Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of India

India Sets Global Vision in AVGC-XR: IICT Launches Strategic Collaborations with Industry Leaders

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off partnerships to position India as a global hub for media and immersive tech

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 2:36PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 3 May 2025

 

On the third day of WAVES 2025, in a landmark initiative, the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) launched a series of high-impact collaborations in the AVGC-XR sector with global industry leaders. These collaborations aim to strengthen India’s position as a global hub in media, entertainment and immersive technologies.

The occasion was graced by the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, who ceremonially flagged off these strategic associations. He emphasized India’s potential to become a global leader in media and entertainment, stating that IICT is on track to evolve into a premier institution in its field, much like how IITs and IIMs have become benchmarks in technology and management education.

During the session, representatives from IICT and leading industry partners came together to exchange Letters of Intent (LoIs), marking the launch of long-term collaborative efforts aimed at advancing the AVGC-XR ecosystem in India. The signings involved prominent global industry leaders including Jiostar, Adobe, Google, YouTube, and Meta.

These alliances are designed to boost education, R&D and innovation across animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, film, and extended reality. The goal is to replicate India’s successful IT model within the creative and digital media space, developing a sustainable ecosystem for future growth.

Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan; Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Shri Sanjay Jaju; and Principal Director General, Press Information Bureau, Shri Dhirendra Ojha were also present, reflecting the government’s unified support for the initiative.

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/LekshmiPriya/ Darshana | 159

(Release ID: 2126452) Visitor Counter : 76

Source: Government of India

Master actor-creator Aamir Khan shares his views on ‘The Art of Acting,’ at WAVES 2025

“For 3-4 months, I only remain with the script” – Aamir Khan

“The more honest you are, the better you will perform” – Aamir Khan

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 6:08PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 3 May 2025

 

Master actor-creator Aamir Khan won many a heart with his down-to-earth tips on ‘The Art of Acting’ given from the Creatosphere stage in WAVES 2025 today. The practical advice came from his years of experience in film-making as the veteran actor said, “I am not a trained actor. I wanted to go to the National School of Drama, but couldn’t. I have picked up tips on the way, which work for me.”

Speaking about the future of film-making, Aamir Khan said, that AI technology has enabled films to be shot without the actor in the scene! AI and technology is capable of adding the Actor later in the scene.

The first and foremost task for an actor is to get into the mind of the character, said the versatile actor who over the years have gifted many memorable characters to Indian Cinema. And how does he get into the skin of the character? The dedicated actor states, “I spend a lot of time with scripts. I read the script again and again. If the script is good, you will understand the character, its physicality, attitude etc. will all come from it”. Additionally, discussions on the character and story with the director also gives an idea.

By throwing light on his hard-working nature, Mr. Khan revealed, “I have a weak memory. So, I hand-write dialogues. I take up the difficult scenes first. The dialogues must be by heart. On first day, I just work on it.  I do it every day for 3-4 months, and then it gets into me. The dialogues have to become yours. You have to own it. When it was written it was the script-writer’s. It later becomes yours. When you repeat the same line, you realize, you can do it many a way.

What is a difficult task for actors? An actor has to repeat and go for retake of scenes with same emotional intensity every day, said Aamir Khan.

Another important tip for budding actors which came from Aamir Khan is – “The more honest you are, the better you will perform”. 

So, how does Mr. Aamir Khan practice his scenes?

The answer is “I visualize scenes before giving shots. I never look into mirror while practicing scenes.”

What is Aamir Khan’s personal favourite of all his film-projects?  As many guessed, it is ‘Taare Zameen Par’ as it taught many parents to be patient with their children, support them and be empathetic with their little ones!

What other tips did the veteran actor have for those who are just starting off?

“When I use emotion, it has to come from the script. You have to believe the script. Sometimes there are scenes in the films which are not believable. But the actor may make you believe it. Actor has to convince the audience about what is being shown”.

What is a good script? Aamir Khan said, “A good script will have a clear premise. Goal setting should come in first ten percent of the story. Otherwise the interest of audience will be lost”.

But most important tip for all involved in a film project – “Do what the scene demands, and don’t just think of your own work in it”.

Aamir Khan felicitated by Union Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Sriyanka/ Darshana | 166

(Release ID: 2126520) Visitor Counter : 45

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 9:33PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 2 May 2025

 

WAVES Bazaar, the flagship global market initiative of the WAVES Summit, has emerged as a powerful catalyst for international collaboration in the media and entertainment industry. Designed to connect creators with investors, buyers, and collaborators across borders, WAVES Bazaar is poised to transform India into a strategic hub for content commerce. WAVES Bazaar 2025 garners over ₹250 Crore in Deals and Unveils Major International Alliances, informed Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, I&B at WAVES in Mumbai today.

In its inaugural edition, WAVES Bazaar brought together leading players from over 22 countries—including South Korea, Japan, USA, Germany, Russia, Netherlands, and New Zealand—and featured participation from 95 global buyers and 224 sellers. Key buyers included Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Meta, Disney Star, Zee Entertainment, Banijay Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony LIV, YRF, Dharma, Jio Studios, Rotterdam Film Festival, and Rushlake Media.

Viewing Room & Market Screenings:

115 filmmakers presented completed works to international buyers.15 standout projects were selected as Top Selects from the Viewing Room and showcased live. These filmmakers were felicitated by acclaimed casting director Mukesh Chhabra, with actor Tiger Shroff joining to support one of the selected titles. Market Screenings, showcased 15 notable and appreciated projects from talented filmmakers.

Pitch Room: From 104 project submissions, 16 curated projects were selected to pitch live, offering early-stage creators a platform to engage directly with industry stakeholders in the over 2 days of Waves Bazaar.

B2B Buyer-Seller Market: WAVES Bazaar launched India’s first dedicated B2B buyer-seller meetings in association with FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry), held from May 1–3, enabling targeted deal-making and creative business development.

Early Business Outcomes

WAVES Bazaar recorded confirmed transactions worth ₹250 crore across film, music, animation, radio, and VFX sectors within the first day and a half of the market. This figure is expected to rise significantly over the next two days and expected to cross more than 400 crores.

Notable deals and Landmark Announcements on May 2, 2025

• Khidki Gaon, a Top Selects film, secured a post-production and VFX deal with the Asian Cinema Fund. The Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) is a support program of the Busan International Film Festival that provides funding for Asian films, including both fiction and documentary projects.
• Indo-European Animation Alliance (€30 Million) 

Broadvision Perspectives (India) and Fabrique d’Images Group (Europe) announced a €30 million co-production agreement for four animated features. Each title, budgeted at €7–8 million, will be developed under Indo-French and Indo-Belgian treaty frameworks. The alliance was formalized by Mark Mertens (COO, FDI Group) and Sriram Chandrasekaran (Founder & CEO, Broadvision), establishing a new benchmark for international animation collaborations from India.

• India–UK Co-Production MoU Signed

Amanda Groom (Founder & CEO, The Bridge, UK) and Munjal Shroff (Co-founder, Graphiti Studios, India) signed an MoU to co-develop a slate of factual series exploring India’s colonial history. The partnership, developed over years of collaboration since Film Bazaar and finalized at Content India, marks a significant step in transnational storytelling.

• “Shin chan India Year” Initiative Launched by TV Asahi

TV Asahi announced the “Shin chan India Year” to celebrate the franchise’s immense popularity in India. Highlights include:

• Theatrical release of Shin chan: Our Dinosaur Diary on May 9
• A Diwali 2025 release of a second film, The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers in India
• Fan engagement events at Anime India (August) and Mela Mela JAPAN (September)

This initiative further establishes India’s rising role in the global anime ecosystem and strengthens Indo-Japanese cultural ties.

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Nikita/ LekshmiPriya/ Darshana | 157

(Release ID: 2126356) Visitor Counter : 95

Source: Government of India

At WAVES 2025, experts call for unified action against piracy, blending technology, law, and awareness

Panel discussion highlights economic losses, cybercrime risks, and solutions combining enforcement and education

“Effective anti-piracy enforcement could drive a 25% increase in legal video service users”

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 2:51PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 3 May 2025

 

At WAVES 2025, a panel discussion on “Piracy: Safeguarding Content through Technology” brought together global leaders in media, law, and cybersecurity to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the digital content economy. Moderated by Neil Gane, Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific at IP House, the conversation reflected the growing consensus that piracy is no longer a fringe concern but a mainstream threat demanding coordinated, multi-dimensional responses.

Vivek Couto, Managing & Executive Director of Media Partners Asia, underlined the economic cost of unchecked piracy. “Online piracy is expected to cost the industry over 10% in lost revenue between 2025 and 2029,” he said. “But effective anti-piracy enforcement could drive a 25% increase in legal video service users and unlock a US$ 0.5 billion boost in content investment, raising the total value to US$ 3.8 billion by 2029.” He urged stakeholders to reframe the piracy discussion from protection to potential, especially as India’s digital video economy scales.

Dr. Shruti Mantri, Associate Director at ISB Institute of Data Science, highlighted the intersection of digital piracy and cybercrime. “Piracy often involves malicious tools like trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Users between 18–24 years old are particularly vulnerable,” she said. She called for comprehensive public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, noting that prevention must begin with informed consumers. She also announced a Digital Piracy Summit being organized by ISB in collaboration with CBI and Interpol on July 9–10.

Speaking on anti-piracy operations in the sports sector, Anurag Kashyap, Head of Anti-Piracy Operations at DAZN, explained the preventive approach. “Our strategy is built around the three Ds: detection, disruption, and deterrence. We start enforcement even before the event goes live,” he said. Invisible watermarking, he added, plays a pivotal role in tracking leaks.

Legal expert Anil Lale, Head-Legal at Jio Hotstar, stressed the importance of strong enforcement. “The biggest deterrent is prosecuting the pirates. Law enforcement must identify the source of leaks and stop playing catch-up,” he said. Prevention, he asserted, should be proactive rather than reactive.

Praveen Anand of Anand and Anand Associates emphasized that the solution lies in both technology and judicial reform. “Tools like AI, blockchain, and watermarking are crucial. But we must also make camcording difficult with measures like metal detectors. Timely legal action is essential to create deterrence,” he noted.

The panel converged on the need for a united front, where technology, legislation, enforcement agencies, and public awareness work in tandem to protect the future of digital content. WAVES 2025, through such discussions, continues to spotlight actionable strategies for the Media and Entertainment industry’s most pressing concerns.

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Lekshmipriya/ Nikhitha/ Darshana | 160

(Release ID: 2126455) Visitor Counter : 69

Source: Government of India

A hundred applications expressing interest for shooting in India received in India Cine Hub (ICH) within a year: Prithul Kumar, MD, NFDC

“A Lot of foreign productions are going to come to India in the coming days”: Bhumi Pednekar

“Many locations from popular films have become popular tourist destinations in India”: Nitin Tej Ahuja, CEO, Producers Guild of India

Panel discussion on ‘Lights, Camera, Destination! Branding India Through Films’ at WAVES 2025

Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 10:09PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 2 May 2025

 

“It is India’s time; everyone knows it globally” – stated actor Bhumi Pednekar in a panel discussion titled ‘Lights, Camera, Destination! Branding India Through Films’ at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai today.

The other panellists in the discussion included Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (I&B) and MD, NFDC, Shri Nitin Tej Ahuja, CEO, Producers Guild, Shri Rajender Kumar, Secretary (Tourism), Government of Gujarat, Mugdha Sinha, MD, ITDC.

Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (I&B) and MD, NFDC, informed that the India Cine Hub (ICH) set up by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting promotes and facilitates film shootings in India for global film makers and producers. He said that it is a one-stop destination for filming in India, which also has links to various state portals for film facilitation. It acts as a single-window facilitation and clearance mechanism that eases filming in India, as well as endeavouring to create a film-friendly ecosystem and promoting the country as a filming destination. The incentives have been upscaled in 2023 and as a result, business multiplied tenfold and more than hundred applications expressing to shoot in India has been received in the portal. These incentives made India an attractive shooting destination for foreign film makers. 

Bhumi Padnekar said that a lot of foreign productions are going to come to India in the coming days. “People in many parts of the world know about Mumbai because of our cinema”, she added. Speaking about her preference for shooting in destinations around India, Bhumi Pednekar said, “Most of my films are in culturally dense, heartland films. Our jaazba and love for our cinema, the way our cast and crew work with dedication, is incomparable”.

Throwing light on the film industry in India, Bhumi Pednekar remarked that film sets now have almost equal number of men and women working in it. The gentry people coming in filmmaking in India is only getting better, she added.

Nitin Tej Ahuja said that many locations from popular films have become popular tourist destinations in India. The ‘Bobby’ bungalow in Gulmarg, yellow mustard fields in Punjab popularized by DDLJ, Ratlam to Bhathinda train journey showcased in ‘Jab Me Met’, Pangong lake where scenes from ‘Three Idiots’ were shot are some such examples. Youngsters in India had started travelling to Goa in group of friends ever since ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ released, he added.

Mugdha Sinha, MD, ITDC, opined that the country may think of opening our institutions for film shooting. She stated that it is the most opportune time for film making and tourism in the country. Rajender Kumar, Secretary (Tourism), Government of Gujarat, spoke about initiatives taken by the Government of Gujarat to promote tourism through films shot in Gujarat, like mentioning in the credit lines the place where shooting took place. Positive policy paradigms, good infrastructure and ease of obtaining permission for shooting are attracting film makers to the state, he added.

The session was moderated by Supriya Suri, Founder, Creative Economy Forum.

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/LekshmiPriya/Sriyanka/ Darshana | 158

(Release ID: 2126368) Visitor Counter : 83

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 3:10PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 3 May 2025

 

A high-profile breakout session titled “Digital Dreams & Cinematic Visions: Madhya Pradesh as the Next Creative Hub” was held today at Waves 2025. The session was moderated by Naman Ramachandran, International Correspondent of Variety.

Renowned producer and director Ekta Kapoor officially launched the Film Tourism Policy 2025 of the Madhya Pradesh government. The session also witnessed the launch of the AVGC XR Policy 2025 and the Second Phase of the Madhya Pradesh Film Cell Portal.

Speaking on the occasion, Ekta Kapoor emphasized that while choosing a film destination, factors like rebate, ease of obtaining permissions, visual scenery, and ease of shooting are paramount.

Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, highlighted that MP is the heart of Incredible India and is fast becoming the heart of filmmakers as well. He noted the state’s shooting-friendly environment, rich history and heritage, and ready talent pool. The state has one of the best benchmark financial incentive policies and a simplified single portal system for permissions, ensuring ease of shooting. He mentioned that the 2.0 policy marks an improvement with increased incentives and special provisions for repeat shooting. Extra incentives will be extended to films using local languages and local talent as well as films made in other Indian languages that shoot in MP. He added that Madhya Pradesh is aiming to give Mumbai a run for its money by branding the state through facilitating filmmaking.

Shri Sanjay Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of IT and DST, Government of Madhya Pradesh, said the new AVGC policy will support pre and post-production and also promote related sectors like animation, gaming, and VFX. He emphasized the government’s proactive and risk-taking approach in supporting filmmakers.

Shobha Sant, CEO of Creativeland Studios and a seasoned producer, shared her experiences from the film Stree 2, shot in MP using local talent and technicians. She cited international productions like Lion and A Suitable Boy, also shot in the state. An upcoming Australian co-production has also chosen MP as its location. Remarking that no complaints have ever been reported by film teams located in Madhya Pradesh added that “People who come once to Madhya Pradesh, want to keep coming back”.

Other dignitaries in the panel, Jyotirmoy Saha, CEO of August Media Group, stated that the new policies will catalyze the formation of creative hubs across the state while Ashish Kulkarni, Chairman, FICCI AVGC sector, spoke on the other attractions of Madhya Pradesh, including its cuisine, the Tribal Museum, and the Global Skills Park.

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Athira/ Darshana | 161

(Release ID: 2126457) Visitor Counter : 17

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 9:12AM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today condoled the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa.

The PMO India handle in post on X said:

“Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi”

Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2025

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MJPS/SR/SKS

(Release ID: 2126392) Visitor Counter : 69

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 3:20PM by PIB Delhi

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued a notification prohibiting import of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan to India.

This will prohibit import of goods from Pakistan directly or through any other trade route.

The directive, issued via Notification No. 06/2025-26 dated 2nd May 2025, has come into effect immediately.  A new paragraph, Para 2.20A, has been inserted in the FTP 2023:

  “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders. This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy.”

The detailed notification is available on the DGFT website at https://dgft.gov.in.

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Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

(Release ID: 2126458) Visitor Counter : 30

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 03 MAY 2025 3:25PM by PIB Delhi

To commemorate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2025, the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, organized a national workshop titled “Driving Innovation with IP: Strategic Approaches to Commercialization” at the historic Faculty Hall, IISc.

Jointly supported by key institutions including IIIT Bangalore, CMTI, C-DOT, Central Silk Board, BeST Cluster, IPTel, and IISc, the event brought together over 250 in-person and 500 virtual participants from academia, research, startups, industry, PSUs, and government to deliberate on IP management and commercialization strategies.

Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd.), CMD, NRDC, delivered the keynote, emphasizing NRDC’s role in scaling academic innovations via initiatives like NETRA, Design Clinic, and blended financing to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 7–9. He announced upcoming projects including a Technology Exchange Portal, IP Fairs, and a National Tech Translation Organization (NTTO), reinforcing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

 

Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc, underlined the need for structured IP protection in academia and acknowledged efforts to address cultural barriers to patenting.

Key dignitaries included Ms. Manjushree N, IAS, Commissioner, DCTE GoK, Prof. Suryasarathi Bose (IISc), Dr. U T Vijay (KSCST), Prof. Debabrata Das (IIIT-B), Dr. S Manthira Moorthy (CSB), and Shri Prakash Vinod (CMTI)—all advocating for deeper academia-industry collaboration and robust IP ecosystems.

A MoA was signed between NRDC and IIIT Bangalore to facilitate tech commercialization.

Along with it a Tripartite Licensing Agreement signed between NRDC, CSIR-CFTRI, and M/s Varre Corporate Solutions for CSIR-CFTRI’s Spirulina Cereal and Choco Bar technology.

Dr. Dilip Krishnaswamy (C-DOT) and Dr. Vishal Rao (Innaumation Medical Devices) shared insights on embedding IP into business strategy.
Dr. B. K. Sahu (NRDC) presented strategies for overcoming commercialization barriers.

Two major panel discussions featured leaders from Biocon Academy, BeST, CSIR-CFTRI, IIIT Innovation Centre, and IPTeL, focusing on bridging gaps between research and market, effective licensing strategies, and the critical role of policy and institutional mindset shifts.

The workshop concluded with a unified call to action for scaling India’s innovation ecosystem through strategic IP commercialization, fostering national development and global competitiveness.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2126460) Visitor Counter : 65