MAM
DS Group celebrates 95 years with corporate film
Mumbai: Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), a multi-business corporation and an FMCG conglomerate marks its 95th anniversary with the launch of a heart-warming corporate film. Founded in 1929, the DS Group has grown into a successful business story, blending a remarkable history and legacy with visionary growth. The film pays tribute to the enduring bond with consumers, capturing the essence of the Group’s diverse product portfolio, which spans food and beverages, confectionery, mouth fresheners, hospitality, agri-business, luxury retail, etc.
Directed and produced by The Titus Upputuru Company, the film features renowned Bollywood actor ‘Rahul Khanna’. The film opens with him walking along a long corridor, speaking directly to the camera, “Aapka aur hamara bahut hee lamba aur kareebi Rishta hai” (Our relationship has been long and intimate). This sets the tone for a series of heartwarming moments that showcase the deep connection DS Group’s products have fostered with consumers over the decades.
“We are thrilled to celebrate DS Group’s remarkable 95-year journey with this special film. Our unwavering commitment to quality and innovation has led to building a Group which is a house of brands today. This film is a heartfelt tribute to millions of loyal DS Group customers, reflecting countless shared moments and embodying our philosophy: Create What is Worth Creating,” said DS Group vice chairman, Rajiv Kumar.
“Creating yet another corporate film this year was a heartfelt journey, as we captured the deep connections and cherished moments that DS Group’s products have fostered with consumers over the years. Each scene is a celebration of the joy, comfort, and nostalgia that these products bring into people’s lives. It is an honour to bring to life the story of a brand that has touched so many hearts and continues to innovate with unwavering dedication,” said Titus.
In a series of beautifully crafted vignettes, the film presents various scenarios where DS Group’s products bring joy to people’s lives. For instance, a group of youngsters in a library, where a boy’s hidden Pulse candy sparks a playful commotion. A young man is seen cooking with Catch Garam Masala, sharing a tender moment with his mother via video call.
Celebratory moments include a classy wedding scene where a man enjoys Tulsi Royal Khajoor and a playful serenade where a boy refreshes with Pass Pass after being teased by a girl. Other scenes feature a lady in a limousine enjoying Silver Pearls before helping a stranger, a young man savoring Ksheer ghee on a parantha after a gym session, and a woman waking up to a surprise gift of LuvIt Chocolates with a birthday message.
Rahul Khanna’s voice-over enriches each scene, highlighting the joy brought by the individual brands. The film concludes with Khanna reminding viewers, “Agli baar jab aap ko koi cheez pasand aajaye, toh aap use palat ke dekhiyega…Zaroor hamara naam dikh jaayega.” (Next time when you enjoy something, make sure you take a look at the back of the pack. You will find our name there).
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.
