Event Coverage
Television and cinema can co- exist
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MUMBAI:With television becoming the main mode of entertainment in the country today, the impact and growth of regional language channels, especially in the South, cannot be undermined. The session on ‘Regional media : Emergence of a new market’, held on the second day at FRAMES primarily talked about regional cinema and how it needs to be taken beyond the respective region. It also stressed on regional media companies’ ability to grow and diversify successfully in their territories and outside as well. “Cinema and TV co- exist. Most of the popular programmes on Asianet channel are movie based comedy shows,” said Asianet chief operating officer Mohan Nair, while stressing on the symbiotic relationship which regional cinema share with the regional channels.  “Television needs movies and is in no way a deterrent to the film industry. We have slots wherein we run movies only and Asianet for one has acquired movies which have not done well in theaters. Thus the film maker gets his audience and we do our bit for the industry,” he added. In a bid to explain why channels opt to step into film production, Nair said, “Unfortunately, the problems faced by channels, especially regional channels is that the cost of acquisition of movies has increased 10 to 20 times. In the 80’s it was two to four lakhs and now it is close to 20 lakhs. This makes acquiring movies extremely unviable. We have so far made three films which have done well “. “Each movie cost us 25 – 30 lakhs only. These such low budget ventures are fit only for channel premiers as they do not have mega stars like Mamooty or Mohan Lal and thus don’t stand a chance outside.” He also highlighted the fact that with proper streamlining , the two media – television and regional cinema can share a symbiotic relationship where television can promote the movies outside the region and thus interest distributors to show the movies in these areas”. |
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The session: Regional Media: Emergence of a new market |
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Moderator: NFDC managing director Deepankar Mukhopadhayay |
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.
