MAM
Kalyan Silks awards media duties to DDB MudraMax
MUMBAI: Wholesale textile showroom Kalyan Silks has assigned its media mandate to DDB MudraMax.
The size of the account is pegged at Rs 250 million. The agency‘s Bangalore office will handle the account.
Kalyan Silks chairman and managing director T.S. Pattabhiraman said, “We are very happy to associate with DDB MudraMax as they are a well reputed agency and extremely trustworthy. Their client relationship is commendable. Most of the clients they are associated with have been so for a long time, which acts as a clear indication for their efficiency. We hope to have a mutual and fruitful association.”
DDB MudraMax AVP and head Gopi Nair said, “We are immensely pleased to work with Kalyan Silks, who are one of the top players in the fast growing retail industry. Our team is committed to show the same consistency and results that has kept most of our clients delighted.”
Kalyan Silks was launched in 1909 in Thrissur, Kerala. Over the years, the retailer has opened showrooms in other cities in the state like Cochin, Palakkad, Calicut, Kannur and Kottayam. Kalyan Silks launched its first store overseas in Karama, Dubai in 2011. Its present turnover is about Rs 6 billion per annum.
The brand has plans of overseas expansion which include opening showrooms in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and in the Gulf region. On the domestic front, the showroom will begin operations this year at Thiruvalla, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
DDB MudraMax (Engagement & Experience) provides multi-specialty expertise to help build brands and comprises 14 strategic business units under four disciplines – media, OOH, retail and experiential. Its clients include the likes of ACC, Aircel, Amway, Ashok Leyland, Asian Paints, Birla Sun Life, Hindustan Times, ITC, Johnson & Johnson, Kotak, L&T, LIC, Nirmal Lifestyle, Paragon, Pepsi, Reebok, Samsung, Standard Chartered Bank, Star, Tata, Titan, TTK Prestige, Uninor and Volkswagen.
MAM
Sameer Nair steps down as CEO of Applause Entertainment
Veteran media executive exits after a decade at the Aditya Birla Group-backed studio.
MUMBAI: After a decade of calling the shots, Sameer Nair is taking a bow from Applause Entertainment. The veteran industry leader and CEO of the prominent content studio is stepping down from his role, according to sources familiar with the development. This marks a significant leadership transition at one of India’s key players in the television and digital content space.
Applause Entertainment, part of the Aditya Birla Group, has built a strong reputation under Nair’s leadership for its high-quality adaptations of international formats and a slate of original series across OTT platforms. Nair, who joined the company a decade ago, was instrumental in shaping its growth and positioning it as a notable force in India’s evolving streaming landscape.
Prior to Applause, he held senior roles at major media organisations, including Star India, where he played a pivotal part in the launch of the iconic show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. He also worked with Balaji Telefilms and NDTV Imagine.
It remains unclear who will succeed Nair or what his next professional move will be. Queries sent to Nair did not receive a response, and Applause Entertainment declined to comment on the matter.
His exit comes at a time when the Indian content ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes, with streaming platforms recalibrating investments, focusing on profitability, and adjusting content strategies amid shifting viewer preferences and increasing competition.
Industry insiders suggest the transition could signal a strategic reset for Applause as it navigates the next phase of growth.
In the fast-paced world of Indian entertainment, where hits can fade as quickly as they rise, Sameer Nair has enjoyed a remarkably steady and influential run. As he steps off the stage at Applause, the spotlight now turns to what comes next for both the executive and the studio he helped build.
