MAM
Brands pay homage to nation’s martyrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas
MUMBAI: As the nation remembered the sacrifices made by the soldiers in the 1999 Kargil War, brands also came up with stirring tributes to mark the Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July. The historic day marks the end of the war with neighbouring Pakistan, and the success of ‘Operation Vijay’, which was launched by the Indian Army to reclaim the Kargil peaks captured by Pakistan forces.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd
BPCL in collaboration with renowned writer and lyricist, Manoj Muntashir marked the momentous occasion by paying a tribute to our martyrs through a rousing, moving poem recited by the writer.
Going a step ahead, Bharat Petroleum also provided Fuel Station dealerships to families of 59 martyrs and Bharatgas distributorships to 32 of them to ensure continuity of a steady life ahead, despite the loss of their loved ones in the war.
PepsiCo India
The beverage brand has recently launched a set of limited-edition cans as homage to ‘SherShaah’ of Kargil, Captain Vikram Batra and many other bravehearts, who led India to victory during one of the country’s harshest clashes. The cans are in hues of blue and gold featuring Pepsi’s ‘yeh dil maange more’ slogan, immortalised by Captain Batra.
The limited-edition cans also feature a QR code, through which consumers will be able to view Pepsi’s tribute to Capt. Batra. The ode is narrated by the Kargil martyr’s identical twin brother, Vishal Batra. Through the video, Batra reminisces about his life with his brother and his tale of heroism.
“22 years ago, Vikram’s powerful voice rang out over a radio and inspired patriotism in Indians of all ages as he said ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’. Today, ahead of Kargil Vijay Diwas, I am both proud and grateful that Pepsi is taking the story of his selflessness and courage across the country. It was an emotional experience for me to record the ode which is dedicated to my twin brother as it brought back many fond memories of him. I am hopeful that the story of his valour will inspire millions of Indians and remind them of the sacrifices by the brave souls who are on the border, so that we can feel safe back home”, said Batra.
“‘Yeh Dil Maange More’, a phrase that has always been synonymous with Pepsi, took on a new meaning when Capt. Batra adopted the line as his rallying cry. We are proud to honour the valour and selflessness of Capt. Batra and many other soldiers like him through the new limited-edition cans and a special heartfelt video. This Kargil Vijay Diwas, we are remembering all those brave heroes and saluting their indomitable spirit and resilience,” PepsiCo India said in a press statement.
Several other brands came up with creatives to mark the day and pay homage and gratitude to the heroes, who guard our borders so we can sleep peacefully at night:
Tata Green Batteries
Cipladine
Croma Retail
Bajaj Allianz General
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
