News Broadcasting
Animax to air animation movie block ‘Ani-Flix’ on Saturdays
MUMBAI: Get addicted and be different! Animax is rolling out Ani-Flix, a new animation movie block on Saturday nights, which will air blockbuster animation films.
The block launches with its first movie on 12 August at 7 pm. Ani-Flix is yet another aspect of the Animax channel refresh, designed to meet the growing appetite for high quality animation in India.
Through this band, Animax will be airing movies that are more youth and young adult focused attracting a different target group. Movies aired on Ani-Flix will showcase filmmaking that has unleashed a new trend in movie making involving spectacular animation sequences.
On 12 August, Ani-Flix will premiere with Cowboy Bebop: Knocking in Heaven’s Door. The movie follows the adventures of characters who are living on Mars in the year 2071.
Animax country manager Sunder Aaron said, “Indian youth and young adults are now becoming familiar with and getting addicted to watching top-flight animation on television, a trend that hit the west 10 years ago. With the onset of band programming, Ani-Flix will relay award winning marvels such as Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell – the inspiration for the Matrix movies, the international blockbuster Akira, the sci-fi thriller Appleseed – a movie so hot that John Woo is producing the sequel – and many more. These movies, especially Appleseed, will not disappoint the eye.”
“There is enormous attention to detail, reflections, shading and other small things. Many of the scenes, especially involving the giant city complex, look like art if you froze the frame. Ani-Flixs showcases exceptional movies that have young adult and mature content with edgy animation that should attract our target viewers. Our shift to broadcast only in English also presents these movies the way our viewers want to see them: our various user-groups expressed this preference to us in many ways, including online,” he added.
Ani-Flix will air Inu Yahsa: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass on 19 August.
And, on 14 August, all these movies will be aired back to back on the channel. Inu Yahsa: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass will be aired at 1 pm, followed by Ghost in the Shell at 3 pm and Cowboy Bebop: Knocking in Heaven’s Door at 5 pm.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
