Event Coverage
Gen Next urged to improvise technology to revolutionise cinema
MUMBAI: The session “Cinema: NexGen” at the Ficci FRAMES 2004, began with the host CNBC TV 18 features editor Anuradha Sen Gupta introducing the distinguish line up of panelists – IMAX Theatre Systems, North Europe, Russia and Central Asia VP sales John M Schreiner, e-City Entertainment CEO Atul Goel, Hughes Communications’ Shivaji Chatterjee, Mukta Adlabs Digital Exhibition Pvt Ltd CEO Dr Sunil Patil and Barco Digital Saurabh Malhotra.
Thereafter, Manmohan Shetty, giving a key note address, took over for a brief while to set the tone on how India needs to revolutionise cinema like Hollywood has. Generation Next must take up the cudgels in improvising technology, he opined.
Schreiner triggered off a long speech on how IMAX can do the trick. Since the session was sponsored by IMAX, the length of the speech did not come as a surprise. Neither did the contents which were full of praises for IMAX, which is in more than 235 theatrres in 35 nations. Schreiner further conveyed that Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azakaban will be released in June 2004.
Goel took it up to stress upon the need of cinema going digital. He said that this would allow the advertisers to choose a particular show to pitch in their products, unlike what we have now in celluloid cinema where the advertisers have to run their commercials for all shows on a booked day.
Chatterjee explained that digital cinema would reduce shipping delivery and assembly cost, enhance editing quality and introduce integrated billing. According to him, the key benefit would be better distribution, production per print would reduce from 50,000 to 10,000, distribution per screen would lower from $22000 to $450, and piracy would be controlled.
Patil elaborated on how the piracy would be controlled. He stated that, bu the time, the last print reaches in the B & C centres, seven to eight days have elapsed. This sets the tone for piracy. Why not have a system where all the prints are released in all the cinemas, simultaneously?
However when asked that why had the multiplexes not embraced digital cinema so far, the panelists had nothing more to offer than say that the rates they proposed were unaffordable to them. Thus, the million-dollar question: “How in India do you expect to reduce the ticket cost which is is the major most reason for piracy, if you are rooting for digital cinema?” remained unanswered.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
