MAM
DBS Bank India announced as the exclusive banking partner for “Srikanth”
Mumbai: Marking a significant milestone in its brand journey, DBS Bank India was announced as the exclusive banking partner for “Srikanth,” a biopic that chronicles the extraordinary story of Srikanth Bolla, a visually impaired Indian industrialist.
The film, starring Rajkummar Rao, Jyothika, Alaya F, Sharad Kelkar, sheds light on Bolla’s determination and resilience as he overcame challenges to establish Bollant Industries, an eco-friendly company that empowers the differently abled.
Bolla, despite facing hurdles, tenaciously pursued his education, emerging as the first international visually impaired student in MIT. In 2011, he co-founded the Samanvai Center for Children with Multiple Disabilities, showcasing his dedication to inclusive education. The following year, in 2012, he established Bollant Industries. By 2016, he had extended his impact as the director of the Surge Impact Foundation.
DBS Bank India will leverage this partnership through strategic in-film branding, co-branded videos, and social media contests. The bank will extend the reach of this collaboration through branding across its branches and offices, fostering a deeper connection with employees and customers alike. Select customers from the bank participated in a meet-and-greet session with the lead actor. Srikanth Bolla is also scheduled to speak at the upcoming Mumbai chapter of DBS BusinessClass, foundED, a forum that celebrates modern-day founders and innovators while fostering entrepreneurship.
Commenting on the association, DBS Bank India MD and head – group strategic marketing & communications, Shoma Narayanan said, “DBS Bank India is honoured to be associated with “Srikanth” and to share this remarkable story with our customers and the wider community. It is inspiring to witness the journey of Bollant Industries, an enterprise dedicated to fostering both economic growth and societal good, unfold on the big screen. The film is a powerful reminder to trust our abilities, overcome challenges, and pursue our dreams, and we are confident that it will leave a lasting impact.”
A spokesperson from T-Series Films said, “We are happy to associate with DBS Bank India on this very special movie, “Srikanth”, that promotes inclusivity for all.”
DBS Foundation (DBSF) catalyses the growth of purpose-driven businesses that leverage innovation to make a positive impact. Earlier this year, DBSF awarded grants to six sustainability-focused enterprises featured on Shark Tank India Season 3. Among these, Trestle Labs, a previous recipient of the DBSF Grant, secured additional funding. Through their product Kibo (Knowledge in a Box), the enterprise makes education and employment inclusive. It also helps overcome barriers such as language, literacy, and print disabilities like blindness, low vision, and dyslexia.
Through strategic partnerships, DBS Bank India shares uplifting stories that resonate with its customers. With these associations, the bank aims to engage a broader audience and reinforce its brand promise of ‘Live more, Bank less’. More recently, DBS Bank India sponsored the documentary “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: A Singapore Saga” commissioned by the Tagore Society Singapore. The film captured Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s role in spearheading the Azad Hind movement from Singapore.
As a different kind of bank, DBS continues to break boundaries its campaigns have been seen as category-defying in the industry. The bank introduced an industry-first online mini-series called “DBS Sparks,” which is inspired by true stories and follows a group of young bankers as they navigate their work and personal lives. It showcases how these bankers challenge the status quo, go above and beyond to solve their clients’ challenges, and genuinely make an impact in DBS’ quest to be the best bank for a better world.
MAM
Paramount set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in $81 billion deal
Shareholders back merger, combined entity could reshape streaming and studios.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… consolidation, Hollywood’s latest blockbuster might be happening off-screen. Shareholders of Warner Bros. Discovery have voted in favour of selling the company to Paramount in a deal valued at $81 billion rising to nearly $111 billion including debt setting the stage for one of the biggest shake-ups in modern media. The proposed merger, still subject to regulatory approvals, would bring together a vast portfolio spanning HBO Max, CNN, and franchises such as Harry Potter under the same umbrella as Paramount’s own heavyweights, including Top Gun and CBS.
At the heart of the deal is streaming scale. Executives have indicated plans to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into a single platform, potentially creating a stronger challenger to giants like Netflix and Amazon’s Prime Video. Current market data suggests HBO Max holds around 12 per cent of US on-demand subscriptions, compared to Paramount+’s 3 per cent, together still trailing Netflix’s 19 per cent and Disney’s combined 27 per cent via Disney+ and Hulu.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has signalled that while platforms may merge, HBO’s creative identity will remain intact, stating the brand should “stay HBO” even within a broader ecosystem.
Beyond streaming, the deal would redraw the map for film production. Combining two of Hollywood’s oldest studios Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros., the new entity aims to scale output to over 30 films annually, while maintaining a 45-day theatrical window. Warner Bros. currently commands around 21 per cent of the US box office, compared to Paramount’s 6 per cent, underscoring the strategic weight of the acquisition.
But scale comes with scrutiny. Critics warn that fewer players could mean reduced consumer choice, rising subscription costs, and potential job cuts as the combined company looks to streamline overlapping operations while managing billions in debt.
The news business, too, faces a reset. CNN would join forces at least structurally with Paramount-owned CBS, raising questions about editorial independence and positioning. The merger has already drawn political attention in the United States, particularly given perceived ties between the Ellison family and Donald Trump, though the company maintains that newsroom autonomy will be preserved.
If approved, the deal would mark another milestone in Hollywood’s consolidation wave shrinking the industry’s traditional “big six” studios to a “big four”, with Paramount joining Disney, Universal, and Sony at the top table.
In an industry built on storytelling, this merger may well become its most consequential plot twist yet.
