Event Coverage
Indian filmmakers need to change mindset to make global films
MUMBAI: Indian films have won laurels, been applauded at the box office and are watched theatrically, on television and many other available mediums. What then is the reason that they have failed to make it to the Oscars?
In fact, Indian cinema can make an impact internationally since many Indian actors have already begun making appearances in Hollywood. So what is holding back?
Former partner C.A.A. and chairman Rick Nicita said, “To make an international impact, Indian films should be based around the world and not be India-centric. Not that all Hollywood films are based on foreign land, but those which are always leave an everlasting impact in the minds of millions of people. It is not that Indian films are bad, but filmmakers here need to change their vision”, he said.
Giving an example, Nicita spoke about Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. “Though it was a good film, its success was financially just about okay taking the overall box office collection of the film,” he said.
Cameron Bailey, artistic director of the Toronto Film Festival, referred to actors like Kabir Bedi who had done more than 60 films in India, featured in Hollywood films, and also had a taste of European cinema and television. Nana Patekar, Bailey said, was an exemplary artiste, having done varied kind of roles. “He stands a very good chance of navigating international waters.” He was speaking at Ficci Frames 2012 at a session on ‘Navigating the International Waters: Indian Cinema and Actors Overseas‘.
Bradd Pitt had risen to international standards with his intense dedication. “Being a hero, Pitt has often undertaken small character roles and has excelled in them,” Bailey said. He also referred to film personalities like Colin Firth (Kings Speech fame), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Kiran Rao (director Dhobi Ghat), Anurag Kashyap and Shah Rukh Khan.
But Bailey lamented that Indian cinema does not go beyond the South Asian audiences.
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (Oscars) Governor Mark Goldbatt said he had been seeing the Indian Film Industry “growing bigger and bigger by the day. What the country’s film industry needs is advent of good technology because there is no dearth of acting talent in the country.”
Life Entertainment, Berlin, CEO Stephan Ottenbruch was of the view that the film industry in India has seen good development in the last two years. “I was amazed to see the technicality in Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One. I wish it all the best.”
Kabir Bedi said the business of casting was a major bane of the industry here. An actor should establish himself so that his name is well remembered.
Agreeing, Ottenbruch said, “The real name of Ben Kingsley is Krishna Bhanji but he is known by his screen name and not by the other. I remember once Kingsley told me that if I had to seek a film role in the name of Krishna Bhanji, producers will say that will we call you, but if I go as Kingsley they would ask me ‘When will you start?””
Commenting on how Indian films can make it to the Oscars, Ottenbruch advised Indian filmmakers to make films that should move people emotionally, irrespective of any region or country.
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.
