News Broadcasting
Padmalaya Telefilms gets a new CMD
MUMBAI: Adiseshagiri Rao, one of the founder members of Padmalaya Telefilms, has officially taken over as chairman-cum-managing director of the company after the resignation of GSR Krishna Murthy.
The appointment was made official yesterday at the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms’ annual board meeting. Padmalaya is now majority-controlled by Zee Telefilms after Chandra bought into the Southern organisation few years back.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Rao stated that this year Padmalaya Telefilms would be expecting a turnover of Rs 1,400 million, which would mean an anticipated jump of Rs 300 million. He also stated that the company would be moving on to the digital cinema platform also soon.
Incidentally, Murthy, who resigned with effect from 2 February 2004, is the brother of Rao.
On the feature film front, Padmalaya has its hands full with about eight films. Three of them are in Hindi and the rest being in regional languages.
With regards Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd. having bagged orders worth over $24 million from three global animation majors, Rao confirmed the development, but added that only a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed till date with an Italian company.
“The formal contract will come through next month,” he added. One of the business deals involves Italy-based Mondo TV, which will be involved in all the pre and post production work for the television series that will cater to the western market. The series is estimated to be a total of 104 episodes.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
