Event Coverage
Media sector stitches 45 private equity deals in 2007
MUMBAI: It has been a landmark year for the media and entertainment sector. A spate of 45 private equity deals have dotted the landscape in 2007 while one company has raised money through an initial public offering. “It signals the coming of age of not only the media sector but also the companies. Indian promoters have taken their outfits to a scale where even Walt Disney and Time Warner have gone ahead to do equity deals with them,” said ICICI Securities SVP Ravi Sardana. |
The market cap of the media companies has touched $15 billion. “The media and entertainment sector, which is at Rs 500 billion, is expected to double in the next 4-5 years. This is something which is exciting investors,” said Sardana while addressing a session at Ficci-Frames 2008 on “Raising Capital: Showbiz attracts the moolah.” The business has also become scalable with the opening up of multiple platforms. “There are lots of markets in India which are still under penetrated. Media companies can expand their business by entering into new geographies,” Sardana said. |
The missing segments in the piece are movie companies, animation and new platforms like IPTV. The sector also needs to consolidate and make structural changes for making it more attractive for equity capital infusion, Sardana said. The challenges are shortage of talent and scaling up. “In India largest production houses do less than four movies a year. In Hollywood, the big six studios account for 90 per cent of the US and Canada box office,” said Sardana. |
| Expressing bullishness on the sector, Blackstone chairman Akhil Gupta said that 65 per cent of India‘s GDP is personal consumption while in China it is 45 per cent. “That is where the Indian story gets stronger. There is scope for growth in advertising revenues,” Gupta who heads the private equity company in India said. Banks have extended funding for film projects, though it is open only for producers who have a track record. Exim Bank has extended loans close to Rs 3 billion and has supported 11 production houses. “Our experience has been good. We have had NPA (non-performing asset) of just Rs 1 million,” said Exim Bank chief general manager John Mathew. New financing options are also possible including financing equipment, airtime sales, acquisition of library content and distribution and merchandising, said Amarchand Mangaldas managing partner Shardul Shroff. |
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.
