Event Coverage
Route Amplify 2.0: Route Mobile & CNBC-TV18 spotlight digital communication and identity
Mumbai: Route Amplify, a conclave presented by Route Mobile Ltd, a CPaaS provider for enterprises, OTT players, and mobile network operators in association with CNBC-TV18, showcased conversational solutions, customer experience breakthroughs, and digital trust strategies on 27 September in Mumbai. Designed to advance cloud communications and digital identity, Route Amplify 2.0 brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and key stakeholders from around the world, fostering discussions to shape the country’s largest CPaaS-focused conclave.
The esteemed speakers at the event included Edelweiss Group chairman Rashesh Shah; Route Mobile MD and Group CEO Rajdip Gupta; former World No. 1 badminton player Saina Nehwal; HDFC Bank chief digital officer Anjani Rathor; Restaurants Brand Asia group chief technology officer Kiran Komatla; PwC India managing director – customer transformation Vivek Srivastava; Google head of strategic partnerships Abhinav Jha; Deloitte partner – customer strategy & design Vivette D’cruz; Landmark Group customer & loyalty product leader (Middle East) Emily Ong; Godrej Consumer Products Ltd head of business transformation & digital Vijay Kannan; and Amazon Web Services head of customer solutions – CIO advisory (India & South Asia) Dr Bishwajit Mohapatra.
Building on the success of the first season, Route Amplify Season 2 focused on the themes of ‘Conversations & Trust,’ exploring trends, innovations, and insights across industries, with special emphasis on Generative AI’s role in customer experience.
India, the second-largest market for OTT consumption after China, lacked a CPaaS-focused event. Route Mobile, a global CPaaS player, initiated this platform to shape the future of digital communications.
The event also offered a platform for networking and knowledge sharing, highlighting the impact of cloud communications on businesses globally.
Route Mobile MD & Group CEO Rajdipkumar Gupta said, “With Route Amplify Edition 2.0, we aim to build on the momentum of last year’s success and enthusiasm, creating an even more enriching platform for industry leaders to unite and drive innovation to shape the future of digital communications. Our primary goal is to foster discussions that will lead to real-world developments and solutions in these vital areas.”
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.
