Event Coverage
Q&A with Reliance Entertainment Limited chairman Amit Khanna
Ficci convergence committee chairman Amit Khanna believes the Indian entertainment industry is 
following a healthy growth curve and that piracy in the industry can be countered with better enforcement of existing laws. One of the key coordinators of Frames 2002, the national executive committee member puts forth his point his view on various matters central to the entertainment industry in the country.
What, in your opinion, is the current state of the Indian entertainment industry?
The Indian entertainment industry is growing at a healthy 30 per cent CAGR (compounded annual growth rate).Yet, there are endemic problems that are hindering it from realising its full potential: high taxes (entertainment tax, excise duties, etc), piracy and the inorganic nature of the trade.
How has it been affected by the recession?
Entertainment is usually a recession proof industry.
Is creativity being stifled in the interests of commercialisation?
No, creative people are becoming market savvy.
How have technological advances helped it grow in the last decade?
Technology, specially in broadcasting and post-production as well as audio recording has changed dramatically with the advent of digital devices. If customs duty is brought down, it will help the industry further. Also, the next few years will see convergence actually happen as bandwidth and better compression technology becomes available.
How will a forum like Ficci Frames 2002 help the industry find solutions to the problems facing the industry?
The industry has benefitted a lot from earlier editions of Frames. Besides policy changes which are triggered at Frames, the forum also provides an excellent platform for networking.
It is estimated that the industry as a whole loses Rs 150 crores a day on account of piracy
What do you think are the solutions to piracy in the entertainment industry?
There is nothing wrong as far as the laws are concerned. What is required is better enforcement of these laws. And for this to happen, there has to be increased cooperation between industry and the government.
How big a problem is piracy in our country?
It is estimated that the industry as a whole loses Rs 150 crore (Rs 1500 million) a day on account of piracy.
Are there any possibilities for global co-operation among entertainment industries in different countries to combat piracy, ensure stable sources of finance and address other common issues?
Yes WIPO (World Intellectual Properties Organization) is an important forum for this. Also, we are in touch with other trade bodies like the MPA (Motion Pictures Association) and the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) to combat piracy jointly.
What are the other objectives Frames 2002 hopes to achieve by providing a meeting ground for professionals from the entertainment industry?
Frames today is the only forum where the entire Indian entertainment industry gets together annually and does a reality check and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) analysis.
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.
