Event Coverage
OTTplay wins big at INMA Global Media Awards 2024
Mumbai: HT Labs-backed OTTplay has scored big at the esteemed INMA Global Media Awards 2024, reaffirming its position in the digital media landscape. OTTplay has won Gold (first place) in the Best Product Iteration category and Silver (second place) in the category for Best Use of an Event to Build a News Brand.
OTTplay’s pioneering effort in product iteration was duly recognised as it managed to beat Germany’s WeltN24 (“Revitalizing the Welt Community”) and Chile’s La Tercera (“The Match Project”) for the top spot. OTTplay’s evolution from a recommendation platform to a OTT aggregator that solves the problem of maintaining multiple subscriptions while offering a unified platform to discover and consume content from across OTTs was recognised as a novel and innovative solution. This is a validation for OTTplay’s commitment to drive consistent innovation and raise the bar for the digital industry.
OTTplay Awards, the brand’s IP that recognises the best movies, shows, actors and makers across the country helped OTTplay win the Silver for Best Use of an Event to Build a News Brand. The first of its kind, OTTplay Awards, which turns three this year, truly celebrates the One Nation One Award philosophy allowing content across all Indian regional languages to compete for ultimate glory. This activation effort stems from the brand’s belief that great content is language agnostic and OTTplay Awards provides a democratic playing field where movies, shows and makers from all regional industries compete for top honours. This win underscores OTTplay’s strategic acumen in establishing a brand that’s determined to build audience engagement through personalising content discovery and by elevating content based on merit alone.
“To be recognised on a prestigious and global platform like INMA is a great honour and we’re humbled to receive these awards,” said OTTplay CEO and co-founder Avinash Mudaliar. He further emphasised that this recognition is a clear testament to the sharp focus, unwavering dedication, and innovative spirit of the entire team. “This strengthens our dedication to leaving a mark on the digital media scene and discovering inventive approaches to delight our users,” Mudaliar added.
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.
