Digital
Parksons Cartamundi launches new film Asli Fan Khelta Hai!
Mumbai: Cricket and playing cards, though seemingly different worlds, share a common thread – a spirit of competition that binds people together. True Mumbai cricket fans don’t just watch the game – they live it. Bringing this passion to life, Parksons Cartamundi, a leading force in playing cards, has unveiled a new digital film titled “Asli Fan Khelta Hai!” This campaign celebrates the die-hard cricket fandom of Mumbai and how the joy of playing cards strengthens that passion. Moreover, Parksons has further taken it up a notch and amplified the excitement of cricket to the world of playing cards with the launch of the official Mumbai Indians playing cards.
Produced by Schbang Motion Pictures, the film explores the essence of what it means to be an “Asli Fan.” These are the passionate supporters who go beyond simply watching the game. They live and breathe their team spirit, actively participating in the experience. They are the ones proudly sporting Mumbai Indians jerseys, and now, owning a deck of these specially designed-playing cards becomes another way to showcase their devotion. Understanding this, Parksons Cartamundi has launched a captivating digital film cleverly highlighting the shared spirit of competition that binds cricket and playing cards. Just like on the cricket pitch, where the best team emerges victorious, playing cards offer a fun and competitive experience that unites people.
The narrative follows a dedicated Mumbai Indians fan navigating the vibrant city, encountering fellow fans from all walks of life – from taxi drivers to fishermen, dabbawalas to gully cricket players. United by their love for the game and their team, they connect through the joy of playing cards, showcasing the diverse and relatable characters that make Mumbai’s fan culture so special. With the tagline “Asli Fan Khelta Hai!” (A True Fan Plays!), the campaign celebrates this passionate fan culture. The film beautifully captures how playing cards transcend boundaries, uniting fans in their shared love for the game.
Speaking about the latest film, Parksons Cartamundi Pvt Ltd CEO & MD Kapil Kejriwal said, “At Parksons Cartamundi, we believe in offering the best experience for our consumers in the categories of Playing Cards and Card Games. Playing Cards plays an essential role in bringing alive the passion and competitive spirit among all sections of our country. Similarly, the new range of Mumbai Indians playing cards helps the Asli Fans support and play the match along with their favourite team. Our new film perfectly captures this spirit, showcasing how the joy of playing cards transcends boundaries and unites fans in a shared love for the game. Through this digital film, we aim to inspire fans to embrace their passion for cricket and card playing!”
The film opens with a captivating montage of everyday Mumbai characters converging on an empty parking lot. As the camera pans across, we see glimpses of a pack of the Parksons Cartamundi X Mumbai Indians cards being shuffled, hinting at the playful competition to come. The narrative unfolds with the protagonist, a die-hard Mumbai Indians fan, showcasing his signature card moves and infectious enthusiasm. Further highlighting, diverse types of Mumbaikars showcasing celebration and support in their unique styles for their favourite cricket team.
Further adding to this, Parksons Cartamundi Pvt Ltd head of marketing India and Middle East Jigar Shah mentioned, “We wanted to capture the vibrant energy of Mumbai’s culture, the characters who make it special, and the way their passion for Cricket spills over into every aspect of their lives. From the friendly rivalry of a card game with a taxi driver to the electrifying atmosphere of gully cricket, the film celebrates the joy of playing and the spirit of being a true Mumbai Indians supporter. We believe fans will see themselves reflected in this film and be inspired to grab a deck and experience the thrill of the game in a whole new way!”
Sharing his thoughts on the film, Cartamundi group CEO Stefaan Merckx said, “Having grown up in India, I am fully aware of the role of Cricket in every Indian’s life, especially in Mumbai. For Cartamundi, we are always engaged with communities, and through this campaign we are engaging with the die-hard cricket fans and giving them an opportunity to express their fandom through these elegantly designed Playing Cards.”
The newly launched film conceptualised by Schbang Motion Pictures highlights how Asli Fans are the true stars, capturing their energy and passion that truly defines cricket. With the tagline “Asli Fan Khelta Hai!” The campaign reminds us that true fans don’t just watch the game; they play it with heart and determination always.
Speaking on the film Schbang Motion Pictures head Rachaita Vyas said, “We are delighted to announce our successful partnership with Parksons Cartamundi for the launch of an innovative project. Embracing the spirit of Cricket in India, we have created a captivating experience that resonates with the Mumbai-ya vibe. This collaboration has been a rewarding journey, and we are thrilled to have contributed to something special for our target audience.”
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.
