Event Coverage
IRAA 2019 announces appointment of Mujeeb Dadarkar as Awards Director
MUMBAI: Indian Recording Arts Academy (IRAA) governing council consisting of Anil Chopra, Founder & Director, PALM Expo and Founder & Executive Chairman, IRAA, Pramod Chandorkar, Founder & Director of Soundideaz Academy and Honorary Chairman of the IRAA Award Committee 2019and Ramesh Chetwani, Exhibition Director, PALM Expo have appointed esteemed Sound Engineer Mujeeb Dadarkar as Award Director of IRAA Awards 2019.
Mujeeb Dadarkar, a renownedrecording engineer and technical consultant to the Audio/ Video industry since 1983 is experienced in multiple fields such as Sound Engineering, Studio Design, Computer Hardware, Live Sound Engineering and Systems Integration as an independent consultant.
His role as a sound engineer has spanned numerous documentaries, advertising and feature film projects. In addition to the above, he has extensive Live sound experience for celebrated artistes like UstadZakirHussain, whom Dadarkar has assisted as FOH engineer during concert tours like “Masters of Percussion” as well as several other concerts.
As the IRAA Awards Director he will oversee the growth of Awards. His role would involve the translation of his vision into increased entries and selection of the best music and recording from studios across the country. His duties include evaluation and judging process, ensuring that all entries received are reviewed and judged fairly to ensure the awards are conducted in a scrupulous manner.
Pramod Chandorkar, expressed “I am very happy Mujeeb accepted the post of award director of IRAAAwards. His seniority and vast experience in the field of sound will be very valuable for the whole IRAA team. This year we plan to take the awards to the next level as we expect to double the entries this year than the previous year. I thank the jury for agreeing to be with us again and help us sustain the mission.”
The IRAA Awards which recognizes work of distinction and exceptional achievements in the field of Sound Recording has been critically acclaimed and recognised by Indian recording engineers aspiring for recognition in their technical art. In its 13th consecutive year IRAA will continue to applaud those who exhibit the courage and creativity to bring about a transformation in the world of sound recording.
Anil Chopra, Chairman welcomed Mujeeb Dadarkar as Award Director, “IRAA gained tremendous reputation in past few years with a diligent and methodical selection of recordings for which we indeed need thank the jury headed by the Award Director. Mujeeb has been standing strong with IRAA as jury member since long. I am confident as Award Director Mujeeb will go the green mile in building participation by the entire recording fraternity across the country. IRAA endeavors to bring together on stage in 2019 the creative artistes as well, to applaud the art of recording that creates chart busting music in India”.
Aditya Modi, Vice chairperson of Audio Engineering Society India, Member of CEDIA and IRAA Awards Director 2018, conveyed his best wishes to Mujeeb Dadarkar and said, “I would like to graciously transfer over the post of Director of IRAA for the year 2019, to my dear friend and extraordinary acoustician, sound engineer & Human Being – Mujeeb Dadarkar. I thoroughly enjoyed this post last year and it was a landmark year for IRAA as we shared the dias with Mr.A.R.Rahman himself. All the best Mujeeb! May you take IRAA to the next level.”
Commenting on his appointment as IRAA Awards Director 2019, MujeebDadarkar said, “IRAA awards have always been special to audio professionals because of the opportunity to connect with and be recognized by their peers. I am happy to be appointed as Awards Director for 2019 and would like to reiterate the jury's commitment to honour and encourage excellence in the field."
Nominate now and send in your entries for the 2019awards. Log on to http://iraa.in/registration.aspxand be among the first to nominate and be recognised by the jury.
Nominations for soundtracks and albums released between 1st January and 31st December 2018 are eligible for consideration.
The winners will be announced at the IRAA award ceremony which will take place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai on 1st June, 2019, 4 pm onwards.
Smita Rai, Project Head – Features & Marketing, PALM expo 2019, is managing the coordination of IRAA 2019 between the Chairman, Director and Jury and overseeing the entry and nomination process and production of the award ceremony.
For more information, please contact Smita Rai at srai@palmexpo.in or 9820943398
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.
