Event Coverage
Industry stresses on creation of good content
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MUMBAI: Content was the buzzword at the inaugural session of FRAMES 2003 as film luminaries as well as government bigwigs stressed on the need for good content creation in the film as well as television industry. FICCI entertainment committee chairperson Yash Chopra set the ball rolling by admitting that in the year gone by, the industry neglected content in a struggle for productivity. Infrastructure constraints however need to be eased if the industry is to flourish in the days ahead, he said. |
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Filmmaker Bobby Bedi, who doubles up as FRAMES convenor, said that although it has been a good year for television in India, the ‘aesthetic of content is narrowing down’. Increased exposure to films, domestic and international have resulted in audiences being more aware of better camerawork, technology, and scripts. “They are no longer ready to accept inferior work”, he said, ending his speech with an appeal to ‘try and make great content’.  Information and broadcasting ministry’s secretary Pawan Chopra who followed him also stressed on the content aspect, but wondered why software makers had to be dependent on foreign investment for content creation when domestic financial institutions and corporates could be interested in investment. UK secretary of state, department of culture, media and sports Tessa Jowell who could not be present at the convention, mentioned in a speech that was read out on the occasion that Britain was game for a co-production treaty with India that would give a fillip to shooting of Indian films on UK soil. I&B minister R S Prasad in his address also said that a friendlier regime was being put into place for increasing the possibilities of shooting foreign films in India, and that a single window system would be put into place. Regarding piracy, an issue that has gained prominence in the last one year, Prasad said that a comprehensive policy needed to be worked out. The government was willing to lend the airwaves for educating people about the menace of piracy, but the initiative has to come from the industry. Prasad said later in his press conference that addressability is designed to bring in transparency in the cable trade and that it has to be enforced as the industry left on its own failed to do it on its own. |
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.
