Event Coverage
Snapshots Frames 2001
The vertically-challenged minister for I&B was given a special devise to stand tall on the dais as she spoke…a stool to help her gain a few extra inches.
In an otherwise well-organised event, there were frequent disruptions in sound, with the microphones swallowing most of what ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Sushma Swaraj spoke. Said Swaraj to Bhujbal, The mikes went silent the moment you began to speak of your governments achievements. Now, when Im ready to talk about my ministry, its doing the same again.
Yash Chopra, in between addressing symposiums and supervising rehearsals for the evenings variety entertainment programmes, was seen munching popcorns with Sanjeev Kohli and the Metavision staff.
Dheeraj Kumar sat next to Shaktimaan Mukesh Khanna. While Khanna was heard occasionally shouting Well said, to the speakers, Kumar continued to chat non-stop into his mobile.
Shabana Azmi spent a quiet afternoon with Sushma Swaraj. Whats cooking between the thick pals? Well, neithers telling.
Feroze Khan was seen chatting up the Bachchan, with the FICCI files and portfolio stylishly tucked under his arm. Im in the mood for socialising, these days, he winked, before heading straight for the cocktails.
Amit Khanna, as usual, was a sought-after speaker at the FICCI event. Given his gift for speaking with rare erudition on a variety of topics, he was asked to stand in for several speakers who failed to turn up from Mani Ratnam to Karan Johar.
Rajkumar Barjatya ambled up to speak with a large black bag. But as usual, he spoke so softly that few could hear him until they got closer to him.
Its a different Subhash Ghai we get to meet these days. In keeping with his newfound image of a businessman, perhaps, he rarely speaks unless spoken to, and then he does it in carefully-measured prose
MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY
MINISTER for I&B, SUSHMA SWARAJ was in her elements on the inaugural day of Frames 2001, FICCIs two-day conference on the entertainment industry. In fact, so was AMITABH BACHCHAN, who spoke with insight into what went wrong at AB Corp. He also outlined his plans to revive the company. At the end of it, there was stunned silence and then, a deafening round of applause. Obviously, the Bachchan and his ailing outfit have managed to win not just sympathy, but also support.
It was Swarajs turn to speak, next. That, of course, called for a drastic rearrangement of mikes, given the ministers stature, or the lack of it. See how the Big B harrasses short-statured women, she quipped, before launching into a critique of Bachchans speech.
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.
