Event Coverage
Zee looking to create major buzz at Mipcom
MUMBAI: One of the Indian firms that will have a major presence at next month‘s television trade event is Zee. The firm is buoyed by the fact that that India is the country of honour and is looking to boost relationships with partners.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Neil Chakravarti, business head for Zee‘s English channels, says Subhash Chandra‘s media conglomerate will have a presence across multiple areas. These will be content acquisition, syndication and strategic dialogue. The third area could include doing co-productions. In terms of acquisitions, Zee is looking at different content like films, television series, as well as buying formats like telenovellas.
Chakravarthi adds that a lot of content for the network comes from the US, Western Europe. South East Asia is also growing as a market for the network, he points out.
As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, Chandra will deliver a keynote address at Mipcom. In terms of licensing and syndication, Zee head – Asia Pacific, international business Mukund Cairae, is leading the networks efforts. Cairae says that properties that Zee will push there include the family dramas/soaps – Teen Bahuraniyan, Jab Love Hua, Kassam Se, Dulhan. It will also push the costume drama Ravan as well as Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, a show that profiles celebs.
“We are also taking a slate of Bollywood movies to Mipcom. These are Sholay, the Raj Kapoor starrer Awara, Shahrukh Khan‘s Baazigar, Taal with Aishwarya Rai. Adding variety to our catalogue are general entertainment shows. In the travelogue genre there is Full Circle. In fashion we will showcase Trendsetters. In cookery there is Khana Khazana. From the Jagran channel we will be showcasing a Tarot show Home Healers. From the Zee Music library we are taking B-News.
“We are also taking up a tent just outside the Palais announcing Zee‘s presence and directing inquiries to the sales booth as mentioned above. We are also throwing an exclusive party for our clients on 9 October at La Mandala opposite the Carlton hotel on the beach. However we are currently not looking at selling formats at Mipcom.”
And what significance does India being the country of honour at the event have for Indian firms? “India being the country of honour does bring the focus of the Mipcom press and those attending to Indian content suppliers. With the largest library of Indian content there is a benefit that Zee will derive by riding on this. Our chairman Subhash Chandra being the keynote speaker also would focus attention on the stall and content sales.”
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.
