News Broadcasting
Watch out for Hyderabads animation booth at Mipcom
other states may do well to borrow a leaf from the Andhra Pradesh government, which is partly sponsoring the participation of Hyderabad’s animation industry at this year’s Mipcom.
More specifically, the AP government is funding the stand fees for two Hyderabad-based companies – Green Gold Animation and Discreet Art.
“The government is partly funding our participation at the event. And this goes up to 50 per cent of the total stand fee. It can go up beyond 50 per cent depending on the response we get,” informs Green Gold Animation vice president -business development Govinda Talluri.
Creator of the popular animated character, Chhota Bheem, Green Gold Animation, has been participating in Mipcom since 2007. “Though we didn’t go in 2011-2012, this year, since the Andhra Pradesh government decided to support the companies based in Hyderabad for events like Mipcom, we, along with Discreet Arts and 20 (approximately) people from the AVCGI association will represent AP at Mipcom this year,” adds Talluri.
We will be targeting European and South American countries at Mipcom, says Green Gold Animation vice president -business development Talluri
AVCGI or Animation, VFX, Comic & Gaming Industry of AP is a recently formed association by the animation industry in Hyderabad with the aim of garnering support from the AP government for its proper functioning.
Apart from Chhota Bheem, which is Green Gold’s biggest property, it will also take other animated characters Mighty Raju and Arjun to Mipcom. “We plan to come up with a theatrical for Mighty Raju by next year and so, will use Mipcom to create a buzz about the movie. Also Arjun, a show that we have created for Disney, will form part of our offering to buyers,” says Talluri.
For all these years, Green Gold catered to Indian and South East Asian markets and recently sold its content to USA and Canada. The major is now aiming at European countries like France, Germany, Spain and South America. “This is not an exhaustive list, we want to reach out to as many markets as possible,” adds Talluri.
Enthused by the government’s support, Green Gold aims to present its library of 8,500 minutes of original content to a global audience. “Also, with our 174-episode Chhota Bheem being sold to eight countries, we would definitely want to expand our reach and get noticed,” says Talluri.
With the largest content sale market cum conference just 15 days away, the company is busy scheduling meetings with buyers. “Though a few meetings have already been fixed, we are also pitching in for more buyers,” he says. The company will primarily target television as the preferred platform. “Once we are there, getting to other platforms will not be difficult,” he rounds off.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
