Event Coverage
Q&A With Ficci deputy secretary Siddhartha Dasgupta
The clock is ticking for Ficci Frames 2002. The third edition of the two-day global convention on entertainment conducted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), promises to be bigger and better than ever before. And indiantelevision.com is proud to be a part of it.
Two-years-old and counting is what indiantelevision is now and it is perhaps fitting that Ficci has chosen it as its online media partner.
The event, to be held on 15 and 16 March 2002, is expected to attract the top names in the entertainment industry. Several issues related to the industry are likely to be thrashed out at the mega event, to be held at the Renaissance Convention Centre, Powai, Mumbai.
The site will provide regular updates on the various highlights of the convention which include broadcasting, films, marketing, music, new media and cable and network. Ficci, which was set up to further the interests of the Indian business community, is now moving ahead to integrate the Indian economy with the global mainstream.
indiantelevision.com, the only online media service that has the privilege of being associated with Frames 2002, provides links to the Ficci site, to enable online registration for Frames 2002.
In this the first of the Ficci Frames 2002 Q&A series, Siddhartha Dasgupta, deputy secretary Ficci, gives his views on what the convention hopes to achieve.
What does Frames 2002 hope to achieve?
We have three main planks upon which we have broadly divided our focus. These are – corporatisation of the industry, technology issues and marketing of entertainment products.
Corporatisation will cover the entire gamut of financing, valuations, insurance and legal framework governing the entertainment industry and will have eminent experts both from India and abroad speaking.
It is to help in the corporatisation process that this year solicitors Amarchand Mangaldas will be presenting a report on legal issues affecting all segments of the entertainment industry. This report proposes to deal with four key issues:
i) Rationalization of entertainment tax – legal issues and way forward.
ii) Corporatisation models for the film industry and other television and radio content producers.
iii) Model guidelines for banks/financial institutions for facilitating lending to this sector.
iv) Model guidelines for executive orders for protection of IPR & structured anti-piracy campaign by the government.
On the technology side, a Digital Cinema screening of a feature film will be made on the sidelines of Frames 2002. The importance we are giving to the technology session of Frames 2002 can be garnered by the number of distinguished speakers that will be present.
As far as marketing of entertainment products is concerned, the entire gamut of the industry will be covered.
The international speakers will provide an international perspective as well as provide fresh ideas as far as the international experience is concerned.
Which are the different segments the convention has been broken down into?
Frames 2002 will be covering films, radio, audiovisual, music, events and shows.
What are the prominent aspects of the television industry that will be touched upon?
The biggest names in the industry will be touching upon a whole range of issues that concern broadcasters. The sessions specific to the TV industry are “Broadcasting, The Importance of Change”, “Cable & The network: Broadbanding India”, “Niche Broadcasting”, “Programming for Success” and “TV News Gathering”.
Is Frames 2002 likely to have an influence on the government’s agenda for the entertainment industry?
Frames is one of the more important fora through which we try to influence thinking as well as policy decisions. After that we cull out the key issues while preparing our reports and this is pitched to the relevant government departments and bodies.
The third edition of the Arthur Andersen report on the entertainment industry is a significant part of that effort. The report will rank the states in terms of their investor friendliness and also focus on convergence.
How many participants are expected to be involved?
For most of the sessions we have brought in international speakers. This is so as to provide an international perspective as well as provide fresh ideas as far as the international experience is concerned.
More than 25 overseas speakers from countries such as US, UK, France Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE having confirmed their participation. Some prominent names are James Murdoch, chairman & CEO, Star Group; Dr Patrick Cross, MD, BBC Worldwide; Yoshinori Imai, director-general, NHK, Japan; William Sinrich, president & COO, IMG; Jon Kirchner, president & COO, DTS, USA; Michael Connors, Sr. V-P (Asia Pacific), Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA).
Frames is one of the more important fora through which we try to influence thinking as well as policy decisions.
How will Frames 2002 differ from similar conventions held in the past by Ficci?
The big difference this time, aside from the sheer size and scale of this year’s event, is that there will be a digital screening of a film.
Is Frames 2002 likely to throw up solutions to long pending problems plaguing the Indian entertainment industry?
Well we are trying to set in motion a process of highlighting key issues and we will take it from there.
What is the Trading Hub at Frames 2002 all about?
This is essentially to facilitate the inflow of information and exchange of ideas. The trading hub is seen as a networking opportunity where several professionals would be able establish contacts, gather information concerning new technologies and development of markets, establish international co-production and possibly lay the foundation for new partnerships.
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.
