MAM
PromaxBDA: Rishtey Cineplex only Indian b’caster to bag ‘on-air branding’ gold since ’09
MUMBAI: Rishtey Cineplex, Viacom18’s exclusive Hindi movie channel, has been awarded the ultimate honour at the 2017 PromaxBDA Global Excellence Promotion, Marketing and Design Awards held at Los Angeles — Gold for the Best Channel Image On-Air Branding. The Best Packaging category has been an elusive one as it is the coveted trophy that the biggest channels across the globe aspire to win.
This spectacular win puts Rishtey Cineplex at the helm of engaging entertainment bringing international accolades to not only the channel but also the network on a whole.
PromaxBDA is a global community, linking 70 countries, of marketers and creative minds from the media and entertainment industry who strive to drive and celebrate excellence while providing an outstanding platform for networking.
The award was won in the category of Total Package Channel Image — On-Air only (Art & Design). The design objective of Rishtey Cineplex was to create a branding that is active yet non-intrusive.
Created in collaboration with New Zealand based visual artist and designer- David Frearson who introduced the idea of simply using a bulb and the team then translated the simplicity and beauty of this idea throughout the branding and communication.
In all Viacom18 bagged 7 awards in total:
1. Total Package Channel Image Branding – On-Air Only (Art Direction & Design)
Gold: Rishtey Cineplex
2. Clip Based Comedy Promo
Gold: Comedy Central – Troy & Abed
3. In house program campaign
Silver: Comedy Central – Friends in 2016
4. 3D promotional or Sales Kit
Gold: VH1 Umbrella
Silver: Comedy Central Umbrella
Bronze: Comedy Central Annual diary
5. Press Kit
Silver: Comedy Central Diary 2016
A powerful Hindi mass entertainment offering, Rishtey Cineplex showcases the best from Viacom18’s wide library of films as well as newly acquired movies from across genres including soulful dramas, heart-warming romance, adrenalin-packed action, rib-tickling comedy and much more.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
