Event Coverage
“Indian stories told well, can move the world:” SS Rajamouli at Lumikai Insignia
Mumbai: Academy Award-winning filmmaker SS Rajamouli participated in a keynote session at Lumikai Insignia, India’s top interactive media and gaming summit. He shared the stage with global tech leaders, including Cevat Yerli, Raja Koduri, and Abdullah Alorainy of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Reflecting on his journey from Magadheera to Baahubali and RRR, Rajamouli discussed his focus on high-quality storytelling, blending technology and talent to realize his vision. He stated, “Belief finds believers. With faith that it can be done, we find people who help us achieve it.” Through films like Magadheera and Eega, he pioneered the use of VFX and graphics to enhance storytelling in Indian cinema.
The success of Baahubali and RRR set new quality standards, bringing Indian cinema to global audiences and achieving both critical and commercial success.
Rajamouli highlighted the importance of cultural authenticity and quality in his work, explaining, “When we created Baahubali or RRR, every bit was made for Indian viewers with an Indian psyche embedded within. And once audiences taste quality, they demand it. With access to incredible content on their mobile devices, they are expecting even better. Quality in entertainment is non-negotiable.”
The panel also discussed the growth opportunities in India’s interactive media sector, driven by the country’s young, digitally native audience. They explored the expanding role of AI in entertainment, noting its rapid development.
Commenting on the evolving audience palate for immersive entertainment, Lumikai founding general partner Salone Sehgal said, “With a young, increasingly affluent audience and a consumer base exposed to global best, the need for entertainment that is high quality and culturally resonant has never been higher. Visionaries like SS Rajamouli have paved the way for fusing storytelling with technology successfully taking Indian films global. It was our privilege to learn from him at Lumikai Insignia. His unique insights fuelled founders in interactive media gaming who have similar aspirations.”
Capitalising on this one-of-a-kind congregation of industry leaders, Lumikai, an Indian interactive media and gaming VC fund, unveiled its highly anticipated ‘The Lumikai State of India Interactive Media and Gaming Report’ for 2024. This seminal research series has established itself as the authoritative resource for understanding India’s gaming landscape. It has been consistently referenced by government bodies guiding policy decisions and industry planning.
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.
