Event Coverage
Cloud technology to empower users
MUMBAI: Cloud-based technology will empower consumers and has the potential to change the way content is consumed. This was the underlying theme of the panel discussion on the ‘Digital Entertainment with Connected Devices and Cloud Based Services‘ at Ficci Frames 2012.
For starters, Cloud Computing is a web-based service which allows users to access content from anywhere by tapping into the vast resources of the Internet.
Reliance Entertainment Digital Business COO Manish Agarwal said the company’s subscription-based video-on-demand service Bigflix is run completely on cloud technology which allows consumers to watch video seamlessly from any device, anywhere.
UTV Interactive Sr. VP Sameer Pitalwalla said UTV, which produces a lot of movies every year in addition to the content that it produces for its various channels, is among the few companies to digitise its content.
Pitalwalla further stated that the content produced by the company is gradually uploaded on its YouTube channels besides Facebook, which has become the defacto destination to access and exchange content.
Adobe Systems South Asia Regions MD Umang Bedi said the company has transitioned to cloud technology as the consumers are asking for it. The company has created Adobe Creative Cloud, a creative hub, which allows users to explore, create, publish, and share work using Adobe services.
Tata Communications Head- Sales, Media & Entertainment Richard Craig Mcfeely said the cloud service will help Indian content owners in a big way to monetise their content well in international markets that have sizeable NRI population.
One sentiment that the panellists echoed was that the cloud technology will help content providers understand their consumer preferences as cloud stores data about user which allows them to provide content that is relevant to their tastes.
“In simple terms, cloud knows the person and will help to dissect what the consumer wants. From consumers perspective it’s about the content that they want,” Bedi said.
According to a study conducted by research firm IDC for Microsoft, the cloud technology is projected to create two million jobs in India by 2015 and will generate nearly 14 million new jobs worldwide in the same period. The study also estimates revenues from cloud innovation to reach $1.1 trillion per year by 2015.
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.
