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Tag: Worldwide Media

  • Lovnish Bhatia joins Worldwide Media as vice president – digital product

    Lovnish Bhatia joins Worldwide Media as vice president – digital product

    MUMBAI: Worldwide Media, a subsidiary of the Times Group, has named Lovnish Bhatia as vice president – digital product. Based in Mumbai, he will spearhead the publisher’s digital strategy, mobile platforms and product innovation.

    Bhatia brings more than 20 years of experience across digital media, operations and business development. He was most recently head of operations at Wify Technologies, after a brief stint as a new business development consultant.

    Earlier, he served as chief operating officer at Timesaverz, led services at Hettich India, and drove business development for video advertising firm Vdopia, where he was instrumental in securing the ICC World Cup 2011 digital sales mandate for Star India.

    His media career began at Sony Entertainment Television in 2000, followed by digital sales leadership roles at NDTV Media and Viacom18, where he introduced digital syndication and online-only monetisation models.

    With a career spanning technology, advertising, consumer services and media, Bhatia is expected to play a key role in accelerating Worldwide Media’s digital transformation.

  • Times change again as Varun Kohli exits, Gopakumar takes interim charge

    Times change again as Varun Kohli exits, Gopakumar takes interim charge

    MUMBAI: Another shuffle at Times Network has set the industry buzzing. Varun Kohli, who joined as chief operating officer barely a year ago, has suddenly stepped down from the role. In the interim, Rohit Gopakumar, currently CEO of entertainment and digital business at The Times Group, has been handed charge of the broadcast business.

    The development comes against the backdrop of CEO M.K. Anand’s exit in July 2024, when he quit after more than a decade at Bennett, Coleman & Co. (BCCL). Kohli was brought in just a month earlier, in June 2024, to oversee the network’s revenue function across its television broadcast business.

    Kohli, a seasoned media professional, moved to Times Network from Bharat Express, where he spent a year and a half as director and CEO. Before that, he briefly helmed Sporty Media Solutionz as CEO and held senior stints at ITV Network (group CEO), Network18, HT Media, and Amar Ujala Prakashan.

    Meanwhile, Gopakumar isn’t new to the media house. He joined the group in August 2023 as CEO of Worldwide Media and was later elevated to lead entertainment and digital. His expanded remit now includes steering Times Network’s broadcast operations during a tricky phase for the industry.

    With two top exits in just over a year, Times Network finds itself once again at a leadership crossroads and all eyes will now be on how Gopakumar steadies the ship.

  • AJIO Grazia Young Fashion Awards 2024 to raise future of fashion and style at a star-studded evening

    AJIO Grazia Young Fashion Awards 2024 to raise future of fashion and style at a star-studded evening

    Mumbai: The world of fashion is gearing up for a spectacular night as the AJIO Grazia Young Fashion Awards 2024, is set to illuminate Mumbai on 26 March 2024. This star-studded celebration promises an evening brimming with excitement, glamour, and jaw-dropping looks, epitomizing the fearless spirit of fashion and style.

    From urban wear to eveningwear, indie cool to menswear, footwear to sustainable fashion, and jewellery, this year’s awards boast an array of categories that push the boundaries of style and ingenuity. Embracing Urbanwear, Eveningwear, Indie Cool, Menswear, Footwear, Label Alert, Sustainable Fashion, and Jewellery, each category represents a fusion of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation, mirroring the dynamic fashion panorama in India and beyond. In addition to honouring the brightest young talents in the fashion realm, the ceremony will shine a spotlight on trendsetters from the entertainment world who continue to inspire and influence the way we dress and express ourselves.

    Worldwide Media director and  ZENL BCCL TV & Digital Network  CEO Rohit Gopakumar, expressed, “The Grazia Young Fashion Awards have been a beacon of innovation, creativity, and trendsetting within the fashion industry. As we gear up for the upcoming edition, we look forward to witnessing the convergence of talent in fashion design and style trendsetters. We are excited to see the next generation of trailblazers redefine the fashion landscape.”

    Grazia India editor Mehernaaz Dhondy added, “With the Grazia Young Fashion Awards, we aim to spotlight the next generation of style and fashion pioneers who are ready to serve unforgettable looks. It’s a night of boundless possibilities, where fashion meets art and style meets substance.”

    After a spectacular celebration of fashion prowess in the previous edition by young designers and celebrated stars such as Ayushmann Khurrana, Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, Karan Johar, Rashmika Mandana, Janhvi Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Mrunal Thakur, Ishaan Khatter, and Sobhita Dhulipala, each leaving an indelible mark with their unique instinct, we eagerly anticipate welcoming the next wave of fashion and style.

    Mark your calendars for the AJIO Grazia Young Fashion Awards 2024, where fashion enthusiasts and industry insiders will converge to celebrate excellence, creativity, and the transformative power of style. Grazia.co.in for further updates as we count down to the most anticipated fashion extravaganza of the year. Catch all the action in real-time on Grazia India’s social media platforms on 26 March.

  • The third edition of Femina and Mamaearth presents Beautiful Indians 2024

    The third edition of Femina and Mamaearth presents Beautiful Indians 2024

    Mumbai: Embracing the spirit of kindness, Femina, a leading women’s lifestyle brand, joined forces with Mamaearth to celebrate the good deeds of individuals at the third edition of Femina And Mamaearth presents Beautiful Indians 2024. The star-studded event was hosted on 19 March 2024, where individuals from diverse walks of life were honoured, reiterating the fact that there is beauty in every act of kindness. Hosted by Aparshakti Khurana, the event celebrated individuals whose charisma and expertise have not only inspired but also contributed significantly to bringing about positive change. Taking the celebrations higher pop singer Akasa Singh dazzled the audience with her power-packed performance.

    The Jury comprising prominent personalities selected the Beautiful Indians who have inspirational stories. These are ordinary people, celebrities, and content creators, who won the award in the People For Good, Creators For Good, and Special Awards categories. A jury includes Nigar Shaji – programme director, Low Earth & Planetary Platforms, ISRO; Amruta Subhash – National Award-winning actor; Bina Lashkari – co-founder and director of Door Step School; actor, producer and author Huma Qureshi; Ghazal & Varun Alagh – founders of Honasa Consumer Ltd. MamaEarth; and Ambika Muttoo, Editor-in-chief of Femina, had taken on the challenge of sorting through thousands of entries.

    Amongst the celebrations, the crowd cheered the highest when the Dhak Dhak girl Madhuri Dixit did her iconic step on the ghaghra song along with Tamannaah Bhatia and Ghazal Alagh. The latter also confessed to having started her acting career inspired by Madhuri Dixit. Furthermore, heartthrob Kartik Aaryan shook a leg on stage making the crowd go gaga over his song from his blockbuster movie along with Shilpa Shetty and Aparshakti Khurana.

    Among the recipients of the Special Awards, Tiger Shroff with his awe-inspiring action sequences, won the title of Youth Icon, while versatile actor and performer Siddhant Chaturvedi bagged the Rising Star award. Ananya Panday, who gave us a splendid performance in her recent release was declared the Standout Performer Of The Year (Female) while Kartik Aaryan received the Standout Performer Of The Year (Male) award for his performance in his latest movie.  Bobby Deol stole hearts as the Most Loved Star and his trending dance on the famous entry track in his superhit movie, while Madhuri Dixit held the spotlight as the Sensational Superstar. Tamannaah Bhatia won the title of Star in the Spotlight accolade. Entertaining us with his gimmicks, social media sensation Orry took home the award for Entertainer of the Year. Karisma Kapoor, renowned as the first Kapoor lady to make a career in films, was hailed as a trailblazer, while Manish Malhotra was honoured with the Fashion Visionary award. Sini Shetty, our dazzling Femina Miss India World 2022, was applauded for her Beauty For A Purpose. Versatile actor Shraddha Kapoor won the title as Fan Favorite, while Sobhita Dhulipala, always on top of her style game, took home the laurel for Fashion It girl.  

    The People for Good category honoured goodness ambassadors including:

    1   Prasiddhi Singh – Child Environmentalist & Social Entrepreneur, Chennai

    2   Deep Narayan Nayak – educator transforming lives across generations, West Bengal

    3   Kiran Kamdar – Parkinson’s Warrior Ensuring Hospital Patients Get Essential Nutrition, Mumbai

    4   Dwishojoyee Banerjee – young environmental activist saving The Planet, One Paper Bag At A Time, Patna

    5   Sahil Kaushar – CEO Of The Noble citizen foundation, Bihar

    6   Dilshad Mehershahi, Geetanjali Gaur, Beverly Louis & Gautam Lalwani of Mann – co-founders Of Mann, Mumbai

    7   Dr Meghana Pemmaiah – Wildlife veterinarian on a rescue mission, Mangaluru

    The Creators for Good recognised content creators who have leveraged their reach to bring about change for the better. The winners included:

    1   Ted The Stoner – Fervent Advocate for positive social change

    2   Aishwarya Sharma – fashion & climate change activist

    3   Anupriya Kapur – entrepreneur & inspiring role model

    4   Tarun Mishra – founder of Help Drive Foundation

    5   Gayatri Bhardwaj – Dedicated Animal Welfare Warrior

    6   Revant Himatsingka (FoodPharmer) – influencer creating positive change

    7   Barkha Singh – actor and influencer raising her voice for animal welfare

    The glamorous awards show witnessed celebrities gracing the red carpet, setting new style standards. Industry divas such as Shilpa Shetty, Madhuri Dixit, Karisma Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Shraddha Kapoor, Sunny Leone, Tamannaah Bhatia, Huma Qureshi, Kanika Kapoor set the evening afire in their stunning gowns, while Tiger Shroff, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Bobby Deol, Kartika Aryan, amongst others exuded charm in their tuxedos and suits.

    Worldwide Media director Rohit Gopakumar and CEO ZENL, BCCL TV & Digital Network, reflected on the journey of Femina and Mamaearth, stating, “Femina has a legacy of celebrating beauty which is more than just skin deep. Our longstanding commitment lies in showcasing the remarkable stories of individuals who bring about impactful change in their sphere of work. They are the true heroes of the land who inspire and motivate our audience. Beautiful Indians is an exceptional platform from Femina that shines a light on the innate goodness within every individual. The third edition of Beautiful Indians (2024) was a splendid success. Through this property, we are happy to recognise and celebrate the growing goodness around us.”

    Femina editor-in-chief Ambika Muttoo commented, “Our collaboration with Mamaearth has created a powerful platform that honours the impact of good deeds in society. Season 3 of Femina And Mamaearth Present Beautiful Indians celebrates inspiring stories of individuals who choose to spread love and positivity in their actions. This initiative highlights that true beauty lies not just in appearance but in the kindness and compassion we show to others.”

    Mamaearth co-founder & chief innovation officer Ghazal Alagh said, “After an overwhelming response for season 2, we are back with Season 3 of Femina & Mamaearth presents Beautiful Indians 2024. Built on the fundamentals of goodness inside, Mamaearth has always believed in celebrating goodness in every form.  At Mamaearth, we have always believed that beauty is beyond skin-deep, and our collaboration with Femina for Beautiful Indians is an extension of that philosophy and belief. We are delighted to partner with Femina to bring alive the stories of beautiful Indians around us and hope to continue to further strengthen this partnership through this journey of celebrating goodness.”

  • 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024 promises two epic nights in Gujarat

    69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024 promises two epic nights in Gujarat

    Mumbai: Save the date for an unforgettable two-night spectacle! The 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024, with Gujarat Tourism, promises to captivate audiences with an unprecedented scale and dazzling extravaganza.

    On 28 January, a spectacular blockbuster awaits audiences at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. A night where the best in Indian cinema will be honoured and celebrated promises to be a star-studded affair. The dynamic trio of Karan Johar, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Maniesh Paul play host as captivating performances by Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan mesmerise the audience. The festivities commence one day earlier, on 27 January at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Centre with a Curtain Raiser to the 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024 with Gujarat Tourism, in which technical award winners will be honoured with the Black Lady. An evening hosted by Karishma Tanna and Aparshakti Khurana will also have an enchanting fashion show, showcasing Shantanu & Nikhil’s sustainable collection, concluding with a mesmerizing music concert by the renowned Parthiv Gohil.

    Building excitement for this momentous cinematic celebration, key details such as performer and host names were unveiled at the Mumbai press conference attended by distinguished guests, including Hareet Shukla (IAS, principal secretary, tourism, devasthanam management, civil aviation & pilgrimage, government of Gujarat), Rohit Gopakumar (director, Times Entertainment division, Worldwide Media, entertainment TV & digital network), and Jitesh Pillaai (editor, Filmfare). The event also saw the presence of eminent figures from the Indian film industry, such as Karan Johar, Varun Dhawan, and Janhvi Kapoor, marking a noteworthy kick-off.

    Commenting on the occasion, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said, “As Gujarat prepares to welcome filmmakers to Gujarat for the prestigious 69th edition of Filmfare Awards, we look forward to a surge in tourism, and a positive impact on our local economy. This grand event will provide a unique platform for our talented artists and filmmakers to engage with the Indian Film Industry, fostering an exchange of ideas, technology, and trends. We also look forward to showcasing Gujarat’s natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, robust infrastructure along with our proactive governance and policies like Cinematic Tourism Policy and Gujarat Tourism Policy. These policies have been created with a mindset to make an effective and efficient ecosystem for filmmakers. Our aim is to be a premier film destination, attracting future projects and investments.”

    Sharing his thoughts on the association, government of Gujarat Minister for tourism, cultural activities, forest & environment and climate change Mulubhai Bera said, “Gujarat is proud to host the 69th edition of Filmfare Awards, the event will showcase the state’s commitment to nurturing creativity, fostering collaboration, and becoming a preferred destination for cinematic tourism. Gujarat’s diverse offerings in locations ranging from landscapes, beaches to the majestic forests among others provide an ideal backdrop for film shoots or tourism. With a vast variety of locations Gujarat has to offer, it is poised to become a major hub for filmmakers seeking diverse and captivating settings”

    Sharing his enthusiasm, Times Entertainment division, Worldwide Media, entertainment TV & digital network director Rohit Gopakumar expressed, “2023 undoubtedly has been a blockbuster year for Hindi Cinema and what better way of taking the 69th edition of Filmfare Awards to an amazing destination like Gujarat. This year we are hosting not one, but two back-to-back nights filled with power-packed performances and well-deserved recognitions. It’s our way to match the immense love and energy we consistently receive from our passionate fans.” He further added, “Partnerships provide an opportunity to use each other’s strengths and achieve a greater outcome. We take pride in having Hyundai Motor India as our Title Partner and Gujarat Tourism as our Destination Partner.”

    Hyundai Motor India COO Tarun Garg shared his thoughts on partnership with Filmfare Awards, “Hyundai Motor India is proud to be the title partner of the prestigious Filmfare Awards for second year in a row. At Hyundai, we truly believe in the power of cinema & entertainment that unites our great nation together. The 69th edition of Filmfare Awards will recognise the finest gems of Indian cinema promoting excellence and talent of the exceptional films released in 2023 which will lead to Progress of Art & Culture and in turn leading to ‘Progress for Humanity’ which is Hyundai’s global vision. At Hyundai, we take pride in being the key enabler of cutting-edge technology and safer mobility solutions for the masses. We are continuously evolving and innovating to stay ahead of the curve and achieve new milestones in the industry. We are thrilled to continue our association with the Filmfare awards and strongly believe that our partnership will yield great potential for us to engage with the people of India across geographies and cultures. We eagerly await to witness a night filled with glamour, entertainment, and lot of celebrations.”

    Adding to the thrill, Filmfare editor Jitesh Pillaai stated, “The year 2023 stands as an indelible chapter marked by blockbuster bonanzas and critically acclaimed masterpieces. Filmfare Awards are not just about recognizing films; it’s about celebrating a year filled with cinematic marvels and groundbreaking moments. The 69th edition of Filmfare Awards, promises to be an unparalleled spectacle. We are geared up to showcase two back-to-back nights of cinema’s celebration and breathtaking performances, which we believe are sure to match the pulsating energy of the lively audience in Gujarat.”

    Sharing his thoughts at the press conference, Karan Johar said, “It is truly an honour to be here. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Gujarat for being a pillar of support to Bollywood and the esteemed Filmfare brand. The excitement is palpable as I take on the role of hosting this edition. Celebrating amidst the rich tapestry of Gujarat’s culture, tradition, economic and technological growth makes it an unparalleled location for this event. Personally, my journey into hosting began because of Filmfare, and my emotional connection with it runs deep. Winning a Filmfare award is akin to creating history, a dream that most creative artists aspire to achieve. The emotional significance attached to it is felt by all artists. It’s the collective participation and the sense of community that bind us together in this journey. Once again, I express my gratitude to everyone for paving the way. We are eagerly looking forward to the festivities on the 27th and 28th of January.”

    Adding to it Varun Dhawan said, “Filmfare Awards are like the heartbeat of Indian cinema, pushing many artists to new heights. When I look back at my first performance, I can see things have changed, the movie scene is different, and people now see films in a more open-minded way. Thinking about the big event coming up, I can picture a full house in Gujarat, showing how much people love this cinematic celebration.”

    Janhvi Kapoor said, “I’m truly grateful to be part of this celebration, marking a milestone year for Indian cinema. Gujarat, an incredible state, has enriched us culturally and significantly contributed to cinema. Reflecting on my earliest memories with Filmfare, watching the awards with my mom was a special experience. My first stage performance was also on the Filmfare stage, and I’m excited to create more cherished memories.”

    Be a part of a glamorous extravaganza of the 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024 with Gujarat Tourism on 27 and 28 January, in the vibrant state of Gujarat.

    Here is the complete nomination list for the 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024 with Gujarat Tourism –

    Certainly! Here’s the corrected version with proper case:

    Popular Best Film

    – 12th Fail
    – Animal
    – Jawan
    – OMG 2
    – Pathaan
    – Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani

    Best Director

    – Amit Rai (OMG 2)
    – Atlee (Jawwan)
    – Karan Johar (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Animal)
    – Siddharth Anand (Pathaan)
    – Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail)

    Best Film Critics

    – 12th Fail (Vidhu Vinod Chopra)
    – Bheed (Anubhav Sinha)
    – Faraaz (Hansal Mehta)
    – Joram (Devashish Makhija)
    – Sam Bahadur (Meghna Gulzar)
    – Three of Us (Avinash Arun Dhaware)
    – Zwigato (Nandita Das)

    Best Actor in Leading Role (Male)

    – Ranbir Kapoor (Animal)
    – Ranveer Singh (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Shah Rukh Khan (Dunki)
    – Shah Rukh Khan (Jawwan)
    – Sunny Deol (Gadar 2)
    – Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur)

    Best Actor Critics

    – Abhishek Bachchan (Ghoomer)
    – Jaideep Ahlawat (Three of Us)
    – Manoj Bajpayee (Joram)
    – Pankaj Tripathi (OMG 2)
    – Rajkummar Rao (Bheed)
    – Vicky Kaushal (Sam Bahadur)
    – Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)

    Best Actor in Leading Role (Female)

    – Alia Bhatt (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Bhumi Pednekar (Thank You for Coming)
    – Deepika Padukone (Pathaan)
    – Kiara Advani (Satyaprem Ki Katha)
    – Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee v/s Norway)
    – Taapsee Pannu (Dunki)

    Best Actress Critics

    – Deepti Naval (Goldfish)
    – Fatima Sana Shaikh (Dhak Dhak)
    – Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee v/s Norway)
    – Saiyami Kher (Ghoomer)
    – Shahana Goswami (Zwigato)
    – Shefali Shah (Three of Us)

    Best Actor in Supporting Role (Male)

    – Aditya Rawal (Faraaz)
    – Anil Kapoor (Animal)
    – Bobby Deol (Animal)
    – Emraan Hashmi (Tiger 3)
    – Tota Roy Chowdhury (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Vicky Kaushal (Dunki)

    Best Actor in Supporting Role (Female)

    – Jaya Bachchan (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Ratna Pathak Shah (Dhak Dhak)
    – Shabana Azmi (Ghoomer)
    – Shabana Azmi (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Triptii Dimri (Animal)
    – Yami Gautam (OMG 2)

    Best Lyrics

    – Amitabh Bhattacharya (Tere Vaaste – Zara Hatke Zara Bachke)
    – Amitabh Bhattacharya (Tum Kya Mile – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Gulzar (Itni Si Baat – Sam Bahadur)
    – Javed Akhtar (Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se – Dunki)
    – Kumaar (Chaleya – Jawan)
    – Siddharth-Garima (Satranga – Animal)
    – Swanand Kirkire and IP Singh (Lutt Putt Gaya – Dunki)

    Best Music Album

    – Animal (Pritam, Vishal Mishra, Manan Bhardwaj, Shreyas Puranik, Jaani, Bhupinder Babbal, Ashim Kemson, Harshwardhan Rameshwar, Gurinder Seagal)
    – Dunki (Pritam)
    – Jawan (Anirudh Ravichander)
    – Pathaan (Vishal and Shekhar)
    – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani (Pritam)
    – Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (Pritam)
    – Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (Sachin-Jigar)

    Best Playback Singer (Male)

    – Arijit Singh (Lutt Putt Gaya – Dunki)
    – Arijit Singh (Satranga – Animal)
    – Bhupinder Babbal (Arjan Vailly – Animal)
    – Shahid Mallya (Kudmayi – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Sonu Nigam (Nikle The Kabhi Hum Ghar Se – Dunki)
    – Varun Jain, Sachin-Jigar, Shadab Faridi, Altamash Faridi (Tere Vaaste Falak – Zara Hatke Zara Bachke)

    Best Playback Singer (Female)

    – Deepthi Suresh (Aararaari Raaro – Jawan)
    – Jonita Gandhi (Hey Fikar – 8 A.M. Metro)
    – Shilpa Rao (Besharam Rang – Pathaan)
    – Shilpa Rao (Chaleya – Jawan)
    – Shreya Ghoshal (Tum Kya Mile – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Shreya Ghoshal (Ve Kamleya – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)

    Technical Best Story

    – Amit Rai (OMG 2)
    – Anubhav Sinha (Bheed)
    – Atlee (Jawwan)
    – Devashish Makhija (Joram)
    – Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, and Sumit Roy (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Karan Shrikant Sharma (Satyaprem Ki Katha)
    – Parijat Joshi & Tarun Dudeja (Dhak Dhak)
    – Siddharth Anand (Pathaan)

    Best Screenplay

    – Amit Rai (OMG 2)
    – Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, and Sumit Roy (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Omkar Achyut Barve, Arpita Chatterjee, and Avinash Arun Dhaware (Three of Us)
    – Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Pranay Reddy Vanga, and Suresh Bandaru (Animal)
    – Shridhar Raghavan (Pathaan)
    – Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail)

    Best Dialogue

    – Abbas Tyrewala (Pathaan)
    – Amit Rai (OMG 2)
    – Ishita Moitra (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Sumit Arora (Jawwan)
    – Varun Grover & Shoaib Zulfi Nazeer (Three of Us)
    – Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail)

    Best Background Score

    – Alok Ananda Dasgupta (Three of Us)
    – Harshavardhan Rameshwar (Animal)
    – Karel Antonin (Afwaah)
    – Ketan Sodha (Sam Bahadur)
    – Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara (Pathaan)
    – Shantanu Moitra (12th Fail)
    – Tapas Relia (Goldfish)

    Best Cinematography

    – Amit Roy (Animal)
    – Avinash Arun Dhaware ISC (Three of Us)
    – G.K. Vishnu (Jawwan)
    – Manush Nandan ISC (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Pratham Mehta (Faraaz)
    – Rangarajan Ramabadran (12th Fail)
    – Satchith Paulose (Pathaan)

    Best Production Design

    – Amrita Mahal Nakai (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Nikhil Kovale (OMG 2)
    – Prashant Bidkar (12th Fail)
    – Rita Ghosh (Zwigato)
    – Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray (Sam Bahadur)
    – Suresh Selvarajan (Animal)
    – T Muthuraj (Jawwan)

    Best Costume Design

    – Malvika Bajaj (12th Fail)
    – Manish Malhotra, Eka Lakhani (Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Sachin Lovelekar, Divvya Gambhir, and Nidhhi Gambhir (Sam Bahadur)
    – Shaleena Nathani, Kavitha J, Anirudh Singh, and Dipika Lal (Jawwan)
    – Shaleena Nathani, Mamta Anand, Niharika Jolly (Pathaan)
    – Sheetal Sharma (Animal)

    Best Sound Design

    – Anita Khushwaha (Bheed)
    – Kunal Sharma (MPSE) (Sam Bahadur)
    – Manas Choudhury, Ganesh Gangadharan (Pathaan)
    – Manav Shrotriya (12th Fail)
    – Mandar Kulkarni (Faraaz)
    – Sync Cinema (Animal)
    – Vinit D’Souza (Three of Us)

    Best Design

    – Aarif Sheikh (Pathaan)
    – Atanu Mukherjee (Afwaah)
    – Jaskunwar Kohil-Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail)
    – Ruben (Jawwan)
    – Sandeep Reddy Vanga (Animal)
    – Suvir Nath (OMG 2)

    Best Action

    – Casey O’Neill, Craig MacRae, Sunil Rodrigues [Rod] (Pathaan)
    – Franz Spilhaus, Oh Sea Young, Sunil Rodrigues [Rod] (Tiger 3)
    – Parvez Shaikh (Sam Bahadur)
    – Ravi Varma, Shaam Kaushal, Abbas Ali Moghul, and Tinu Verma (Gadar 2)
    – Spiro Razatos, Anl Arasu, Craig MacRae, Yannick Ben, Kecha Khamphakdee, and Sunil Rodrigues (Jawwan)
    – Supreme Sundar (Animal)
    – Tim Man and Vikram Dahiya (Ganpath)

    Best VFX

    – Do It Creative Ltd, NY VFXwaala, Visual Birds, Red Chillies VFX, Famous Studios (Animal)
    – Prisca, Pixel Studios (Gadar 2)
    – Red Chillies VFX (Jawwan)
    – YFX (Pathaan)

    Best Choregraphy

    – Bosco-Caesar (Jhoome Jo Pathaan – Pathaan)
    – Ganesh Acharya (Lutt Putt Gaya – Dunki)
    – Ganesh Acharya (Tere Vaaste Falak – Zara Hatke Zara Bachke)
    – Ganesh Acharya (What Jhumka? – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)
    – Shobi Paulraj (Zinda Banda – Jawwan)
    – Vaibhavi Merchant (Dhindhora Baje – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani)

  • Enter10 Network’s ex-chief business officer Shrutish Maharaj joins Worldwide Media as its president of revenue & strategy

    Enter10 Network’s ex-chief business officer Shrutish Maharaj joins Worldwide Media as its president of revenue & strategy

    Mumbai: Worldwide Media, India’s leading lifestyle and entertainment group has appointed the exemplary revenue leader, Shrutish Maharaj as its president of revenue & strategy, according to his Linkedin profile update. Having over 18 years of experience in this domain, he has diversified his portfolio into different mediums such as radio, print, TV, below-the-line advertising, branded content and digital sales. In his new stint, he will oversee the sales & business generation of the company, which is a Times Group entity.

    Maharaj was associated with Enter10 Network as the Chief Business Officer where he was instrumental in setting up and scaling up the group’s revenue & operations function. He was also responsible for overseeing media planning & buying activities of the organisation. During his tenure at Enter10 Network, he adopted a transformational approach toward business. The group’s channels like Dangal, Bhojpuri Cinema and Enterr10 Movies focused on creating the right positioning and perception under his leadership. At Enter10 TV Network, he restructured its leadership and looked after the revenue mandate of its flagship GEC Dangal TV.

    His strong acumen helped him to reach new heights and fostered in the business growth of companies he was engaged with. A go-getter, who constantly believes in innovation and drives sales & revenue growth with his experience and knowledge. Shrutish is a fearless young leader who shares the passion & vision for the media and entertainment space.

    Prior to this, he has also held multiple leadership positions with groups like UTV, Times TV Network and Helios Media. He also had a stint with HT media, CNBC TV 18, and Radio Today for over a year.

  • Worldwide Media’s marquee digital property filmfare short film awards announces the 3rd edition

    Worldwide Media’s marquee digital property filmfare short film awards announces the 3rd edition

    MUMBAI: Filmfare, the most credible name in the Indian entertainment industry is back with the 3rd edition of the prestigious Filmfare Short Film Awards 2019. The platform is inviting entries till 31st January. It is providing an opportunity to independent short-film makers and students from the short-film domain to showcase their body of work and, stand a chance to take home the coveted Black Lady. Following the resounding success of its previous editions and an increase in the number of entries with each passing year, the awards like its predecessors, will honour the creative excellence in the short-film category. The winner will be felicitated at the iconic Filmfare Awards 2019.

    Speaking about the digital property, Mr. Deepak Lamba, CEO, Worldwide Media said, “Worldwide Media’s digital-first strategy has been driven at the back of digital IPs that are reaching out to millions and providing effective brand visibility in a cluttered digital media landscape. The short film award is an extension of Filmfare’s coveted awards property in the digital realm with an aim to encourage the aspiring short-film makers and reach out to an extended TG. The property has been growing in stature since its inception with the previous edition generating 121Mn impressions, a reach of 82Mn and, 28Mn video views. It has now become an effective and meaningful platform, one that adds value to its consumers as well as the brand image.”

    Speaking about the 3rd edition, Mr. Jitesh Pillaai, Editor, Filmfare said, “Filmfare’s legacy and the iconic Black Lady has been a clear distinction for the credible work showcased by the artists in the Indian film industry. Having launched the Filmfare short film awards three years ago, and extending the coveted tile to talented short-film makers have been a journey in itself. The huge number of entries and millions of views pouring in each year on the films posted on Filmfare’s digital assets for voting lends the property its desired objective of being the foremost consumer led digital awards.”

    Text Box: Entries to the 3rd Filmfare Short Film Awards 2019 are accepted online on https://www.filmfare.com/awards/short-films-2019/entry for films that are not more than 12 months old and 20 mins long. Participants thereafter are required to submit a signed entry form with the DVD or pen drive containing the short film along with the cheque amounting to the entry fee until 31st January. The short films of all Indian languages with English subtitles are accepted.Since its inception, the Filmfare Short Film Awards has served as a platform for aspiring film-makers of Indian origin to showcase their prowess by submitting entries under five categories namely, Best Film – fiction, Best Film – non- fiction or documentary, Best Actor – Male, Best Actor – Female and People’s Choice Award. The entries will be adjudged by an esteemed panel of jury comprising Karan Johar, Kabir Khan, and Vidya Balan who will be joined by renowned film director Ravi Udayawar, actress Urmila Matondkar, producer Nikhil Advani and screenwriter Niranjan Iyengar this year. The short-films genre over the years, has gained prominence amongst the digital audience due to the massive boom in the amount of content that is consumed on various digital mediums. The idea of narrating a story effectively in a span of 20 minutes has resonated well with the movie enthusiasts. It is this calibre among the film-makers that will be accounted for, recognised and rewarded, by the esteemed panel of jury.

    From the entries received, five winners will be shortlisted based on user voting starting February 2019 among which the jury will select one short film as the ‘People’s Choice Award Winner 2019’. The winner across each category will be felicitated at the Filmfare Awards 2019.

  • Worldwide media owned timesknowledge.in launches a new india-centric section – ‘know india’

    Worldwide media owned timesknowledge.in launches a new india-centric section – ‘know india’

    MUMBAI: TimesKnowledge.in, a knowledge portal from Worldwide Media Private Limited, announces the upcoming launch of a riveting new section – ‘Know India’ on the website. The platform, known for its fun, fantastic and futuristic facts delivered in an easy-to-read format, will soon feature a dedicated India-centric section on the website. In time for Republic Day 2019, TimesKnowledge.in will launch ‘Know India’ on 26th January, to cover the country’s incredible cultural and traditional diversity.

    TimesKnowledge.in, a knowledge portal from Worldwide Media Private Limited, announces the upcoming launch of a riveting new section – ‘Know India’ on the website. The platform, known for its fun, fantastic and futuristic facts delivered in an easy-to-read format, will soon feature a dedicated India-centric section on the website. In time for Republic Day 2019, TimesKnowledge.in will launch ‘Know India’ on 26th January, to cover the country’s incredible cultural and traditional diversity.

    Commenting on the upcoming addition on the website, Primrose Monteiro-D’Souza, Editor – TimesKnowledge.in said, “TimesKnowledge.in serves as a platform for readers to gain knowledge and learn interesting facts, in an easy-to-consume format. Taking it a step ahead, we are launching the dedicated Know India tab on 26th January; it will cover various facets along the length and breadth of India and reconnect the audience with our motherland. India’s diversity and culture will be celebrated in posts that aim to educate and engage the readers. The audience will be able to explore India across the realms of science, history, nature, personalities and human nature. Each of the Know India posts will offer information to a community of users that are inquisitive and interested in knowing more about their own homeland.”

    The ‘Know India’ section will add to the existing exhaustive content buckets on the platform comprising:

    SCIENCE: The section is further divided into Space, Discoveries & Technology and About Us Humans tabs to deliver mind-blowing facts about the universe, information about cutting-edge gadgets and innovations, as well as explorations of the miracle that is the human body, respectively.

    HISTORY: This section with its Events, People and Natural History tabs offers insights into historical milestones, biographies of individuals, and creatures from times gone by, respectively.

    NATURE: This particular section covers everything with skin, scales, feathers and fur.

    KNOWLEDGE FRAMES: The section comprises sub-sections like Views of the World, Global Bites and Pop Culture, covering travel, food and trending topics.

    The website, in a short span of two years since its launch, has recorded 2.30 minutes time spent on an average by a user per visit as per the website statistics. While Knowledge Frames is the most popular section on the website, the History and Science sections record the highest engagement by the visitors. In addition to India, the website is very popular with readers in the USA, Australia and Canada, with 50% of users falling under the 25-34 age groups and the content being equally popular among males and females.

    Commenting on the upcoming addition on the website, Primrose Monteiro-D’Souza, Editor – TimesKnowledge.in said, “TimesKnowledge.in serves as a platform for readers to gain knowledge and learn interesting facts, in an easy-to-consume format. Taking it a step ahead, we are launching the dedicated Know India tab on 26th January; it will cover various facets along the length and breadth of India and reconnect the audience with our motherland. India’s diversity and culture will be celebrated in posts that aim to educate and engage the readers. The audience will be able to explore India across the realms of science, history, nature, personalities and human nature. Each of the Know India posts will offer information to a community of users that are inquisitive and interested in knowing more about their own homeland.”

  • Content creators unfazed by YouTube Originals

    Content creators unfazed by YouTube Originals

    MUMBAI: YouTube’s ambitious announcement of launching India Originals is being seen as a bid by the Google-owned video platform to occupy a prominent place in the world of online streaming and earn more ad dollars. However, content creators believe this move will not affect their opportunities and existing model of functioning.

    At 245 million monthly active users in India, the undeniable king of the video business is aiming to expand its user base with originals. For now, they will be on the company’s ad supported model.

    YouTube has partnered with music maestro AR Rahman for its first show called ARRived which is a search for the best music talent in India. The platform’s norm in other countries is to put original content behind a paywall. Hence, its celebrity-led content can be a way to woo marketers till the subscription-based model is introduced.

    “YouTube is improving the content portfolio to bring more dedicated viewers to its table otherwise the viewers might get fragmented into multiple other digital options. YouTube, with this act, is trying to become more relevant by adding higher quality offerings to its feed. Given the continual rise in digital content consumption, players are trying to create more quality content that will be more engaging for the audience. This trend will push for more integrated messaging that will enable some of the brands to join the bandwagon and the ones who don’t will continue to advertise on the platform. Hence, this is a win-win situation for content creators, advertisers and the audience,” Big FM CFO Asheesh Chatterjee said. The radio network is currently expanding its digital footprint.

    For some time now, Worldwide Media (WWM) has been churning out video content. WWM Content Studio vice president Vidyut Patra thinks that YouTube needs to be considered as a larger pipe with multiple inlet and outlet funnels that advertisers can use based on their strategic or tactical objectives. According to him, any new development will not bring a drastic change to the existing models between YouTube and brands or content creators.

    “In fact, this will add a new dimension to the existing ecosystem that can be leveraged by brands and creators on either side of the paywall. Brands would have more options to choose from in terms of inventing their marketing spends and creators would have newer avenues to create content for,” he added.

    Creators have been the backbone of the video platform for years. Even YouTube Originals will feature content from the most successful creators and partners. While it will fund and commission these shows based on insights from user data, the IP will remain with the creator.

    “You can be sure that one of YouTube’s objectives is to draw more ad dollars their way. It is hard to say how much will be diverted from other platforms versus what will come from new ad spends – as we know, digital is the fastest growing category in advertising. But it’s also a mistake to view all digital advertising as a single monolith. Where an advertiser chooses to spend his money depends on the campaign objectives and every platform gives you different parameters to work with,” Miss Malini Entertainment CEO Nowshad Rizwanullah commented.

    Chatterjee says people need to have a focused content strategy in place. “As we provide content that is ad-friendly, we have clearly defined our strategy that we follow in terms of deciding how we play the content piece basis the ‘hero – hub – hygiene’ model. Having a focused hub approach will gravitate the audience to that zone and accordingly it will be available for integration and the utilities will be across the medium,” he said.

    Rizwanullah mentions a highly-discussed but very important point. He thinks the real, sustainable value in content businesses is not in raking up the most views or impressions but about creating a deeper connection with audiences that trust the creator and return regularly.

    While big players are trying to scale up their own content play, there are chances that comparatively smaller ones may have to go down the consolidation route. Patra thinks there will be a certain level of consolidation in the industry moving forward, but smaller players will continue to exist given the size of the Indian market. Chatterjee thinks that the ones which are more idea-led will continue to be more large scale. On the other hand, the ones which are more production, budget and celebrity-led, will be consolidated.

    “Don’t forget that YouTube is YouTube because of the millions of people that tune in to see their favourite digital creators, generating billions of ad revenue for the company. That’s not something they will sacrifice so easily,” Rizwanullah says and gives a sort of reality check on the market status after the announcement of Originals.

  • WORLDWIDE MEDIA EXPANDS DIGITAL CONTENT PORTFOLIO WITH ‘INTERN DIARIES’

    WORLDWIDE MEDIA EXPANDS DIGITAL CONTENT PORTFOLIO WITH ‘INTERN DIARIES’

    MUMBAI: Worldwide Media, the leading entertainment and lifestyle provider, has announced the launch of ‘Intern Diaries’; a scripted reality web series by Grazia in association with Ponds BB+ cream. The new offering to be launched on 15th May will expand the group’s video content portfolio, thereby fortifying its digital first strategy. The concept of the web series set at the backdrop of leading global fashion media platform Grazia’s workplace; will seamlessly integrate elements of fashion and entertainment forming synergy with the younger audience.

    Speaking about the web series, CEO, Worldwide Media Mr. Deepak Lamba said, “Each of our brands caters to a certain industry segment and its respective audiences. By leveraging each brand’s expertise to create reality based long form content, we have extended our reach on other platforms like television and digital. With Intern Diaries we will amplify our long form content offering on the digital medium and reinforce our platform agnostic and digital first strategy.”

    Speaking about the concept, Grazia India, Editor in Chief, Mehernaaz Dhondy said, “Intern Diaries is WWM’s first foray into fictional video content with a reality setting. The viewers will get a sneak peek into the inner workings of a fashion magazine. Each year many young girls intern at Grazia. The web series has been inspired by many real-life instances that have taken place. Each episode is entertaining and shows a real sense of camaraderie among the two interns and the fashion community.”

    Intern Diaries is a unique series with a story that will revolve around two young girls interning with Grazia and aspiring to make a mark in the world of high fashion, style and Bollywood. The interns will be seen working their way towards delivering as per the magazine’s merit. The web series will take the audience through a journey of real situations, fashion emergencies and challenges from a millennial’s point-of-view. The engaging 8 episode web-series will feature on Youtube and social media platforms of Grazia and a dedicated micro-site – https://www.grazia.co.in/intern-diaries/

    The young artists Hira Ashar and Shivani Singh will be playing the lead roles in the series. Talented actress Sonakshi Sinha and celebrity designers such as Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, Masaba Gupta and Payal Singhal’s special appearances will add value to the fashion and glamour driven theme of the web series.

    Worldwide Media group in a short span of time has launched various quality content properties, on digital and television, such as Famoulsy Filmfare, The Secret Ingredient, Nexa Journeys on Asian Highway1 and The GoodHomes show. The success of these properties bears testimony to the group’s strength of delivering shows that can sit across different platforms, propelling it into the direction of achieving its transformational goal.