Event Coverage
Netflix to keep both dubbing and subtitling options available
MUMBAI: The fact that India has a higher per cent of mobile streaming compared to the US has caught Netflix’s eye. Speaking at a session moderated by CNN News 18 Editor Anuradha Sengupta on the stage of FICCI Frames 2019, Netflix VP Product Todd Yellin said that despite the liking for the small screens, India’s fondness for the big screen will not fade away.
While Netflix has already delivered hits like Sacred Games in India, the OTT platform will double its investment in the country. He also added in a presentation that the series was a global hit for the service, with two out of three viewers of the show live outside India. On the other hand, Indians are also loving international shows as Bandersnatch was a huge hit here also.
“We don’t care about someone’s gender so we don’t collect it. We don’t care about the age so we don’t collect it. The only data we really care about is taste and we don’t want to stereotype. Internet TV is for everyone to liberate and make the experience greater so they can enjoy entertainment on their control and that’s what we care about,” Yellin commented while asked about the demographic and psychographic profile of Netflix users in the country.
To reach to more people, Netflix is also planning to extend the number of languages in which the content is available. While Orange is the new Black was released in seven languages back in 2013, The Umbrella Academy was released in more than 25 languages six weeks ago.
Along with subtitling, Netflix also wants to keep the dubbing option always available for users given the past data. “45 per cent of people watched Ghoul in English speaking countries with dubbing, 37 per cent with subtitles and 18 per cent with both,” he highlighted.
Although Netflix is becoming unbeatable among OTT platforms, Disney’s entry in the space is likely to pose a challenge. However, the company seems to look at it positively as Yellin said competition motivates the team venturing into more interesting things.
The OTT platform will be doubling down on interactive series also but it won’t necessarily be science fiction or dark. According to Yellin, it could be a wacky comedy or a romance even. With all the plans in store, the next couple of years will be interesting to see how the OTT platform handles its leading position as other big pocket players are stepping in.
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.
