Event Coverage
Stage set for Ficci Frames 2002; Swaraj to inaugurate
All is ready for the second edition of the annual global convention on the business of entertainment – Ficci Frames (Films Radio Audio-visuals Music Events and Shows) 2002, which kicks off tomorrow at the Renaissance Convention Centre, Powai, in Mumbai.
The convention, which runs through tomorrow and the day after, will be inaugurated by Union information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. Adding considerable stature to the scale and scope of this year’s event is the number of global media leaders who will be speaking during the various sessions.
The inaugural speech is by noted film producer and Ficci Entertainment Committee Chairman, Yash Chopra and will have Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in attendance. The inaugural session will also feature a keynote address by James Murdoch, chairman & CEO, Star Group, and special address by noted film actor Kamal Haasan.
A special ceremony to honour Lata Mangeshkar and Dilip Kumar as living legends of the Indian entertainment industry will be one of the highlights of tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony.
Some of the highlights of Frames 2002 are a demonstration on digital origination and exhibition and reports presented by Ficci’s knowledge partners Arthur Anderson and Amarchand Mangaldas.
The digital demonstration, with contemporary examples, is to be held at IMAX, Wadala, Mumbai, tonight.
Arthur Anderson will present the third edition of its much-awaited report on the entertainment industry. Amarchand Mangaldas will present a report on the legal issues affecting all segments of the entertainment industry such as rationalisation of entertainment tax, corporatisation models, institutional finance, anti-piracy law, etc.
In all, Frames 2002 will witness 24 sessions.
Frames 2002 promises to have the largest ever gathering in India of some of the best national and international minds in the business of entertainment including an impressive list of 150 speakers from India and abroad. Some of the prominent speakers are James Murdoch, Dr Patrick Cross, MD, BBC World, Yoshinori Imai, director-general, NHK, Japan, Michael Connors, Sr. VP (Asia Pacific), Motion Pictures Association of America, the History Channel’s Carl Meyer and Tech TV’s Tom Grams.
In an attempt to bring value to the participants, a trading hub has been set up at Frames 2002 facilitating the business flow along with the set up at Frames 2002 facilitating the business flow along with exchange of knowledge, information and ideas.
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.
