MAM
MUBI and PVR Cinemas partner to launch ‘Mubi Go’
MUMBAI: Curated streaming service MUBI and PVR Cinemas – the largest cinema chain in India, announced that they have partnered to launch the cinema-going initiative MUBI GO in India this Friday.
As part of a MUBI subscription, members will now receive one complimentary ticket every week to see a film that has been hand-picked by MUBI in any PVR Cinema, via the MUBI GO app.
MUBI GO launches with Rian Johnson’s KNIVES OUT as its first ‘Film of the Week’, featuring an all-star cast including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and Toni Collette. KNIVES OUT hits PVR Cinemas across the country this Friday, and is a witty and stylish modern-day murder mystery that follows the investigation of the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), led by Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig).
The nationwide initiative with PVR Cinemas means that MUBI GO users will be able to redeem tickets for the selected films in any PVR Cinema across India in its hugely popular Classic seat category at all mainstream auditoriums. Available to download on iOS and Android mobile devices from Friday, the MUBI GO app will list PVR Cinema schedules for the current ‘Film of the Week’ based on user locations, as well as show the film selection for the upcoming week.
MUBI GO expands to India after a successful launch in the UK, where members have enjoyed box office hits like ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD and JUDY to specialty titles like THE SOUVENIR and BORDER.
PVR Ltd joint managing director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli commented, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with MUBI, MUBI GO is a new programming and marketing initiative that will put a spotlight on a curated set of character and narrative driven movies. PVR taking action to promote and celebrate more films and more storytellers is a healthy enhancement to the cinematic ecosystem, our partnership with MUBI is a step in the same direction.”
MUBI founder and CEO Efe Cakarel said, “I could not be more excited to launch MUBI GO with PVR Cinemas in India. It is a big milestone for us, with it being the second territory where we’ve introduced the initiative. After launching our film channels MUBI INDIA and MUBI WORLD this month, our members can now not only watch amazing hand-picked films online, but also in real cinemas across the country.”
Commenting on the association, PVR Pictures CEO Kamal Gianchadani said, “At PVR, we always try to innovate and push the envelope. This tie up dispels the myth that cinemas and OTT cannot collaborate. Because PVR is the top choice for blockbuster movies, many customers don’t realize that we screen more elevated and celebrated films than anyone else in the country. Our collaboration with MUBI will help us expose more movie goers to specialized films and increase their theatrical success.”
From Friday, MUBI members will find MUBI GO included in their existing subscriptions, and new members can subscribe for an introductory price of INR 199 for three months.
Subscriptions include MUBI GO and MUBI’s curated streaming service, which is home to an incredible collection of hand-picked films. Every day new films are introduced to each of its film channels including, MUBI WORLD, which presents acclaimed international films like MOONLIGHT, and MUBI INDIA, which is fully dedicated to Indian cinema and features cult classics like Kamal Swaroop’s OM DAR-B-DAR to films like BINNU KA SAPNA from rising star Kanu Behl.
Brands
Nodwin Gaming appoints Sonal Varma as global director of live events
Former Comic Con India VP to scale global gaming and pop culture experiences
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has appointed Sonal Varma as global director of live events, bringing on board a seasoned architect of fan communities as the company accelerates its global push in gaming, esports and youth culture.
Varma steps into the role with more than 15 years of experience creating large-scale fan experiences and cultural platforms. She is best known for her long stint at Comic Con India, where she most recently served as vice president and helped transform the convention into one of the country’s most recognisable pop culture gatherings.
At Nodwin Gaming, Varma will lead the strategy, design and execution of the company’s global live event initiatives. Her mandate includes expanding flagship intellectual properties and developing new formats that bring gaming communities together across emerging markets.
Over the years, Varma has been closely associated with building and scaling community-led events such as Comic Con India, Geekly and the Indian Cosplay Championship. Her work has focused on turning niche fandoms into thriving cultural ecosystems by blending entertainment, creator culture and brand partnerships.
Her appointment comes at a time when Nodwin Gaming is expanding its international events footprint through properties such as DreamHack India, NH7 Weekender, Comic Con India and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series. The company has also been growing its presence across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa through esports tournaments, gaming festivals and fan conventions.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee, said Varma’s experience in building fan-centric platforms would play a key role in the company’s next phase of growth.
“Sonal brings a deep understanding of how live experiences can bring communities together around gaming and pop culture. As we expand our global live events footprint, her experience will help us create experiences that feel authentic and meaningful for audiences across markets,” he said.
Varma said the scale of opportunity at Nodwin Gaming made the move particularly exciting.
“Joining Nodwin Gaming at this moment feels incredibly exciting because the canvas is so large. There are new audiences, new markets and new formats waiting to be explored. I’m looking forward to working with teams across the network to create live experiences that celebrate gaming culture while staying rooted in the communities that power it,” she said.
Over the past few years, Nodwin Gaming has built an ecosystem that stretches across competitive gaming, creator communities, music festivals and youth culture platforms. With Varma now leading global live events, the company is looking to further expand its flagship properties while experimenting with new formats that blend gaming, entertainment and fandom for audiences around the world.
