GECs
Nominees for Lycra MTV Style Awards announced
MUMBAI: MTV has announced that the nominees for its Lycra MTV Style Awards have been finalised. The awards function will honour the countrys most stylish people at the Jamshed Bhabha Auditorium in Mumbai on 17 October. Awards will be bestowed to 18 awardees in seven categories.
An official release informs that a panel of judges have narrowed the search to line up the style icons. The channel has urged its viewers to select the winners in seven popular categories comprising of music, television, films and sports.
Some nominees include Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai, Saif Ali Khan, Lara Dutta, NDTV honcho Prannoy Roy, model Mandira Bedi, singer Daler Mehndi, Indian tennis ace Leander Paes and football star Baichung Bhutia. The judges include film director Karan Johar, cricket commentator Navjot Singh Siddhu, actress Pooja Bhatt among others popular media figures. The panel will be chaired by writer Shobhaa De.
Presently, nominees of the popular categories are being aired on MTV. Viewers are invited to vote for their most stylish person in each category by logging onto mtvindia.com or dropping their votes in ballot boxes placed at MTV Hangouts and Lycra Preferred Partner outlets across the country.
Two other categories that will be awarded are Technical and Honours. The technical awards will acknowledge people from the fashion industry including models, designers and fashion photographers. The Honours will recognise people in the field of business and politics. The winners in the Technical and Honors categories will be decided by the panelists.
The awards will be promoted through a campaign that will run across print, outdoor, on-air and online via mtvindia.com. Exclusive pre-show parties in Bangalore, Delhi and Bombay will usher the Lycra MTV Style Awards.
Lara Dutta, who has been nominated for the most stylish person in films (Female) category has been quoted in the release saying, “Its a great feeling to be nominated. More than clothes, its your body language, attitude and how you carry yourself that’s important. No matter what your shape or size, it’s how comfortable you are with yourself.”
Simone Singh who is competing in the most stylish person on television (Female) category added, “That I have been nominated comes as an unexpected surprise. Style is not about clothes, fashion or trends. Its timeless. Its a sense of self, having confidence, and having a sense of the world around you. Certain qualities like human decency, values and morals have been and will be in style forever.”
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
