Digital
Beyond the reel, India’s tech dreams take shape
MUMBAI: Lights, camera, revolution! The silver screen is turning digital, and India’s film industry is ready for its next big act, one fuelled by technology, imagination and a dash of innovation.
At FICCI Frames 2025, the session “Beyond Imagination: The Future of Filmmaking” brought together industry leaders to explore how new-age tools like AI, VFX and virtual production are transforming storytelling. The discussion came in the wake of the Maharashtra government’s Rs 3,268 crore AVGC-XR Policy 2025, an ambitious plan to make the state a global powerhouse for animation, gaming and extended reality.
DNEG co-founder and president Merzin Tavaria set the tone for the session. “Content is still king,” he said. “Technology should help us tell better stories, not distract from them. AI is here to stay as a tool, but it must never replace the individual.” He added that India’s post-pandemic film resurgence has proven the world-class calibre of its creators.
Phantomfx founder and CEO Bejoy Arputharaj urged filmmakers to evolve with technology. “Filmmakers must embrace the changing landscape,” he said. “Virtual production and AI aren’t here to take over, they’re here to help us imagine what was once impossible.”
From Japan, Dwarf Studios CEO Shuhei Harada emphasised originality over imitation. “The world doesn’t need more copies,” he said. “India should focus on creating authentic, original entertainment. Bringing international talent here can help local creators learn new methods and grow faster.”
Moscow Film Cluster deputy director Georgy Prokopov called for international collaboration. “Russia and India can build a technology bridge,” he suggested. “Shared virtual production infrastructure can reduce costs and accelerate creative exchange.”
Meanwhile, FICCI AVGC-XR Forum chair and Graphiti Studios co-founder Munjal Shroff stressed the need for India to sharpen its technical edge. “We already have the talent and the tools,” he said. “Now it’s about mastery, using technology not as a crutch but as a canvas.”
As the session wrapped, the takeaway was clear: the next blockbuster might not just be shot in India, it could be built here, pixel by pixel. Because in the cinema of tomorrow, the script won’t just be written. It will be rendered.
Digital
AI drives 92 per cent surge to 15M views across India’s open web
Taboola data shows rising AI curiosity reshaping digital consumption trends
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence is fast becoming the internet’s favourite topic in India, with fresh data showing a sharp spike in audience interest across the open web.
Insights from Taboola’s Taboola Newsroom reveal that AI-related content generated more than 15 million pageviews over the past 90 days, marking a striking 92 per cent jump compared to the previous 45-day period. The surge signals a clear shift, with AI moving from niche tech chatter to mainstream digital curiosity.
The broader technology category is also seeing momentum, clocking around 1.7 million pageviews and a 27 per cent rise in engagement. However, much of that growth appears to be riding on the AI wave, as developments in artificial intelligence increasingly dominate tech narratives.
Within the AI ecosystem, newer players are quickly capturing attention. Content linked to Anthropic alone drew roughly 2.5 million pageviews, registering a dramatic 2,096 per cent surge. The spike reflects growing interest in alternative AI models and emerging competitors in the space.
Meanwhile, familiar names continue to hold steady ground. Coverage around ChatGPT generated about 1.2 million pageviews, underlining sustained curiosity as users explore practical applications, updates, and everyday use cases for generative AI tools.
Big Tech is firmly in the spotlight too. Content related to Meta attracted approximately 2.2 million pageviews, up 30 per cent, as audiences track its expanding role in AI infrastructure and innovation.
Taken together, the data points to a deeper shift in how audiences engage with AI. Interest is no longer tied only to big announcements but is evolving into a steady stream of exploration around tools, platforms, and real-world uses.
For publishers, this opens the door to richer storytelling through explainers and practical insights. For advertisers, it presents a chance to tap into a highly engaged, tech-savvy audience.
If the numbers are anything to go by, AI is not just part of the conversation anymore, it is leading it.
