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Bollywood beyond the Indian shores
MUMBAI: In an endeavor to initiate cross over films and collaborations between the Indian film fraternity and the United Kingdom and Australia, Frames 2004, today had two sessions dedicated to the possibilities and opportunities between the Indian and the UK and Australian film industries to exploit and mutually benefit from each others untapped resources.
UK and India have been synergising for many years now, but the magnitude of business still seems very limited and restricted. In anticipation of a bi-lateral agreement with the UK, the UK Film council (the government’s strategic body for film) discussed integral issues involving raising finance, legal structures, distribution, sales and marketing in the UK market.
The panelists included Ken Hay, CEO, EM Media, Mike Runagall from Pathe Pictures, Colin Brown, CEO Cinesite and Pete Buckingham from the UK Film Council, who showcased their respective studios, post production companies and discussed the formalities and legalities of film making and its distribution in detail.
What do audiences in UK expect in a film?
Firstly, it was news to Indian producers that they must essentially aim at targeting the young and the up market, as they are the sole movie going population. Secondly it was interesting to note that the UK audience also extends great emphasis on music similar to the Indian audience and it features as an important factor in the decision to go and see a film.
Thirdly, it was stated that genre of a movie was one of the critical success factors in the making or marring of a film. UK is also very particular about the casting of a film, which makes known and established actors an essential ingredient in the success of a movie.
Business with Australia on the other hand, already seems to have kick started with the visual effects in Dil Chahta Hai and Janasheen, been provided by Australian counterparts. Apart from business prospects the Australian panel including George Vasildas from In Motion locations, John Winter from Wintertime Films, Steve Cooper from Beeps postproduction and Shireen Ardeshir from IDP education touched upon the education opportunities available in film and TV in Australia, which also offers industry specific courses.
John Winter discussed the various co-productions producers could look at, they being an unofficial production, official production, MOU and a one off MOU.
The session also highlighted the advantages of cross over films, they being:
· More choice for viewers
· Australia making movies that they could not otherwise
· Increase in employment
· Interchange in acting personnel and actors
· Strengthening of diplomatic ties.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the digital intermediating process, and that costs in India were much lower in comparison to the latter, and therefore coming to a solution Winter urged the producers to look at a mutually beneficial ratio where the Indian capability and the Australian expertise came together to create an efficient and cost effective means in the industry.
Both UK and Australia have a big market, and the western world is becoming more and more conscious and aware of Asian and Indian Cinema leaving Indian producers a gamut of opportunities to explore and take Indian cinema to a different level.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
