iWorld
Vietnam’s Duc Phuc hits the high note, wins Intervision 2025 in Moscow
MUMBAI: Talk about a chart-topping comeback, after three decades in silence, the ‘Intervision song contest’ returned with a bang in Moscow, crowning Vietnamese pop star Duc Phuc as its 2025 champion.
Held on 20 September at the packed Live Arena, the revived contest brought together 23 nations from BRICS, CIS, South America and West Asia. Phuc’s powerhouse performance of Phu Dong Thien Vuong wowed the 11,000-strong crowd, earning him 422 points, a clear 49 points ahead of the runner-up, along with a crystal trophy and a hefty 30 million Russian ruble prize.
India struck the right chord on debut. Kashmiri singer-producer Rauhan Malik delivered a stirring performance of his track Ishq, finishing a respectable 12th and earning plaudits for his soulful vocals. Beyond the stage, India’s presence was equally prominent: acclaimed Bollywood composer dr. Jaan Nissar Lone made history as the first Indian jury member, while actress-model Stefy Patel, draped in a traditional pink Kanjivaram saree, co-hosted the global spectacle with flair.
The organisational spotlight also fell on India, with Mumbai-based ARMS record label private limited / AR music studios serving as co-organiser, Newsx as media partner, and Roshan space brandcom handling outdoor promotions.
Backed by an international committee chaired by Russia’s deputy pm Dmitry Chernyshenko, the rebooted ‘Intervision’ carried the stamp of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s cultural vision. More than just a competition, it became a showcase of global unity and artistic exchange.
For India, this debut signals more than just a song, it marks a growing role on the international performing arts stage, with Malik summing it up best, “Intervision 2025 was an unforgettable experience. The love and warmth made it feel like music truly knows no borders.”
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
