Event Coverage
Manoj Bajpayee and Prasoon Joshi in conversation at Goafest 2024, day 3
Mumbai: With Goafest 2024 heading towards celebrating the last leg of adaptability, Day 3 will witness an enthralling Knowledge Seminar titled The Art Of Adaptability: From Real Life to Reel Life, featuring Indian actor Manoj Bajpayee in conversation with Prasoon Joshi, CEO and CCO of McCann World Group India. The engaging session will witness Manoj share insights into the art of adaptation, drawing parallels between his experiences in real and reel life. Prasoon, in conversation with Manoj, will focus on the importance of adaptability in the entertainment industry and throw light on how adaptability plays a crucial role in the lives of actors.
Additionally, there will be an engrossing Knowledge Seminar titled Embracing Change: Lessons from The Field to Life will feature cricket legend and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly alongside moderator Boria Majumdar, a renowned Indian sports journalist, historian, and writer. In this enriching session, Sourav will impart various lessons from his own life experience as a renowned sportsperson on adjusting and adapting to change. Majumdar, in dialogue with Sourav, will emphasize the importance of adaptability in the field of sports, and discuss how being adaptable is crucial for not only sportspeople but all people, in navigating the ever-changing nature of life.
Speaking on the line-up for Day 3, the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and CEO of GroupM, South Asia president Prasanth Kumar said, “Day 1 and Day 2 of Goafest 2024 witnessed stalwarts from across the industry delivering enthralling sessions. These two days have been phenomenal and we are delighted to have seen the attendees gain valuable insights. The conversation between Manoj and Prasoon will further throw light on the importance of adaptability in an actor’s life. Additionally, we are delighted to present a stellar line-up of insightful speakers and engaging sessions that will definitely entice our attendees.”
In addition to this, Day 3 will also witness a Knowledge Seminar titled Indian Women Harnessing the Power Of Identity. The esteemed panellists are Shilpa Rao, a renowned Indian Playback Singer, Alankrita Shrivastava, a Filmmaker, Tamannaah Bhatia, an actor; and Prajakta Koli, also known as MostlySane, a leading content creator and actor, and climate activist. Guiding the conversation is Femina editor-in-chief Ambika Muttoo.
Following this is yet another insightful Knowledge Seminar titled Secrets of Longevity: Adapting our Lifestyles to Increase our ‘Healthspan’ with Dr Marcus Ranney – Founder and CEO, of Human Edge alongside moderator – Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe, South Asia. Next in line is a keynote address by WhatsApp titled Do More With Conversations, by Gaurav Jeet Singh, Head of Agency Business, India, at Meta. Subsequently, an enriching Knowledge Seminar spotlighting The Art of Storytelling will be led by Neelesh Misra, a multifaceted Indian Journalist, Author, Radio Storyteller, Scriptwriter, and Lyricist.
The second half will also captivate the attendees with a dynamic Knowledge Seminar on Customer-Centric Adaptability; Meeting Shifting Expectations; and Maintaining Customer Loyalty in a Dynamic Environment. Leading the discussion is Tarun Puri, senior operating partner at Lighthouse Funds, Asha Kharga, chief customer & brand officer at Mahindra Group, Siddharth Roy Kapur, founder & MD at Roy Kapur Films, with moderation by Anuradha SenGupta, founder of @anuradhasays.
Another Knowledge Seminar titled Adaptability And Innovation: The Cornerstones Of A Future-Ready Agency will feature a distinguished panel of industry leaders. Among them are Anusha Shetty, chairperson & Group CEO of Grey Group, India; Arun Iyer, founder & managing partner of Spring Marketing Capital; and Babita Baruah, chief executive officer of VML India. Steering the discussion is Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO for India and South Asia at FCB Group India.
Next, a Knowledge Seminar, themed Evolving Market Landscape: Navigating The New Normal. Shashank Srivastava, a distinguished member of the executive committee at Maruti Suzuki, and Sunil Kataria, chief executive officer of Raymond Lifestyle (India & International), are among the esteemed speakers in conversation with Anuradha SenGupta, the esteemed founder of @anuradhasays.
A Knowledge Seminar on OOH – Adapting to be accountable will feature Pawan Bansal, COO Jagran Engage & chairman IOAA (Indian Outdoor Advertising Association); Noomi Mehta, chairman of the Board, Selvel One Group; and Jahan Mehta, chief growth officer at Oap Mediatech in conversation with industry veteran Sam Balsara, Founder, chairman and MD Madison World & Madison Communications.
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.
