Event Coverage
Need to focus on self-regulation and less regulation: Amit Khare, Secretary, I&B at FICCI FRAMES 2019
MUMBAI: The 20th edition of three-day global convention covering the entire gamut of media and entertainment industry, FICCI Frames 2019, saw its inauguration today at Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.
Mr. Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, delivered the keynote address.
“One should encourage co-production so that content could be greatly enhanced, joining more countries, that will lead to better viewership.” Said Amit Khare.
“We have taken an initiative of having a national broadcast policy. One should consider self-regulation and less regulation if we want the system to grow.” He added talking about the regulations in Media and Entertainment industry.
While Mr. Uday Shankar, Vice President, FICCI took to stage for opening remarks, where he mentioned how the media and entertainment industry and FICCI FRAMES is growing by leaps and bounds. “India is one of the most exciting markets for the Media & Entertainment industry. The great Indian media story has just begun,” he said.
Mr. Ronnie Screwvala in his ‘Media Mastermind Keynote: An Indian Entrepreneur’s Journey’ said he had seen the industry and FICCI FRAMES for so many years and was happy to note that business people were at the centre stage of the conclave.
“The companies of tomorrow need to be more consumer companies and not just media companies. The Media and Entertainment sector cannot just function with passion, we also need leaders, founders and entrepreneurship,” said Mr. Screwvala talking about how the media and entertainment industry needs to focus on consumers.
“Learning is story-telling,” Mr. Screwvala concluded.
The other speakers in the opening session were Mr. Charles H. Rivkin, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Motion Picture Association of America and Mr. Gary Knell, Chief Executive Officer, National Geographic Partners.
FICCI-EY 2019 report on Media and Entertainment was also unveiled along with the law book of Cyril Amarchand Mangalda,s and Odisha Film Policy by Dr. Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, Managing Director Odisha Film Development Corporation.
Apart from the 2nd edition of content market, an initiative to bring together content creators and content buyers from across the globe, another new initiative call 'Frame Your Idea' has been set up this year to help promote script writers in the industry. While the fraternity has been talking about the importance of stories and scripts writers within the industry, FICCI FRAMES will provide a platform as an opportunity for writers to pitch their content to various renowned production houses like Aamir Khan Productions, Balaji Telefilms, Dharma Productions, Disney Studios, Eros Now, RSVP, Kabir Khan Films, SPE Films India Pvt Ltd., Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Fox Star Studios to name a few.
The pitching sections will be divided into Films, Television, Web shows and short films to make it smoother for the writers to book appointments and to pitch their stories to interested production houses for fruitful associations.
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.
