Event Coverage
Programming for success
“Success is not only about getting more money in whatever you are doing, but doing things in the best possible manner and getting recognition for that,” began fire brand actress turned producer Neena Gupta speaking on the session on ‘Programming for Success’ on the concluding day of Frames 2002. She stressed that there is a social responsibility as a media person on every one of us that whatever we do should have an impact on the lives of people.
If healthy content is not provided to the viewer, in the long run we are going to mentally cripple the coming generation, Gupta warned. She also mentioned that social responsibility does not mean no entertainment. “From my experience I can assure you healthy programming works. You have to put it in a right format which will appeal to viewers. There is a risk, but we have to take it,” Gupta says. She agreed with Ravi Chopra of BR Films who mentioned in his inaugural speech that as programming is evolving, the presentation or programming format changes. But that should not affect the content which is vital.
Harish Thawani, CEO, Nimbus Communications, however, took a contrary view. His opinion being that that India needed to look at creating its own unique content that could be leveraged on a global stage, rather than adapting formats that have been successful abroad. He also mentioned that anything connected to cricket and movies is working and will work in future on television.
The session delved into the various elements that lead to a successful programme with Ramanand Sagar, well known producer, as the chairman. Sachin Pilgaonkar, producer of the popular soap Tu Tu Main Main, said programming success is all about team work. Pilgaonkar’s view was that channels should share revenues for successful programmes with producer, who in turn should pass it on to the crew.
Almost all the speakers felt the need that people in programming in channels needed to be more open to new ideas. Executive producers are ignorant about Indian culture and literature was another complaint. Citing an instance where a pilot were presented to a channel about a series based on the Selected Stories of Premchand, an eminent Hindi writer. Not only was the channel EP utterly ignorant about the great litterateur, to add insult to injury: “Ask the writer to meet us,” was the response.
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.
