MAM
Eros International presents ‘Armaan’ at Cannes Film Festival
MUMBAI: The Indian film industry is determined to make a mark at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. With the Bollywood beauty queen Aishwarya Rai being nominated as one of the jury members, the next in line is Eros International screening Armaan (Desire), the most talked about movie of the year .
Armaan which marks the directoral debut of well-known scriptwriter Honey Irani will premiere on 17 May 2003. The movie has an impressive star cast like Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan who was recently voted as one of the 100 greatest movie stars of all time by a BBC poll, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta and Gracy Singh.
According to a release, the movie is a family drama set against the backdrop of a hospital owned by Dr Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan), whose dream is to run a state of the art hospital which is free from discrimination. Dr Akash (Anil Kapoor), his son is as dedicated to his profession as his father. However, the arrival of Sonya (Preity Zinta) a rich arrogant woman, throws him into emotional turmoil by attempting to buy his love through a financial agreement. The unusual climax soars as Akash is torn between his love for fellow colleague Neha (Gracy Singh) and fulfilling his father’s dream.
Eros International, the distributors of Bollywood films have been part of many events such as the BAFTAs and the Palm Springs Festival. They will be holding a pre-screening party for the event as well.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
