MAM
Fevicreate Idea Labs 2024 Art & Craft Competition: Winners announced
Mumbai: Pidilite, through its Fevicreate initiative, proudly announces the winners of the Fevicreate Idea Labs Annual Art & Craft Competition 2024. This national event, which combines science with art and craft, drew participation from over 1.3 lakh students representing 500+ schools across India, showcasing groundbreaking projects in Space Exploration, Endangered Species & Conservation, and Ocean Life.
In its fourth year, the competition invited 16 finalists to Mumbai for the final round, where they competed live using a variety of art and craft materials, including Fevicreate boxes filled with Pidilite products. The themes were Marine Life for ages 9-14 years and the Solar System for ages 5-8 years. Projects were judged on creativity, innovative use of materials, scientific principles used, adherence to the theme, and overall presentation. Padma Shri Mylswamy Annadurai, an esteemed Indian space scientist and former ISRO Director, served as the chief jury member. Kashyap Gala, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products Business at Pidilite was also present at the event as a jury member.
Winners in the 5-8 years or the ‘Little scientists’ age group include Hetvi Vaswani from MPS International, Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Bhani Gupta from St. Marks Senior Secondary Public School, Delhi, who both secured first place. Rama Anannya from Sri Chaitanya School Ameerpet, Hyderabad, Telangana, won second place, while Devanshi Sehgal from D.A.V High School, Ambala, took third place. In the 9-14 years ‘Young Innovators’ age group, Harshita Nopani from St. Xavier’s High School, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, claimed first place. Kanithi Swathi from D.A.V Centenary Public School, Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, secured second place, and Ifra Siddique from National English School, Kolkata, West Bengal, took third place.
The final round was covered in episodes aired on prominent Viacom 18 network channels, Nickelodeon and Sonic. They will also be available on Jio Cinemas after June 24th.
ISRO former director Padma Shri Mylswamy Annadurai expressed, “As a jury member of the Fevicreate Idea Labs competition, I am truly inspired by the creativity and ingenuity displayed by these young minds. At a time when education is evolving, it’s crucial to embrace the ‘learning by doing’ philosophy to drive STEM education. This competition exemplifies how art and science can come together to spark innovation and curiosity to approach and solve a given problem. The projects presented by these talented students are not only impressive but also a testament to the power of hands-on learning. I congratulate all the participants and winners for their remarkable efforts and encourage them to continue exploring and innovating.”
Pidilite senior vice president of consumer products business Kashyap Gala remarked, “At Fevicreate, we wholeheartedly support the concept of ‘learning by doing.’ Today’s bright and curious minds thrive on challenges, and educators are continuously seeking innovative ways to teach them. School boards and NEP guidelines advocate for ‘Art-Integrated Learning,’ emphasizing that more learning should take place through art and craft. Fevicreate is dedicated to fostering this approach. The 16 creative young minds selected from across 65 cities and 1.3 lakh students are a testament to our commitment to ‘learning by doing.”
Commenting on the association, Viacom18 Business head of Kids TV Network Anu Sikka said “Nick, as the ultimate destination for kids’ entertainment, is thrilled to join forces with Pidilite, the leader of arts and crafts innovation, for the innovative Fevicreate Idealabs Finale event. Nick’s extensive reach and influence in the children’s entertainment sector enable partner brands to connect with kids on a large scale, providing unique opportunities for collaboration. We are constantly seeking partnerships that enhance creativity and encourage exploration and learning. This contest embodies our dedication to nurturing the imaginative minds of tomorrow and offers a platform for Pidilite to showcase its innovative products to a broad, engaged audience.”
Top winners received scholarships of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000, and Rs 50,000 for first, second, and third places, respectively. Additional awards included runner-up prizes, trophies, certificates for schools with high participation, 22 city-level winners and special hampers for top students from schools with over 200 participants.
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.
