Pannu-starrer ‘Rashmi Rocket’ to directly premiere on Zee5

    Taapsee Pannu-starrer ‘Rashmi Rocket’ to directly premiere on Zee5

    Mumbai: Video streaming platform Zee5 is set to premiere Tapsee Pannu-starrer sports drama “Rashmi Rocket” on 15 October. The film is produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya under RSVP and Mango People Media.

    “At Zee5, we have constantly strived to bring audiences richer experiences with versatile content that is not just entertaining but also a reflection of us as a collective society,” said Zee5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra. “Rashmi Rocket is riveting, relevant, and will have you cheering, empathising, and questioning. It’s cinema that moves you.”

    Set in the salt marshes of Kutch, the film is about a young village girl who is an incredibly fast runner, nurturing the ambition of crossing the finish line some day. In the journey to fulfilling her dreams, she soon realises that the race is peppered with many hurdles, and what seems like an athletic contest turns into a personal battle for respect, honour, and identity.

    “Rashmi Rocket” is written by Nanda Periyasamy, Aniruddha Guha, and Kanika Dhillon and directed by Akarsh Khurana. The film also features Supriya Pathak, Abhishek Banerjee, Priyanshu Painyuli, and Supriya Pilgaonkar in pivotal roles.

    “So many immensely talented youth do not reach their full potential or even have opportunities owing to the obstacles the system and society throw at them. Rashmi Rocket is one such example of someone who faced those obstacles head-on and overcame them,” said RSVP’s Ronnie Screwvala on the film. “It’s a story of resilience, determination, and above all, the fighting human spirit.”

  • upGrad turns unicorn with $1.2 billion valuation

    upGrad turns unicorn with $1.2 billion valuation

    Mumbai: Homegrown online higher education provider upGrad has become the newest unicorn from the country after it closed a series of raises from Temasek, IFC (International Finance Corp, a sister organisation of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group), and IIFL. The ed-tech startup has raised a total of $185 million at a value of $1.2 billion.

    “We are very focussed on our path to being in the top three to five companies globally in ed-tech and serving the one billion workforces across the age group of 18 to 60 years,” said upGrad chairperson and co-founder Ronnie Screwvala. “We are pleased with the investor interest ever since we opened up for a fundraise, and had our maiden raise from Temasek, followed by IFC and IIFL in the last 60 days.”

    “We will announce further updates on M&As, and unlocking value as they unfold. Yes, the last value was at $1.2 billion, but as I keep saying, we are not a fan of the tag name unicorn – for us, it is only a means to a much larger goal,” Screwvala added.

    upGrad has always been promoter-funded with the founder group still owning 70 per cent plus in the company. It is reportedly in advanced talks for a $400 million fundraise at a valuation of $ four billion.
     

  • With $120 million infusion, UpGrad poised to turn unicorn

    With $120 million infusion, UpGrad poised to turn unicorn

    Kolkata: At a time when edtech platforms are booming in India, higher learning major UpGrad has raised $120 million from Temasek, a global investment company headquartered in Singapore. With this, UpGrad is speeding toward a landmark $1 billion valuation.

    This is the first external funding raised by the edtech major. Since its founding six years ago in 2015, upGrad has been 100 per cent owned, funded, and run by its co-founders as a capital-efficient business.

    The Mumbai-based start-up plans to use the fresh capital to further strengthen its team, scale its global market operations, bolster its technology and product capabilities, pursue M&A opportunities, expand graduate and post-graduate degree portfolio in India, and scale up operations to achieve its $2 billion revenue goal by 2026, thereby reinforcing its position as a global higher-edtech leader emerging from India. 

    upGrad co-founders Ronnie Screwvala, Mayank Kumar and Phalgun Kompalli said in a joint statement, “We welcome Temasek in our mission to power career success for each and every member of the global workforce as their trusted LifeLongLearning partner and drive meaningful career outcomes. This capital will further fuel our commitment towards global expansion as well as deeper India penetration, as we march forward with our goal of making India the teaching capital of the world.”

    Screwvala told Bloomberg that he expects to raise another round of capital in three to six months.

    Credit Suisse acted as the exclusive financial advisor to upGrad, and Rajaram Legal acted as legal advisor.

    UpGrad’s current repertoire includes over 100 courses in subjects like data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, coding, finance and law, in collaboration with universities like Michigan State University and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. About a million learners, mainly from India as well as four dozen other countries, take courses that run from six months to two years.

  • upGrad fires on all cylinders; targets explosive growth

    upGrad fires on all cylinders; targets explosive growth

    NEW DELHI: The pandemic has proven to be a boon for the edtech brands helping them clock more downloads and bag new subscribers. Students, across age groups, have adapted to online learning as schools and learning institutions were forcibly shuttered and and moved online.

    Both professional and school-level courses witnessed a spurt in takers. While professional courses are expected to make job search easy in this competitive market, the school courses prevented students from compromising on their learning during this time.

    Experts say that the edtech space has accomplished more in the last 100 days than it did in the past five years. A white paper released by Ficci indicated that 92 per cent of learning leaders have confirmed the adoption of online learning journeys from 68 per cent in the pre-Covid2019 period.

    A testimony to the growth of this sector is that investors are now keenly doling out hundreds of millions of dollars to startups with even edtech as part of their business plans. Media reports quoting Venture Intelligence data state that $998 million from just January 2020 to July 2020 as compared to $310 million a year ago has found its way into edtech startups.

    Read more news on upGrad

    A large part of that cash is going into category building and customer acquisition –  through both digital marketing and promotion and expensive TV air time.  With reason: they are trying to change old habits of physical face to face learning.  And with that out of the question for a while now, it definitely would not harm anyone if they went in for an upskilling course which would give them a shot at getting a better job or designation or fancier increments.

    The Ronnie Screwvala funded edtech venture upGrad has over the past month or so running a print, TV and digital campaign, Sirfnaamkinahin, kaamki degree’ to spread awareness on the importance of getting a degree which will help execs  get kicked upstairs into a better position and role.

    Based in an office, the TVC features a donkey – or an ass in common parlance – whom employees come and lick in the hope of pleasing him.. The donkey symbolises the boss who gives higher priority to smoothness over talent. Towards the end, the protagonist appears who refuses to lick the donkey and ends the film by saying that he needs specialisation, not ass licking to get ahead in his career.

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    upGrad is clearly pushing its specialised courses and positions them as a tool that can help executives to rise.  The media plan for the campaign includes 50 plus TV channels.

    upGrad CEO Arjun Mohan says, “At upGrad, we have reiterated our age-old principle of ‘life-long learning’ across all our marketing efforts and brand campaigns, making it a new norm for individuals who are looking to upskill and re-skill.  Especially during the current pandemic-induced lockdown period, where concerns like job loss, insolvency, and career ambiguity are looming, this mantra helped us resonate and connect with our audience better.”

    Currently, it is running the TVC across Disney+hotstar and on TV during the Indian Premier League and hopes to grow by 300 per cent by this fiscal year-end.

    Read more news on edtech space in India

    The edtech brand had previously launched a campaign in February 2020 ‘Raho Ambitious.’ The previous campaigns from the online learning brand were mirroring the sentiments of working professionals. “With the changing times, we realised that what they lack is a means to achieve and materialize the ambition. Hence, a brand only claiming to fuel ambition will not serve a definite purpose in their lives, because it isn’t providing a solution that they urgently need now. Hence, we let go of the previous brand propositions and moved to ‘Sirfnaamkinahin, kaamki degree’, with which we promise to provide outcome-oriented specialisations, to help learners achieve the ROI on education; job/profile switch, increment or promotion, thereby supporting employability,” adds Mohan.

    Since the beginning of the pandemic, upGrad has registered a massive upsurge in the traffic. Around 1,00,000 learners are logged in to the platform and over 8500 hours of live sessions have been conducted in the past three months (May – July). Media reports suggest that upGrad has a 500,000 -strong learner base, of which 32,000 are paid users. The company expects to close the current fiscal year with revenues of around Rs 1,200 crore. Small towns and non-metros are playing a key role in fueling the growth of the brand.

    The brand is now ready to scale the number of learners to one million. Mohan says: “Moreover, given the Covid2019 scenario, we are now looking to double our quarterly revenue numbers. (We are considering Q4 – Jan, Feb, March is the pre-COVID-19 quarter and Q1 – April, May, June is post-COVID-19 for the data). While all verticals have grown in Q4 vs Q1, the MBA vertical has grown by 63 per cent in terms of revenue and 82 per cent in terms of learner base, making it the biggest winner.”

    Other programs such as an MSc in data science witnessed a 60 per cent growth and PG certification in digital marketing and communication with Mica witnessed a 70 per cent growth in terms of revenue and learner base.

    He further shares that the brand had to move from quarterly to monthly cohort launches, in order to cope with the increased demand for the online programs that it is experiencing.

    upGrad has gone the whole hog on social media marketing as well, with the #DontBeAChaatuin August to synchronise with the release of the TVC. The campaign connected with the youth as did its funny short film ‘How to impress your boss’ with YoutuberBeYouNick (BYN), shortly thereafter. The sequence of activities triggered pop – culture influencers across platforms, who then contributed to the buzz and shared their personal experiences. Abhiand Niyu, Barkha Singh, AnkushBahuguna, Saloni Gaur, and AyushMehra amongst others joined the bandwagon to promote the idea of upskilling. Twitter heavyweights like Gabbbar, Sagarcasm, Trendulkar, also shared their views on corporate world culture to support the drive.

    Mohan says, “At the beginning of the year, we announced a budget of Rs 175 crore for marketing. We will be largely present on TV and digital. We are strong on social media as well.”

    He further explains that the brand is now expecting an overall surge in the television viewership. “This will increase the co-viewing window. Therefore, keeping the current situation in mind, the idea is to look at more mass media such as TV and accordingly shift our spending towards the same, supplementing it with digital. While we will continue to advertise targeting the metros due to new launches that we have in the pipeline. The consumers and prospective learners will now see upGrad more active in the smaller towns,” adds Mohan.

    upGrad has recently announced a corpus of Rs 500 crore to expand internationally, especially in APAC, Europe and west Asia. Mohan is optimistic about the shift in the education space.  He believes online learning is here to stay and the sector will continue to boom going forward.

    The company has also introduced a wide range of free online programs across the areas of tech, management, and data to encourage users to utilise the extra time at hand, meaningfully. It has introduced ‘upGrad higher’, which is a free platform for all job portals for Covid2019 impacted professionals.

    Screwvala and his teams have honed a special skill which can hopefully be imparted to other execs wanting to turn entrepreneur through upGrad: how to scale up companies from scratch, and in the process build high valuations. 

  • U Mumba ropes in 6 sponsors, 3 partners for Pro Kabaddi League 7

    U Mumba ropes in 6 sponsors, 3 partners for Pro Kabaddi League 7

    MUMBAI: U Mumba, the franchise owned by U Sports which is helmed by Ronnie Screwvala and Supratik Sen, got 6 sponsors and 3 partners on board for the upcoming Season 7 of the Pro Kabaddi League that starts on 20 July. While a few brands have been associated with U Mumba in prior seasons as well, a few new ones have deals across all the sport franchises under U Sports.

    The categories of sponsorship have been taken by the following: Indigo Paints as Presenting Sponsor, Haldirams as Powered by Sponsor, Mitashi as Electronics Partner, BKT Tires as Off Highway Tire Partner, Flamingo as Pain Management Partner, Je & Vee Infrastructure as Infrastructure Partner and Vihan Switches as Electric partner. In fact, Indigo paints was Presenting sponsor for U Mumba in season 6 as well. A few more sponsors are expected to come on board as the season begins.

    U Mumba also has Radio City as Radio Partner, Superfan AI as Fan Engagement Partner, Gold’s Gym as Fitness Partner, Dome@NSCI, SVP Stadium as Venue Partner and PayTM/Insider.in as Ticketing Partner for a second year running.

    Flamingo, flagship brand of Ascent Meditech Ltd. has backed U Sports not only in kabaddi, but also in volleyball (U Mumba Volley) and table tennis (U Mumba TT)

    As a brand, U Mumba looks to grow along with its partner brands. U Mumba believes in ensuring all brands get their desired visibility, engagement and more. It’s evident from the fact that some of our partners are with us in concurrent seasons.

    U Sports co-founder and MD, Supratik Sen said, "We are pleased to have all these sponsor and partner brands on board for season 7 of the Pro Kabaddi League. All our partner brands and sponsors share similar mindsets and ethos as U Sports, and we hope to have an engagement with them that is deeper than just being sponsors. As always, U Mumba has always engaged the right audiences and thus facilitates maximum traction for our sponsors! With strong brands like these backing the team, we will definitely do our best to live up to their and the fans expectations and reach for top honors.”

    Indigo Paints managing director Hemant Jalan said, "We have been a part of the U Mumba journey for a while now and the relationship has been nothing short of amazing. It is important to have similar mindset and goals. The engagement we got last season was wonderful and we’re looking to do more this season. The team over the seasons has shown tremendous progress and we could not be prouder to be associated with a team like U Mumba. Hoping for yet another successful season this time too!"

    Haldirams Food International Pvt Ltd, director, Neeraj Agrawal said, “We are extremely pleased to be a sponsor of U Mumba for the upcoming Season 7. Kabaddi is the most iconic & lovable sports after cricket in India, and in over the years PKL has grown as one of the biggest sporting properties, and we are proud to be part of it, U Mumba and our brand have perfect synergy. This is our first season with U Mumba, and we are as excited as the team is! We believe the team will deliver the best of their skills & conclude at the top order. On behalf of Haldirams family, I wish them all the very best”

    Ascent Meditech Ltd, founder and MD, Flamingo, Rajiv Mistry said, ‘’Pro Kabaddi, an action-packed platform for brands has changed the media consumption pattern among Indians drastically over the past seasons. Kabaddi players have now become household names and carry with them huge followers, who are majorly millennial. With Kabaddi or with any sporting activity, come injuries and pain. Flamingo, the official pain management partner of U Mumba would play a crucial role in comforting the pain among the players with its quality products thereby enabling them to excel in their pursuits and help emerge Kabaddi as the winner. He adds, Kabaddi acted as the perfect fit as Flamingo products are used by everyday consumers across age who strives to progress and refuse to stare at defeat due to niggles and pain.’’

    BKT Tires joint managing director Rajiv Poddar said, “Having been associated with 8 Kabaddi teams last season and receiving a fantastic response from our stakeholders, we are delighted to continue our association with Kabaddi this year as well. Being able to support some of the most competitive Kabaddi teams in the country is a matter of pride for BKT Tires. The U Mumba team has had great success over the past seasons, and we are delighted to be able to partner with the team this season.”

    Mitashi Edutainment Pvt. Ltd. founder and CMD, Rakesh Dugar said, “With longstanding associations with cricket and football, Mitashi is excited to collaborate with the U Mumba team for the 7th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League 2019. We share the team’s ethos and ideology with focus on hard work, companionship and sportsmanship. We encourage the promotion of home-grown talent and sports across India and Internationally. We are confident that our U Mumba team shall come through with flying colours and shall win the trophy in this edition of the PKL 2019."

    Vihan Electric Private Limited director Devendra Kumar Jain said, "We are very excited to be associated with U Mumba and are sure the journey is going to be a long lasting and fruitful one for both parties. As a team, U Mumba is young and motivated and that reflects on our brand energy too."

    Je & Vee Infrastructure MD Vinay Singh said, “At Je & Vee Infrastructure, as someone who believes in quality and excellence in everything we do, we see U Mumba is the one team that shares the same values. By partnering with them, we hope to connect with the common Mumbaikar and build long term relationships not only with audiences but with the team as well! We look forward to the next 3 months and more!”