MAM
Nmacc presents India’s first ice ballet, Nutcracker on Ice
MUMBAI: Mumbai’s festive calendar has found a new showstopper. The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre has unveiled Nutcracker on Ice, India’s first full-scale ice ballet, bringing the world’s most loved Christmas story to life on a gleaming rink inside The Grand Theatre.
For the first time in the country, a purpose-built ice stage has been created within a theatre, hosting 23 international figure skaters of Olympic calibre. Set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, the production blends classical storytelling with high-adrenaline athleticism, transforming the familiar tale into a spectacle that feels both grand and surprisingly intimate.
Positioned as a limited-season Christmas tradition exclusive to Mumbai, Nutcracker on Ice aims to offer audiences something beyond the usual festive fare. Hand-crafted costumes designed for ice performance add visual flourish, while the choreography balances elegance with jaw-dropping speed and precision. The result is a show that appeals as much to families and first-time theatre-goers as it does to culture enthusiasts.
To build anticipation, the promotional campaign leaned into social-first storytelling, spotlighting the scale of the production and its once-a-year appeal. An influencer-led activation, conceptualised by Schbang and executed by the Nmacc brand team, added a playful twist. Popular food creators reimagined the Nutcracker in dessert form, including a festive hot chocolate recipe by baker Shivesh, drawing younger audiences into the narrative.
The buzz was further amplified through outdoor hoardings across key city locations, reinforcing the show’s status as a seasonal must-see.
Schbang president brand solutions Jitto George, said the focus was clear. The aim was to position the production not simply as another performance, but as the Christmas experience of the year. The novelty of watching elite skaters perform on real ice inside a theatre was central to making it part of people’s festive plans.
With Nutcracker on Ice, Nmacc adds another cultural milestone to its growing repertoire, proving that global-scale productions can feel right at home when crafted with imagination, spectacle and a touch of Christmas wonder.
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
