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Frames to examine the different financing options for the entertainment industry
MUMBAI: The convention for the business of entertainment Frames takes place in Mumbai from 22-24 March. One session will look at Financing Options for Indian Entertainment industry.
The Indian entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing sectors recording a growth rate of 18-20 per cent each year. How do the investors and the financial community view this sector? What will be the various financing options that could be made available to this sector.
Seeking to provide answers are JP Morgan MD Vedika Bhandarkar, HSBC Securities (USA) global sector head for media and entertainment Sandeep Pahwa, Carlyle Asia Investment Advisors MD Rajeev Gupta, Enam Financial Consultants partner and MD Munesh Khanna, GW Capital partner Vikram Narula and Waygate Capital MD Rajesh Jog.
On 23 March there will be a plenary session on Emerging revenue options for the Indian Entertainment Industry. Indian cinema is still less than one per cent of worldwide movie revenues. Digital distribution of content provides unprecedented and timely reach to consumers of Indian content in markets, which are non-traditional clusters. New markets, better distribution and broadband at home open up significant opportunities for digital distribution of movie and music content with the enhanced security of content protection and advanced payment mechanism.
The session will be moderated by Nasscom president Kiran Karnik. The opening address will be given by Kamal Haasan who will dwell on The Interplay of Technology and Entertainment. Intel will make a presentation.
Another plenary session will look at the Marketing & Distribution of Films: The Global Perspective. How is it that a global product is communicated locally keeping in mind the specifics of that particular region.
The session will be moderated by UTV chairman Ronnie Screwvala. The speakers include Buena Vista International president Mark Zoradi. He will deal with the challenges in marketing a film in different countries and across various regions. Hollywood has found India a tough nut to crack as it is faced with an audience who is loyal towards Indian cinema. Hollywood accounts for around seven to eight per cent to total film revenues in India. How can Universal, Paramount and other Hollywood studios increase revenues in India?
Meanwhile Indian filmmakers are looking at how they can tap the overseas market better. Looking to tackle these two issues is United International Pictures chairman and CEO Stewart Till who also serves as chairman of the UK Film Council.
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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.
