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Tag: Shekhar Kapur

  • Pradhanmantri Season 2 to be aired every Saturday from January 25

    ABP News unveils Season 2 of ‘Pradhanmantri’

    By A Correspondent

     

    ABP News has unveiled the second season of its show, Pradhanmantri. The show delves into the stories and intricacies of contemporary India and the season will premiere on January 25, 2020. The show will be hosted by producer and actor, Shekhar Kapur.

     

    Said Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP News Network on the show: “We are extremely excited to present this show to the audience owing to its highly unique concept. Pradhanmantri Season II is sure to transcend all expectations of the viewers through comprehensive and compelling storytelling, backed by long, painstaking research. We at ABP want to go beyond the common perception of TV news as a speed news churner and create content that connects to the audience on a much more deeper and profound level. Pradhanmantri Season II is the epitome of such viewer-driven content.”

     

    Added Kapur: “Ever since its inception, Pradhanmantri has held a special place in the heart of the viewers. The new season has been brought to the fore after identifying the pulse of the audience, with newer concepts and intriguing topics. Through the fresh season, we want to take the viewers through an entrancing journey of the Indian history and share with them– the old, the new and the unexplored.”

     

     

  • The board of Qyuki Digital Media Pvt Ltd has announced the appointment of Samir Bangara as its Managing Director and CEO, succeeding Poonacha Machaiah. Mr Bangara will assume his new role from June 3, 2013

    UTV’s Samir Bangara joins Qyuki as MD & CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    The board of Qyuki Digital Media Pvt Ltd has announced the appointment of Samir Bangara as its Managing Director and CEO, succeeding Poonacha Machaiah. Mr Bangara will assume his new role from June 3, 2013.

     

    Prior to this appointment, Mr Bangara was managing director of the digital business at Disney UTV. With 15 years of extensive experience in the media and technology space, he was responsible for driving growth and scaling the digital business of the company in various avatars.

     

    “More than track record in building companies, what is important to me and A R Rahman is that the goals and dreams of people who join our endeavour are equal to ours. We welcome Samir in joining us both as part of the founding team, confident of his commitment, aspirations desire and abilities to venture with us beyond where individually we are capable of,” said Shekhar Kapur, film director and producer.

     

    “Unlocking the creative potential of India is an incredibly compelling idea. I was in the midst of starting my own venture focused on this when I met Shekhar. The ability to partner Shekhar Kapur and A R Rahman and coming aboard Qyuki added terrific synergies to my own ambitions,” said Samir Bangara.

     

    “Any start-up in this space is like sailing into the high seas with sails being ripped by uncertain storms. Poonacha has been a great captain at the helm and kept the ship steady and on course. He will be missed and we wish him luck” said AR Rahman, composer, singer, songwriter and record producer.

     

  • Social creative platform Qyuki.com has appointed Sunny Side Up to manage its creative duties

    Sunny Side Up bags creative mandate for Qyuki.com

    By A Correspondent

     

    Somak Chaudhary

    Social creative platform Qyuki.com has appointed Sunny Side Up to manage its creative duties. The six year-old agency with offices in Hyderabad and Bangalore will be involved in supporting the platform with its online campaigns for promotion and building sustainable digital assets.

     

    An initiative of Shekhar Kapur and AR Rahman, Qyuki.com intends to look at the new paradigm in social media by helping people follow their creative interests. And Qyuki will be supported by Sunny Side Up in finding newer ways of engaging with the platform’s growing user base.

     

    Qyuki.com is targeted at Indian youth residing in Tier 1, 2 and 3 markets, and Indian diaspora, aged 18 to 35 years. According to Bidisha Nagaraj, Qyuki’s Chief Marketing Officer, “The platform aims to unlock the creative potential of India by empowering people’s self-expression and enable them to build their creative identity. At Qyuki, Indian youth come together to experience differentiated content created by masters. They also get an opportunity to interact, learn and co-create content with creative experts with a potential of themselves becoming brands of the future. In Sunny Side Up, we found a partner who understands the need of a unique platform like Qyuki to continuously stay relevant to its target”.

     

  • The Lowe+Partners session titled Global India with R Balki and Shekhar Kapur saw the two film-makers share their mantras on how marketers can succeed in India

    India@Cannes: Balki & Shekhar Kapur talk of how to do business in India

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Shekhar Kapur

    One of the most exciting sessions on Day 3 of Cannes Lions 2012 – and not just for Indians – was the one by Lowe + Partners titled Global India. Oscar-nominated film director Shekhar Kapur and filmmaker and Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of Lowe Lintas, R Balki were in discussion with Wired editor David Rowan. On the seminar agenda was a look at the creative heritage of India and its influence on global culture and enterprise. This was the first time that Cannes Lions featured a seminar dedicated to Indian creativity and its global influence.

     

    Introducing the speakers, IPG Chairman Michael Roth stated that the session at Cannes was an indication of the importance of India in the global economy. Speaking of the growing importance and the shifting focus to India, Mr Balki said, “What has changed over the years is that earlier, India was judged globally. Today, India is the jury, be it the global products or ideas.” Talking about Indian creatives on a global platform he admitted that a lot of things don’t make any sense to the rest of the world. But he also pointed out that brands who have tried to implement global theory, have messed up in India. He said, “Global brands have to come to India selling like a local brand. Any global thought has to be highly ‘Indianised’ to be implemented in India. And, it’s a difficult job.” Mr Balki added, “If you want to know India, watch ‘The Story of India’ by Michael Woods.”

     

    R Balki

    Furthering Mr Balki’s point of an ‘Indianised’ idea, Mr Kapur remarked that India was a land of imagination. He said, “The West calls us melodramatic, we call it mythical.” He added that any idea to work in India has to be magically ‘Indianised’.

     

    Speaking on the impact of social media, Mr Kapur agreed that social media was set to change the way we live but not advertising. He also agreed that social media holds an opportunity for India and he said that the new real estate is the social media. He said, “Fifteen per cent of the world’s teenage population will live in India. So there will be a large number of consumers on social media. This will make us an influencing economy, if not a dominant economy.”

     

    Discussing his views on social media and its impact, Mr Balki remarked that social media currently in India is a one-sided communication, where we are expressing ourselves but not accepting messages. Talking about the Indian economy, Mr Kapur said that Indians needs to move from being job-makers to job-creators.

     

    Sharing tips for global brands entering India, Mr Balki said, “Stop looking at India as a market and you will succeed. And, let the Indians do the things in India.” Mr Kapur added, “When the West stops looking at India as a market and starts looking at it as a culture, they’ll make it there.”

     

  • Cheer loud and clear for your country. Make lots of noise and have lots of fun. You are in the Mecca of advertising and this is your time, says Sneha Iype Varma

    The Anchor: Sneha Iype Varma on 5 things to do when at Cannes

     

    By Sneha Iype Varma

     

    1. Soak it in

    This year Cannes is promising to be full of very exciting talks. Some very prominent names include Ridley Scott (Film Director) , Zaha Hadid ( renowned architect), Bill Clinton and Dan Weiden. Some interesting sessions such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – can your idea change the world , Global India – Talk by Shekhar Kapur and Balki/Jeff Goodby Saatchi new directors showcase/John Hegarty and Dan Weiden… among the several other very interesting sessions by Google, P&G and the rest. Soak it in and come back feeling rejuvenated!

     

    2. Party party party!

    Attend all the happening parties and connect with the world. Shots beach party, Cannesutra India party – all the award functions followed by each party. Meet associates from across the world and exchange ideas and, of course, just hang loose and have fun. Go to the Gutter bar everyday and tank up till the wee hours!

     

    3. The grand Prix and some art anyone?

    Go toMonaco. Monacois very close to Nice and Cannes. It’s a must since you are travelling all the way there. Especially if you are a car enthusiast. It’s a very small town and densely populated. It hosts the Monaco Grand prix and is an extremely popular place for the rich and famous. Of course, all of the French Riviera is and that’s where you will be, so may as well soak it in a bit. If you aren’t inclined and are the more arty sort – please go to Eze. It’s a small quaint artists’ village and you can spend hours just window shopping or shopping all the way up to a stunning view from atop the hill. Truly worth it. If you have an international driving license, it might even be worth it to drive yourself and some friends around.

     

    4. Food! Glorious Food!

    By the third day most of us Indians crave spicy food and some hot (as in garam) food. The bland fish and the hard baguettes become a bit boring! So go looking for a good Indian/ Pakistani / Chinese or Thai joint and load the chilli sauce on anything half edible. If you find a half decent place, recommend it to fellow Indian delegates and you will soon be worshipped and become a hero of sorts. Keep looking or better still think up ideas to open shop there sometime!

     

    5. Why are you here?

    Watch all the shortlists. That’s what you’re in Cannes for, remember! That’s also why the jury toils endlessly, so please go get a good glimpse of work that scores. The shortlists play across categories and you must catch all the film categories to understand where we stand in the global mix. That’s when the final award night makes more sense. Cheer loud and clear for your country. Make lots of noise and have lots of fun. You are in the Mecca of advertising and this is your time! Have a great trip and bon voyage!

     

    Sneha Iype Varma is the Executive Producer/ Partner at Nirvana Films. She is also on the jury of the Film Craft category at Cannes 2012.

     

  • This year, Lowe Lintas, will take to the stage to present 'Global India' – the first time the Cannes Lions Festival has featured a seminar dedicated to Indian creativity and its influence globally

    Balki & Shekhar Kapur to present ‘Global India’ at Cannes Lions 2012

    By A Correspondent

     

    R Balki

    The annual Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity kicks off on June 17. Every year a select number of world class advertising networks are invited to speak to the assembled delegates, who converge onCannesfrom all over the world. Some 10,000 delegates, from the agency and client world, attend the festival each year.

     

    This year, Lowe Lintas, will take to the stage to present ‘Global India’ – the first time the Cannes Lions Festival has featured a seminar dedicated to Indian creativity and its influence globally.

     

    Shehkar Kapur

    Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Lowe LintasIndia, R Balki, will be joined on stage by special guest, Oscar nominated Director, Actor, Producer and new media entrepreneur, Shehkar Kapur. Wired magazine Editor, David Rowan, will interview Mr Balki and Mr Kapur on stage, while the seminar will be introduced by Michael Roth, Chairman and CEO of Lowe and Partners parent company, IPG.

     

    Michael Wall, Global CEO of Lowe and Partners said: “At Lowe and Partners, we pride ourselves on our strong capability in emerging markets. We have great, talented leaders like Balki, who manages to successfully meet the challenges presented by globalization ofIndia, while preserving the local culture. We can look forward to a thought provoking seminar from Balki and Shekhar at Cannes Lions, the first time the festival has dedicated a session toIndia.”

     

    Wall added: “This seminar isn’t just for the Indian Cannes delegates to attend,India’s future will play a large role in our industry’s future and should be of interest to all delegates.”

     

    Mr Balki and Mr Kapur will share their thoughts on a variety of topics, including the creative heritage ofIndia, the future ofIndiaon a world stage, Indian advertising,Indiain the digital age and the film and entertainment industry, and discuss their views on the impact of the nation around the world.

     

    Mr Balki commented: “We are very excited to bringIndiato Cannes Lions for the first time and to have Shekhar join us. He has been, of course, a leading Indian creative force, with a world profile, for some years now and is set to inspire the gathered creatives from all over the world, who attend the event. Cannes Lions is really the only truly global festival that celebrates our industry and looks to its future andIndiais at the forefront of that future. We plan to bring all the diversity, colour, creativity and passion that is modernIndia, on stage with us.”

     

    Mr Kapur added: “I am happy for the opportunity to be on the same platform with creative leaders like Balki and Lowe and Partners and look forward to a great, in depth discussion. Social Media is a new force that is asking us to redefine Advertising’s role in society – we have great challenges, but huge opportunities available to us too, by working within communities”.