Event Coverage
Dolby brings home cinema quality sound
MUMBAI: Like all previous editions of the annual convention, FICCI FRAMES 2014 too is as much about the progress of the industry as it is about the success stories of individual companies that set up booths during the event.
Indiantelevision.com stumbled upon one such booth by Dolby Digital, which has been participating in FICCI FRAMES for the past four years. “We have been coming down to FICCI Frames for the past four years with a booth, and it has certainly worked well for us and helped us meet our current partners, key decision makers and stakeholders. It’s a great place to network,” said Dolby Laboratories head of marketing Ashim Mathur.
Not so long ago, Dolby Digital collaborated with HBO’s two niche offerings – HBO Hits and HBO Defined – to provide them with the best in sound technology.
“The association with HBO is great for us as their two new channels are really gaining some traction among viewers for their offering of 100 per cent ad-free content. Dolby traditionally has been known for cinema and the collaboration fits perfectly into our scheme of things,” said Mathur about their association.
Currently, Dolby is the go-to surround sound experience for nearly 20 channels and caters to all possible genres of content, including movies, music, general entertainment and sports.
It all started with Star Plus, recalled Mathur and added, “We came on board the whole HD and surround sound bandwagon with Star Plus nearly four years back, which was our first asli HD channel with Dolby surround sound.”
Dolby has been associated with television shows as well, the most recent being the high-octane thriller 24 on Colors. “The mode of communication from our side was simple; we had to showcase it to people. We did a lot of on-ground activation with Colors at cinema theatres, by playing a visual inside and we gave the demonstration to explain the difference in surround sound experience with Dolby,” said Mathur. For Colors HD, 24 was the first show with Dolby surround sound.
The company has also collaborated with brands the likes of LG during the last ICC World Cup, where it had its products on display at nearly 200 LG-branded stores across the country. “The campaign that we had was simply to bring the in-stadia cricket experience home and it was a grand success,” beamed Mathur.
The secret behind Dolby’s success is that it believes in providing the best experience to its customers and partners alike. Thus, the home of surround sound technology associates with retailers and ensures that customers get to experience its products before bringing them home. Dolby uses experiential marketing by giving demonstrations in malls and retail stores to attract customers’ attention.
“The idea is to give customers the experience and explain the difference between mono and surround sound, and also the difference between standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD),” said Mathur.
Currently, Dolby has its 5.1 surround, 7.1 surround and the Dolby Atmos – which is used in cinema theatres. The company continues to strive for better technology coupled with the core marketing strategy of bringing the best cinematic experience home.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
