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Sony BBC Earth celebrated Science Film Festival at Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre
Mumbai: Staying true to its promise of feel alive, Sony BBC Earth, the most loved infotainment channel mesmerised young minds with an unprecedented cinematic experience with its Science Movie Festival. Spread across three days, the festival reached out to over 1000 students at the illustrious Nehru Science Centre. This groundbreaking event fused the magic of movies with an enriching educational journey, creating an atmosphere of awe and inspiration for school children across the city.
The Science Movie Festival, an initiative by Sony BBC Earth in association with Nehru Science Centre aimed at transforming the way children perceive and engage with science. Through a carefully curated selection of films, the event ignited a passion for science, propelling young learners into the vast expanse of space. James Webb: The $10 Billion Space Telescope took students into the cosmos with the potential to revolutionise the understanding of the universe, spectacular Earth (Aurora) portrayed the mesmerising northern and southern lights, offering a glimpse into the Earth’s magnetic beauty, and spectacular Earth (Volcano) unveiled the raw power and astonishing landscapes shaped by this natural phenomenon. The festival transcended the boundaries of conventional education, offering young audiences a front-row seat to the marvels of the universe.
Over the course of three days, students from a multitude of schools across Mumbai converged at Nehru Science Centre, becoming part of an educational odyssey. The screening sessions saw active participation from a diverse array of schools. After each screening, an interactive Q&A session followed, offering exciting goodies for the eager participants.
Sony AATH business operations head and Sony Pictures Networks head – marketing & insights, English cluster Rohan Jain said, “We have always believed in catering to young and curious minds through our content and initiatives. The Science Movie Festival is not just an event; it’s an experience that has the potential to ignite a lifelong passion for science in the hearts of young learners. Through the power of visual storytelling, we aim to nurture a new generation of explorers and thinkers.”
GECs
Sahara One reports financial results, notes director exit and business realignment
Muted revenues, steady expenses and strategic adjustments shape company’s current phase
MUMBAI: In a tale where the sands seem to be slipping faster than they can be gathered, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited has reported another quarter of wafer-thin income and widening losses, even as a boardroom exit adds to the unease.
The company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that its board, in a meeting held on April 4, approved its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The numbers paint a stark picture. Total income for the quarter stood at just Rs 0.13 lakh, unchanged sequentially and sharply down from Rs 0.26 lakh a year earlier.
Losses, meanwhile, deepened. The company posted a net loss of Rs 24.16 lakh for the quarter, compared to Rs 18.81 lakh in the June quarter and Rs 39.69 lakh in the same period last year. For the six months ended September 2025, the cumulative loss stood at Rs 39.69 lakh, while the full-year loss for FY25 was reported at Rs 60.72 lakh.
Expenses continued to outweigh income by a wide margin. Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 24.30 lakh, led by employee benefit costs of Rs 6.51 lakh and other expenses of Rs 17.78 lakh. Earnings per share remained in the red at Rs (0.11) for the quarter.
The balance sheet reflects a company with significant assets on paper but limited operational momentum. Total assets stood at Rs 23,065.57 lakh as of September 30, 2025, broadly unchanged from March 2025. Equity share capital remained steady at Rs 2,152.50 lakh, while total equity was reported at Rs 18,004.85 lakh.
Cash and cash equivalents saw a modest uptick to Rs 6.75 lakh from Rs 4.68 lakh earlier, supported by a positive operating cash flow of Rs 180.01 lakh for the period.
Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more complex narrative. The company’s auditors flagged their inability to obtain sufficient evidence to form a conclusion on the financial statements, citing lack of access to records. They also raised concerns over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, pointing to insufficient funds, delayed recoveries, and stalled content investments.
Adding to the governance overhang, the company disclosed that Rana Zia has resigned as whole-time director, effective October 16, 2025, citing other professional commitments. The resignation, noted and accepted by the board, also brings an end to her role across company committees.
Regulatory pressures continue to loom large. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has already initiated penal actions for non-compliance with listing norms, with trading in the company’s shares remaining suspended. There is also a risk of promoter demat accounts being frozen.
Legacy legal issues remain unresolved. A substantial deposit of Rs 694,027.88 thousand linked to the long-running OFCD dispute involving Sahara group entities is still under the purview of the Supreme Court of India. Restrictions on asset disposal continue to weigh on the company’s financial flexibility.
Operationally, challenges persist across multiple fronts. Advances worth Rs 1,92,916 thousand given for film content remain stuck, with delays in project completion and uncertain recoverability. The company’s YouTube channel, despite being operational, has generated no revenue for over three years due to compliance lapses. In a further twist, management has indicated that revenues may have been fraudulently diverted through unauthorised changes to its AdSense account, with a police complaint in the works.
There are also missed revenue opportunities. Television content rights continue to be used by a related party despite the expiry of the licence agreement, with fresh negotiations still underway.
For now, Sahara One Media and Entertainment Limited appears caught between legacy disputes and present-day operational hurdles. As losses linger and governance questions mount, the road to recovery looks less like a sprint and more like a slow trudge through shifting sands.
