MACAO LIGHT FESTIVAL 2020 – LIGHT CARNIVAL” DAZZLES THE MACAO CITYSCAPE

~Colorful illuminations create a sparkling Lights Carnival~

Mumbai, 30^th November 2020: Curtains to the splendid “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” that took place from 26^th September 2020, which dazzled the cityscape until 31 October 2020. Staging the sixth edition of the Festival, this was the first time that Tap Seac Square was illuminated along with a spectacular mapping show projected upon four historic façades. The four routes were mapped out across 12 locations in town to create a sparkling carnival. The event was organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-organized by Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Sports Bureau and Economic Bureau with the support of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao.

The 6th Macao Light Festival was staged from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from 26 September to 31 October. Themed as “Light Carnival”, the Festival presented light installations and interactive games at 12 locations along four designated routes themed as “Circus”, “Time Tunnel”, “Candy Kingdom” and “Music Box of Lights” in different parishes. The Festival offered numerous hotspots for selfies and check-ins on social media. Macao Tourism Mascot MAK MAK appeared in lovely costumes across the routes, accompanying residents and visitors on the fun “Light Carnival” journey.

Mapping shows told enchanting stories at five locations-

The Macao Light Festival staged different mapping shows at five iconic attractions including Tap Seac Square, China Products Company at Largo do Pagode do Bazar and Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park as new venues, as well as Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome and the restaurant Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa at Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa Village as last year. At Tap Seac Square, the mega mapping show projected upon the facades of four historic architectures including the buildings of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tap Seac Health Centre, Macao Central Library and the Archives of Macao. Painting strokes of light upon the magnificent canvas, the show conveyed various expressions of color in different styles of artworks.

Themed as “Inheritance”, the mapping show at China Products Company portrayed Macao’s local culture in the old times with a vivid picture of the city’s long history and age-old values passed on from generation to generation. Themed as “Circus Show”, the mapping show at Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park was a virtual confluence of acrobatics, magic and stunt performance, immersing audiences in a dreamlike carnival of vitality and joy. Themed as “Touring North District”, the mapping show at Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome led audiences to visit hidden gems in the Northern District, unveiling enchanting stories and social landscape of the community. Staged at Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa Village, the mapping show transformed the building of Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa into a “Musical Piano”. Several famous pieces of classical music were represented in visual forms, offering spectators a fresh experience of classical music and the possibilities beyond.

Light events in communities

An array of light events were held in local communities in tandem with the Macao Light Festival this year. The Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao concurrently staged “Macao Light Festival 2020 — Light and Color at Cathedral Parish”, “Macao Light Festival 2020 — Fun Journey of Light at Our Lady of Fatima Parish” and “Macao Light Festival 2020 — ‘Light extravaganza on Coloane’ at Parish of St. Francis Xavier” respectively. The events encompassed light installations, workshops, interactive games, and performances, along with time-limited offers and giveaways from the Festival.

MGTO paid close attention to the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and made timely and proper arrangements for all the shows and activities in accord with the guidelines issued by Health Bureau. 

Furniture searches online jump 1.5x-2x ahead of wedding season: Flipkart data

With the onset of the wedding season, usually witnessed from December to March, an increasing number of consumers across the country are looking for their furniture essentials online. With COVID necessitating staying indoors coupled with the inherent benefits of shopping online including the availability of a large selection of products and home delivery services, there has been a significant surge in searches of beds, sofas and dining tables to name a few.

Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has witnessed an increase of 1.5x-2x in search of furniture items across verticals during the past few months as against the same period last year. This indicates a growing consumer appetite for purchasing furniture online in the run up to the wedding season. While the searches from metros and tier-I cities have jumped by 1.5x and 1.7x respectively,it is the tier-III cities which are leading the search trends with over 2x jump over last year. While beds and sofas are the most searched items for wedding shopping across cities, there is a growing demand for affordable and multi-functional furniture such as sofa-cum-beds etc., which ensure better utilisation of space.

To meet this growing demand, Flipkart is working with its large pool of over 10,000 onboarded sellers to make various types of furniture available during the upcoming season. The company is providing them with consumer insights on the kinds of furniture being preferred and the price points to meet consumers’ demand.

Nishant Gupta, Senior Director, Furniture and BGMH, Flipkart said, “A large number of consumers are looking to set up their homes during the upcoming wedding season due to which we are witnessing heightened search trends across various furniture verticals such as beds and sofas. While this trend is visible across cities, tier-III cities are witnessing over 2x jump in searches over last year, in continuation of a trend seen post COVID as an increasing number of consumers from smaller cities shop online. We, at Flipkart, have created a special store online to help wedding shoppers get a curated shopping experience and are working with our large number of sellers in making available the widest selection of furniture items ahead of the wedding season”. 

This year, Flipkart has expanded its furniture portfolio and has onboarded sellers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, who specialize in authentic, indigenous designs and materials. With a selection of about 3.5 lakh furniture products by almost 10,000 sellers across the country, coupled with delivery in 100 percent of the serviceable pincodes and installation services at all major pincodes, Flipkart is enabling customers to set up their new homes with great ease and convenience. Flipkart’s affordability constructs like “No Cost EMI” and “Pay Later” are extremely popular, with almost 50 percent of customers choosing these options while 

ITC Foods’ Retailers first focussed initiative supports safety of Indian retailers

The cause was championed by the company’s popular brands Aashirvaad, Sunfeast Biscuits, Sunfeast YiPPee!, B Natural, Aashirvaad Svasti and Candyman

 

National, 30^th November 2020: In alignment with ITC Ltd.’s credo of ‘Sab Saath Badhein’, the Foods Division spearheaded a Retail Engagement Initiative which focussed on ensuring safety of retailers. The initiative covered over 20,000+ retailers across the country and addressed their safety requirements by ensuring that risks associated with the pandemic are minimised for them.  The initiative was an endeavour to help the Company’s first line of customers, the retailers operate in a safe & hygienic environment while enabling them to serve their buyers through the challenging times. The retailers’ community has been the backbone of the retail/ business eco system who ensured last-mile availability of essential goods to end consumers. This program supported the friendly neighbourhood kiranas and general stores with protective window shields, protective gear and social distancing curtains to enable them to continue running their establishment/shop whilst following hygiene and safety protocols.

 

Leading ITC Foods brands like Aashirvaad, Sunfeast Biscuits, Sunfeast YiPPee!, B Natural, Aashirvaad Svasti and Candyman led the initiative with retailers as their job/ work involves interaction with multiple consumers through the day, making them vulnerable in the current situation. With social distancing and hygiene measures being the need of the hour, the brands supported retailers by providing them high-quality protective gear to ensure their safety and protection at all times. The protective shield and social distancing curtains are made of Polymerizing Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and window shield frames are made of recycled corrugated plastic., enabling the highest levels of protection. To further cater to retailers’ safety, ITC Foods has also initiated sanitization drives across metros starting from the North and spanning to the South and East which will progressively expand to other markets as well. Simultaneously the window shield frames are being implemented pan India as well.

 

Commenting on the initiative, an ITC Foods spokesperson said, "Over the years, our strong network of retailers across India have extended their unflinching support in ensuring seamless availability of our products to the end consumers and contributing to the success of our brands. In the current situation, their contribution has been all the more significant and critical. As a responsible brand custodian, we strongly feel the need to extend our support for their exemplary contribution and service. We hope that through our initiative, we will be able to help their businesses by enabling them to continue their operations in a safe and hygienic manner and serve consumers even in the toughest of times.”

 

The initial phase of the activity began in the southern districts of the country and will soon be executed pan India with a vision/ aspiration to reach over 25,000 retailers.

 

About ITC Foods: A Division of ITC Limited

ITC's branded packaged foods business is one of the fastest growing foods businesses and the one of the largest foods company in India, driven by the market standing and consumer franchise of its popular brands - Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Yippee!, Kitchens of India, B Natural, Mint-o, Candyman, Fabelle, Sunbean and GumOn. The Foods business is today represented in multiple categories in the market - Staples, Spices, Ready-to-Eat, Snack Foods, Bakery & Confectionery and Juices & Beverages.

 

ITC's Foods brands delight millions of households with a wide range of differentiated, value-added products developed by leveraging ITC's in-house R&D capabilities, deep consumer understanding, knowledge of preferred Indian tastes, agri-sourcing & packaging strengths, and an unmatched distribution network.

 

ITC's uncompromising commitment to the health and safety of its consumers ensures adherence to the highest levels of quality, safety and hygiene standards in manufacturing processes and in the supply chain.. Going beyond process control, ITC ensures that quality standards are stringently adhered to while choosing ingredients that go into the preparation of its food products.

 

The business continues to invest in every aspect of manufacturing, distribution and marketing to ensure that it can leverage emerging opportunities and fulfill its aspiration of being the most trusted provider of branded packaged foods in the country. ITC's Foods business also exports its products to the key geographies of North America, Africa, Middle East and Australia.

Max Life Insurance strengthens hiring commitment amidst COVID-19 pandemic; hires more than 2000 via digital recruitment and onboarding process

• Driving strong organizational growth, the life insurer has digitized its entire recruitment process to attract, hire, and engage new talent during current times

 

New Delhi, November 27, 2020: Max Life Insurance Company Ltd. (“Max Life” / “Company”), in line with its ‘People First’ priorities, has hired over 2000 new talent in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. By efficiently digitizing its recruitment and onboarding process, the life insurer has been able to deliver a seamless employee hiring and onboarding experience in a predominantly remote work set-up.

 

Max Life has demonstrated a steady growth commitment by incorporating technology to interact with potential hires and digitally onboard a new workforce. In the first half of the year, Max Life has hired more than 2000 employees across diverse verticals such as agency, bancassurance, and internal operations. This includes 170 candidates, some from reputed B-school campuses such as NMIMS-Mumbai; IIM-Calcutta, and IMT-Ghaziabad and MDI-Gurgaon who were offered roles at Max Life pre-COVID; along with over 40 leadership positions across various strategic business verticals. Max Life has honored every job offer made before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and hired these resources during the subsequent period.

 

Reflecting on the commitment, Shailesh Singh, Director & Chief People Officer, Max Life Insurance says, “Our focus remains on hiring fungible talent with cross-functional capabilities. With the pandemic, we realized that the introduction of smarter platforms was the need of the hour to influence our talent pool. We have now digitised our entire onboarding journey for new hires, building on concepts like Artificial Intelligence for mapping talent. With the new normal, we are also revamping our hiring strategy, and fusing it with robust mobility programs to make the onboarding journeys of new hires even more intuitive and engaging.

 

He adds, “At Max Life, we’re proud to be at the forefront of technology that is allowing us to create more inclusive, seamless work environments for employees in a remote set-up. We look forward to harnessing newer opportunities for our talent, and stepping up our investments in technology to nurture overall employee experience and efficiency in the time to come.” 

 

In the last six months, Max Life has also proactively engaged with more than 500 candidates digitally to create a talent pool for future hiring. Interactions over social networks have enabled Max Life to hire the right talent for open positions efficiently

 

To offer a seamless onboarding experience to new hires, Max Life has designed a unique ‘e-Bandhan’ initiative, a virtual platform designed to provide a holistic view of the organization to new employees. Segregated into a five-day online-only induction programme, the experience covers insights into Max Life’s organizational values, Human Resources outlook, Information Technology, Compliance policies, Performance Management systems, and more. This virtual platform allows the new joiner to ask any question and get a response in real-time.  A dedicated chatbot, “Ely”, is available to help new joiners to respond to their queries and guide them to the right resource.

At Max Life, the early adoption of technology has ensured that 80% of its employees could work from home effectively within 3-4 days of the lockdown. The life insurer has effectively leveraged tools like employee app, Facebook Workplace, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom which instilled a culture of collaboration across the company.

 

About Max Life Insurance (www.maxlifeinsurance.com) 

Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (“Max Life”) is a joint venture between Max Financial Services Ltd. and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd. Max Financial Services Ltd. is a part of the Max group, an Indian multi business corporation, while Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance is a member of MS&AD Insurance group.

Max Life offers comprehensive protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions, through its multichannel distribution including agency and third distribution partners. Max Life has built its operations over almost two decades through need-based sales process, a customer-centric approach to engagement and service delivery and trained human capital.  

 

As per public disclosures, during the financial year 2019-20, Max Life achieved gross written premium of Rs. 16,184 crore. As on 31st March 2020, the Company had Rs. 68,471 crore of assets under management (AUM) and a Sum Assured in Force of Rs. 913,660 crore.

For more information, please visit the company's website at www.maxlifeinsurance.com

The contract for 237.1km civil construction for Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project has been signed

~ contract signing ceremony for Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor~

 Mumbai, November 27, 2020: National High Speed Railway Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Ltd have concluded the contract for Package C-4 of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor. A contract signing ceremony was organized by NHSRCL on November 26, 2020, which was attended by Mr. Satoshi Suzuki, H.E. Ambassador of Japan and Mr. V.K Yadav, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board.

This is the major contract concluded under the MAHSR project.  The C-4 Package covers about 47% of total alignment of the MAHSR project (508 km), from Maharashtra- Gujarat Border to Vadodara in the state of Gujarat and scope of work includes construction of viaducts (237 Km) , stations (4 stations namely Vapi, Billimora, Surat and Bharuch),maintenance depots, Tunnel between Vapi and Vadodara as well as Surat Depot. The expected construction period will be 1460 days (approximately 4 years).

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India said, " As novel coronavirus diseases brought unprecedented challenges across the globe, Indian economy faces a variety of challenges in various sectors. Amidst such circumstances, one of the keys to tackle with the challenges is to continue our effort for realizing the potential for strong economic growth of the country. Both Maharashtra and Gujarat states have been the nation's growth drivers, and the high-speed rail system in those is expected to further support such economic pulse as had the system done for Japan. JICA believes that MAHSR will contribute to regional wide economic and social development which brought about job creation and income generation to local residents in future.”

JICA has been supporting the project for the Mumbai - Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail by Providing ODA loans of INR 250,000 million JPY (approximately 18,000 crore INR) in total since 2017. The objective of the Project is to develop a high-frequency mass transportation system by constructing the High-Speed Rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, using Japan's Shinkansen technology (also known as the "Bullet Train"), thereby enhancing mobility in India and contributing to regional economic development.

 

 

 

 

Screen: Shri. V.K. Yadav, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board

Daïs: Shri. Satoshi Suzuki, H. E. Ambassador of Japan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group photograph of the contract agreement signing ceremony

Screen: Shri V.K. Yadav, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Railway Board

 

Right to Left (Top): Shri A.K. Bijalwan (Director/Finance), Shri. S.V. Desai (Whole time Director/L&T), His Excellency Shri Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India, Shri Achal Khare, Managing Director/NHSRCL, Shri Vijay Kumar (Director/Rolling Stock, NHSRCL), Shri Rajendra Prasad (Director/Project, NHSRCL)

 

Right to Left (Bottom): Smt. K. Bhawani (Head - Metros Segment, Larsen & Toubro) & Shri Pramod Sharma (ED/Contracts, NHSRCL)

 

 

 

Screen: Shri. Sekharipuram Narayanan Subrahmanyan, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro

 

About JICA

Established, by a specific law, as an incorporated administrative institution under the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to contribute to the promotion of international cooperation, as a sole Japanese governmental agency in charge of ODA implementation. JICA is the world's largest bilateral donor agency. JICA works as a bridge between Japan and emerging countries, and provides assistance in forms of loan, grant and technical cooperation so that the emerging countries can strengthen their capabilities.

JICA India Office Web: https://www.jica.go.jp/india/english/index.html

JICA India Brochure: https://www.jica.go.jp/india/english/office/others/c8h0vm00004cesxi-att/brochure_15.pdf

JICA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jicaindiapr/

ITC Foods’ Retailers first focussed initiative supports safety of Indian retailers

The cause was championed by the company’s popular brands Aashirvaad, Sunfeast Biscuits, Sunfeast YiPPee!, B Natural, Aashirvaad Svasti and Candyman

 

National, 27th November 2020: In alignment with ITC Ltd.’s credo of ‘Sab Saath Badhein’, the Foods Division spearheaded a Retail Engagement Initiative which focussed on ensuring safety of retailers. The initiative covered over 20,000+ retailers across the country and addressed their safety requirements by ensuring that risks associated with the pandemic are minimised for them.  The initiative was an endeavour to help the Company’s first line of customers, the retailers operate in a safe & hygienic environment while enabling them to serve their buyers through the challenging times. The retailers’ community has been the backbone of the retail/ business eco system who ensured last-mile availability of essential goods to end consumers. This program supported the friendly neighbourhood kiranas and general stores with protective window shields, protective gear and social distancing curtains to enable them to continue running their establishment/shop whilst following hygiene and safety protocols.

 

Leading ITC Foods brands like Aashirvaad, Sunfeast Biscuits, Sunfeast YiPPee!, B Natural, Aashirvaad Svasti and Candyman led the initiative with retailers as their job/ work involves interaction with multiple consumers through the day, making them vulnerable in the current situation. With social distancing and hygiene measures being the need of the hour, the brands supported retailers by providing them high-quality protective gear to ensure their safety and protection at all times. The protective shield and social distancing curtains are made of Polymerizing Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and window shield frames are made of recycled corrugated plastic., enabling the highest levels of protection. To further cater to retailers’ safety, ITC Foods has also initiated sanitization drives across metros starting from the North and spanning to the South and East which will progressively expand to other markets as well. Simultaneously the window shield frames are being implemented pan India as well.

 

Commenting on the initiative, an ITC Foods spokesperson said, "Over the years, our strong network of retailers across India have extended their unflinching support in ensuring seamless availability of our products to the end consumers and contributing to the success of our brands. In the current situation, their contribution has been all the more significant and critical. As a responsible brand custodian, we strongly feel the need to extend our support for their exemplary contribution and service. We hope that through our initiative, we will be able to help their businesses by enabling them to continue their operations in a safe and hygienic manner and serve consumers even in the toughest of times.”

 

The initial phase of the activity began in the southern districts of the country and will soon be executed pan India with a vision/ aspiration to reach over 25,000 retailers.

 

About ITC Foods: A Division of ITC Limited

ITC's branded packaged foods business is one of the fastest growing foods businesses and the one of the largest foods company in India, driven by the market standing and consumer franchise of its popular brands - Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Yippee!, Kitchens of India, B Natural, Mint-o, Candyman, Fabelle, Sunbean and GumOn. The Foods business is today represented in multiple categories in the market - Staples, Spices, Ready-to-Eat, Snack Foods, Bakery & Confectionery and Juices & Beverages.

 

ITC's Foods brands delight millions of households with a wide range of differentiated, value-added products developed by leveraging ITC's in-house R&D capabilities, deep consumer understanding, knowledge of preferred Indian tastes, agri-sourcing & packaging strengths, and an unmatched distribution network.

 

ITC's uncompromising commitment to the health and safety of its consumers ensures adherence to the highest levels of quality, safety and hygiene standards in manufacturing processes and in the supply chain.. Going beyond process control, ITC ensures that quality standards are stringently adhered to while choosing ingredients that go into the preparation of its food products.

 

The business continues to invest in every aspect of manufacturing, distribution and marketing to ensure that it can leverage emerging opportunities and fulfill its aspiration of being the most trusted provider of branded packaged foods in the country. ITC's Foods business also exports its products to the key geographies of North America, Africa, Middle East and Australia.

Special Cover on “ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSTITUTION DAY OF INDIA” released by Shri H.C. Agrawal, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle, Mumbai on the occasion of the Constitution Day

 

On 26.11.2020 on the occasion of The Constitution Day a Special Cover with Special Cancellation on “ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSTITUTION DAY OF INDIA” was released by Shri H.C. Agrawal, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle, Mumbai.

The following officers of Maharashtra Postal Circle were also present for the function. Ms. Kaiya Arora DPS (HQ), Shri Vijay Kumar GM(F), Smt Swati Pandey PMG (MR), Shri Ganesh Sawaleshwarkar PMG (Mails &BD) and Smt Shobha Madhale PMG(NMR).

Nissan India expands with 50 new sales & service touchpoints and first-in-industry digital ecosystem

• 30 new service and 20 new sales outlets across the country
• Immersive and interactive product experience through virtual showroom, configurator and first-in-industry virtual test drive experience
• End-to-end e-commerce from booking to delivery including finance application
• Convenience of doorstep service including pick-up and drop

 

New Delhi, November 27, 2020 – In the run-up to the launch of the all-new Nissan Magnite next month, Nissan India has further strengthened customer-centric services with highly-trained channel partners, an end-to-end digital ecosystem and virtual showroom with vehicle configurator:

 

• The vehicle configurator provides a seamless exterior and interior experience of all grades, powertrain and feature combinations including “tech pack”
• End-to-end E-commerce from booking to delivery including finance process
• First-in-industry virtual test-drive feature that allows the customer to take a test drive from home on their personal device. This is a unique interactive experience where the customer gets a first-hand experience of being on a test drive of the all-new Nissan Magnite on road with a virtual sales consultant

 

Furthermore, Nissan India is enhancing its customer connectivity with 30 new service stations and 20 new showrooms across the country. This is in line with the Nissan NEXT strategy to prioritize and invest in the Indian market for sustainable growth.

 

“Nissan India’s focus is onto improving customers connectivity by providing a seamless journey through these company-owned platforms. We are adapting and adopting the changes in the marketplace to strengthen Nissan’s commitment to the Indian customer on product and service assurances,” said Sinan Ozkok, President, Nissan Motor India.

 

Nissan India has also introduced ‘Nissan Express Service’ to deliver a quick and comprehensive service experience in just 90-minutes. Nissan will extend the service reach to its customers by conducting “Nissan Service Clinics” in 100+ upcountry locations. Nissan customers may book services and even check costs online through the Nissan Service Cost Calculator via Nissan Service Hub (website) or Nissan Connect, bringing utmost transparency to the process supported by Nissan’s 24/7 Roadside Assistance available in over 1500 cities.*

 

Keeping health and safety of its customers in mind, Nissan’s ‘Convenience of Doorstep Service’ follows firm standard operating procedures to provide customers with best car service without having to leave their home. Nissan India also offers ‘Pick-up & Drop-off’ services of Nissan cars to and from dealerships which mitigates the risk of infection and minimizes disruptions in the schedule of customers.

 

“With India gradually becoming a more strategic base for value-added services, Nissan’s new and improved initiatives will underscore our desire to give customers a hassle-free, safe, and satisfying sales and service process that is enhanced by a comprehensive digital ecosystem for discerning customers,” said Rakesh Srivastava, MD, Nissan Motor India.

 

*to customers within warranty period

***

About Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd.

Nissan Motor India Private Ltd. (NMIPL) is a 100 percent subsidiary of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Japan. The company was incorporated in 2005 and offers innovative and exciting products across the hatchback, MUV, SUV and sedan segments in India. Nissan together with its global alliance partner Renault set up a manufacturing plant and a Research & Development Centre near Chennai. Nissan in India has a portfolio of two brands, Nissan and Datsun. For more information, visit www.nissan.in.

Pratilipi Join Hands With IVM Podcasts To Create Premium Engaging Podcast Content

Two of India’s premiere content houses, Pratilipi and IVM Podcasts have announced that they will join forces to create a sustainable and scalable model for the podcasting industry in India.

 

The podcast space both across the world as well as in India has been growing exponentially, and this growth signifies for industry players that have been in the content space for a while.

 

Speaking on the partnership, Ranjeet Pratap Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Pratilipi said, “IVM’s understanding of the podcast industry, their years of experience in creating quality engaging content is uniquely complementary to Pratilipi. We believe that this partnership will revolutionize and further empower users to seamlessly access the best audio content on the move. We are certain that we will be able to create a powerhouse of podcast production.”

                                               

Amit Doshi, Founder and CEO of IVM, commented, “Having been the oldest players in the Indian podcasting industry, we are happy to partner with a company with such deep ambitions that align with our own goals. The team at Pratilipi has incredible experience in building a publishing platform and this partnership bodes well for not just our own company but the Indian podcasting space overall”

 

IVM Podcasts will continue to create content under the Pratilipi banner, with an even larger and more diverse portfolio of podcasts across genres. As one of the earliest movers in the podcast space in India, IVM’s content capabilities will be further amplified by Pratilipi’s extensive reach as India’s largest Indian language storytelling platform.

 

 

About Pratilipi

With 25 million readers, and over 2.7 lakhs writers, Pratilipi is a self-publishing website, a platform that brings together writers and readers in a virtual community that instigates a dialogue on literature. Millions of people are using Pratilipi to discover, express and share their stories in the language they love. Currently, Pratilipi supports 12 languages- Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, English, Urdu, Punjabi and Odia.

 

About IVM

IVM Podcasts is India's premiere podcast network, that aims to serve listeners with a wide portfolio of audio content across genres. The network produces and distributes talk and narrative based audio content from comedy and politics to advertising and business.

 

Ref. Links :-

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pratilipi.mobile.android&hl=en

https://www.pratilipi.com/?redirect=catchAll

MUBI HIGHLIGHTS: DECEMBER 2020 MUBI WORLD

This December, MUBI is set to present a number of independent, international films, including its exclusive and Sundance-winning co-production, FAREWELL AMOR (2020), from the BAFTA Breakthrough 2020 honoree Ekwa Msangi.

 

FAREWELL AMOR

A Sundance prize-winning family drama from Ekwa Msangi, that follows the uncomfortable reunion between an Angolan man and his wife and daughter, who move from their home to join him in New York after 17 years apart. Press kit and assets available here.

 

TRIPPING WITH NILS FRAHM

MUBI is proud to present the world premiere of TRIPPING WITH NILS FRAHM (2020), an extraordinary musical journey featuring the legendary artist at a legendary location. The concert film captures a series of mesmerizing live performances at the iconic Funkhaus Berlin on the pianist, composer and producer’s sold-out, worldwide All Melody tour. The exclusive presentation will coincide with the release of Nils Frahm’s live album of the same name from Erased Tapes Records. Assets here.

 

COLD WAR '64 DOUBLE BILL

This month we present a classic Cold War double bill. Directed by Sidney Lumet and dropped on a jittery public, FAIL-SAFE (1964) is the ticking Doomsday Clock as a straight-up thriller, stretched taut on the edge of Armageddon. Today, it’s a classic of claustrophobic suspense. Part two of the double bill is the gold standard for black comedy: Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964), mixes all the paranoia of the day (plus 3 iconic Peter Sellers performances!) into a hilarious, deadly cocktail and watches it go boom.

 

BRIAN DE PALMA: A DOUBLE BILL

December sees a Double De Palma Bill show on MUBI. As one of the most divisive auteurs out there, we will show BODY DOUBLE (1984), which is pure De Palma: both irreverent and reverential, a stylish, twisted ode to Hitchcock. CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989) will also feature, and is a film based during the Vietnam War, telling the story of a soldier who finds himself the outsider of his own squad when they unnecessarily kidnap a female villager.

MUBI INDIA

BOMBAY

MANI RATNAM FOCUS

With his earthy and observational visual style, Mani Ratnam initiated a significant new chapter in the history of Indian mainstream cinema. Making his debut in 1983 with the Kannada film PALLAVI ANU PALLAVI, Ratnam was a breath of fresh air in the Tamil film industry. His films explore the varied cultural milieus of Tamil Nadu and stand out for their simple yet insightful stories and highly relatable characters. The hallmarks of Ratnam’s films include ordinary characters, beautifully-etched interpersonal relationships, and an omnipresent socio-political subtext. Refreshingly, these works also manage to retain the quintessentially larger-than-life quality of popular cinema. Indian mainstream cinema is known for its song and dance tradition. Among his contemporaries and predecessors, Ratnam’s direction of musical sequences stands out for a magical ability to transform words into palpable emotions and rich, rhythmic images. This December, MUBI is delighted to present a focus on a filmmaker who persistently pushes the boundaries of his style to explore new vistas in mainstream cinema. We will show BOMBAY (1995) and THIRUDA THIRUDA (1994).

 

AKALER SHANDHANE

MRINAL SEN RETROSPECTIVE

Another focus for the month will be a Mrinal Sen Retrospective featuring the films AKALER SHANDHANE (1980), PADATIK (1973) and ANTAREEN (1993). One of the pioneers of India’s Parallel Cinema movement, Mrinal Sen’s films have captured the political essence of India like few other filmmakers have. His work has been recognised and awarded at internationally renowned film festivals including Cannes, Venice and Berlin.

 

UGLY

UGLY (2013) from Anurag Kashyap premiered at Cannes Director’s Fortnight 2013 and tells the story of a child Kali who comes from a broken home. Kali lives with her mother and her step-father Shoumik, who heads the police detection squad in the city of Mumbai. One particular Saturday, when Kali is out with her father Rahul, she disappears.

 

DAAYEN YA BAAYEN

Directed by Bela Negi, DAAYEN YABAAYEN (2010) will be part of the Women of Indian Cinema focus. Set in a small village in Uttarakhand, the film revolves around the life of Ramesh Majila (Deepak Dobriyal), a schoolteacher in a remote hilly village, who happens to win a luxury car that takes him on an unexpected journey.

The full schedules for December 2020 are below:

MUBI WORLD
Date	Film		Director
12/1/2020	Fail-Safe		Sidney Lumet
12/2/2020	Faith		Valentina Pedicini
12/3/2020	Tripping With Nils Frahm		Benoit Toulemonde
12/4/2020	The Passenger		Michelangelo Antonioni
12/5/2020	Punch-Drunk Love		Paul Thomas Anderson
12/6/2020	Suddenly, Last Summer		Joseph L. Mankiewicz
12/7/2020	Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb		Stanley Kubrick
12/8/2020	Barbs, Wasteland		Marta Mateus
12/9/2020	Casualties of War		Brian De Palma
12/10/2020	Body Double		Brian De Palma
12/11/2020	Cold Meridian		Peter Strickland
12/12/2020	Curse of the Golden Flower		Zhang Yimou
12/13/2020	Fando and Lis		Alejandro Jodorowsky
12/14/2020	Anatomy of a Murder		Otto Preminger
12/15/2020	Bunny Lake Is Missing		Otto Preminger
12/16/2020	The People vs. Larry Flynt		Miloš Forman
12/17/2020	Inside Job		Charles Ferguson
12/18/2020	Farewell Amor		Ekwa Msangi
12/19/2020	El Topo		Alejandro Jodorowsky
12/20/2020	Taxi Driver		Martin Scorsese
12/21/2020	20th Century Women		Mike Mills
12/22/2020	Daayen Ya Baayen		Bela Negi
12/23/2020	The Last Picture Show		Peter Bogdanovich
12/24/2020	So Long, My Son		Wang Xiaoshuai
12/25/2020	The Adventures of Tintin		Steven Spielberg
12/26/2020	The Holy Mountain		Alejandro Jodorowsky
12/27/2020	All That Jazz		Bob Fosse
12/28/2020	All the Vermeers in New York		Jon Jost
12/29/2020	California Split		Robert Altman
12/30/2020	The Squid and the Whale		Noah Baumbach
12/31/2020	Boyz n the Hood		John Singleton
MUBI INDIA
Date	Film	Director	Language
12/1/2020	Womaniya	Aakash Arun	Hindi
12/2/2020	Harjeet	Manu Sen	Bengali
12/3/2020	Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback	K. G. George	Malayalam
12/4/2020	Bombay	Mani Ratnam	Tamil
12/5/2020	Bow Bow	Pradeep Kilikar	Tamil
12/6/2020	Shreelancer	Sandeep Mohan	Hindi, English
12/7/2020	Zubaan	Mozez Singh	Hindi, Punjabi
12/8/2020	Saraswati Chandra	Govind Saraiya	Hindi
12/9/2020	Midnight's Children	Deepa Mehta	Hindi
12/10/2020	My Name is Salt	Farida Pacha	Hindi
12/11/2020	Thiruda Thiruda	Mani Ratnam	Tamil
12/12/2020	Mullum Malarum	Mahendran	Tamil
12/13/2020	Akaler Sandhane	Mrinal Sen	Bengali
12/14/2020	Namak Halal	Prakash Mehra	Hindi
12/15/2020	Ghuma	Mahesh Kale	Marathi
12/16/2020	Sadayam	Sibi Malayil	Malayalam
12/17/2020	Sanghat	Pinaki Chaudhuri	Bengali
12/18/2020	Albert Pinto ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai	Soumitra Ranade