Archives March 2025

Holi is more than just a festival of colors—it’s a celebration of love, positivity, and the triumph of good over evil. The vibrant hues, playful moments, and deep-rooted traditions make it a time of joy and togetherness. Sun Neo’s talented leading ladies, Siddhi Sharma who plays gulki in Ishq Jabariya share her fondest memories of this colorful festival.

Siddhi Sharma who plays Gulki in Sun Neo’s Ishq Jabariya says, “Holi has always been special for me because it’s not just about colors but also about faith and positivity. Holika Dahan reminds us that no matter how strong negativity seems, truth and goodness will always win in the end. During Holika Dahan, we would offer a coconut in the fire and eagerly wait for it to burn completely. Eating that coconut afterward had a unique joy of its own! Playing with colors with friends was so much fun. I used to wake up before my sister, have breakfast quickly, and rush out to play. It was always a fun competition between us to see who would wake up first and start celebrating”

Ishq Jabariya, airing on Sun Neo at 10:00 PM, is an engaging love story centred around Gulki, a determined young woman with big aspirations. The show boasts a stellar cast, including Kamya Panjabi, Dipshikkha Nagppal, Siddhi Sharma, and Lakshay Khurana in key roles, bringing depth and emotion to this captivating narrative.

A Transformative Confluence of Art, Dialogue, and Action

Dates:March 13th, 15th & 16th, 2025
Venue: Veda Kunba, Versova, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Mumbai, March 12, 2025: Ctrl + Alt + Dlt – Rewriting the Narrative is a powerful three-day confluence designed to do the latter. Organized by Sakshi, this movement harnesses the power of storytelling, art, and advocacy to dismantle harmful norms, amplify survivor voices, and reimagine a more just and equitable world.

The event will bring together artists, activists, and change-makers to explore the intersections of gender justice, child protection, and creative advocacy. Through immersive theatre, spoken word performances, and critical panel discussions, Ctrl + Alt + Dlt– Rewriting the Narrative will create space for necessary conversations on gender-based violence and the societal structures that enable it.
The confluence opens on March 13 with Bekhauf Baatein 5.0 – Apologetic Expressions, an evening where artists take the stage to reclaim narratives and challenge deeply entrenched stereotypes. Through poetry, monologues, and performance art, the event amplifies voices that transform pain into progress. Featuring Nivedita Chandra, Parth Vasani, Aditi Surana, Harsha Agrawal, Vidushi Chadha, and more.

On March 15, the focus shifts to Art That Dares to Speak, a day dedicated to exploring child sexual abuse through theatre, immersive installations, and expert-led panel discussions. The day begins with a thought-provoking installation खिलौना by Padma Damodaran that reveals the long-term impact of trauma across generations. The first panel, Layers of Harm: Unpacking the Impact of Child Sexual Abuse, brings together leading voices in child safety, mental health, and legal advocacy to discuss the structural barriers that perpetuate abuse.

Theatre becomes a vehicle for change in the afternoon with Ghat Ghat Mein Panchi Bolta Hai, written and directed by Smita Bharti. The play navigates the unraveling of two families grappling with a triggering event that forces them to confront buried truths. The themes of silence and survival continue in Paperwalls, written and directed by Sharodiya Chowdhury, which follows a daughter’s unsettling journey through her mother’s past, uncovering painful revelations about intergenerational trauma. In between these performances, the panel Framing the Unspoken: Portrayal of Child Sexual Abuse in Film, Theatre, and Art will examine how storytelling shapes public perception and policy.

March 16 concludes the confluence with Tedhi Lakir, Light in My Eyes, and Kamini, three short plays written and directed by Smita Bharti. These performances unravel hidden truths, defy societal norms, and explore love, loss, and resilience. They expose the invisible ties that shape our lives through raw storytelling and haunting beauty. Witness the fragile dance between vulnerability and strength as narratives are rewritten.

Smita Bharti, Executive Director of Sakshi NGO, believes, “Theatre and art possess the unique ability to not only engage the conscious mind but also to deeply impact the subconscious, reaching far beyond the surface. Sakshi presents *Alt, Cltr, Del*, a powerful three-day event that challenges audiences to question their everyday perceptions. Let these transformative days be a journey of introspection, where art becomes a mirror to our deeper truths.”

Ctrl + Alt + Dlt is a call to action. Sakshi invites individuals, artists, and organizations to be part of this movement—whether by attending, amplifying conversations, or collaborating on sustained interventions.

Silence enables violence. Every story told chips away at stigma. Every conversation plants the seeds of change. Through this confluence, Sakshi reaffirms that art is a tool to reshape it.

Bangalore, March 12, 2025: IIIT-Bangalore proudly inaugurated the K-VLSI PG Diploma Cohort-2, welcoming 144 exceptional students from 60+ engineering colleges.

The programme attracted 3,000+ applicants from across 40+ towns, with only 144 top candidates selected through a rigorous screening process, including written examinations and interviews. This one-of-a-kind programme allows students to pursue a PG Diploma alongside their 8th-semester engineering graduation, ensuring they enter the industry, workforce-ready.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Mr. B V Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM); Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore; Prof. Chandrashekar Ramanathan, Dean (Academics), IIIT-B; and Prof. Madhav Rao, Associate Professor & HoD, ECE Department, IIIT-B. The speakers highlighted the programme’s pivotal role in nurturing next-generation semiconductor professionals and strengthening India’s VLSI and semiconductor ecosystem.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. B V Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), stated:
“The launch of KVLSI Cohort-2 at IIIT-Bangalore marks another milestone in Karnataka’s journey to becoming a global hub for semiconductor and VLSI innovation. Through strong industry-academia collaboration, this initiative empowers young engineers with advanced technical knowledge and hands-on expertise, ensuring they are well-equipped for the sector’s evolving demands. At KDEM, we remain committed to strengthening Karnataka’s digital and semiconductor ecosystem, fostering innovation, investment, and world-class talent development.”

The K-VLSI PG Diploma is spearheaded by IIIT-Bangalore’s MINRO Center in collaboration with KDEM, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab (SFAL), and the IT-BT Department, Government of Karnataka. This strategic industry-academia partnership ensures that students receive cutting-edge training, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world industry demands.

Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, emphasized: “Following the success of KVLSI Cohort-1 in developing industry-ready semiconductor talent, Cohort-2 is poised to set an even higher benchmark. This initiative, supported by the Government of Karnataka, IT-BT Department, and KDEM, and conducted in collaboration with industry partner FutureWiz, offers a unique, hands-on learning experience. By integrating industry-driven training and expert mentorship, the program is shaping young professionals of the state of Karnataka to excel in the rapidly evolving semiconductor sector.”

Mumbai, March 12, 2025: AI is reshaping the telecom industry, unlocking new revenue streams, enhancing customer experiences, and driving network automation. As telecom providers navigate this shift, staying ahead requires a deep understanding of AI’s potential and practical strategies for adoption. InfoVision, a global leader in digital transformation and IT services, is at the forefront of this change, leading discussions at TM Forum Tour Mumbai as a sponsor. At this meet of industry leaders, InfoVision has designed a special interactive workshop on AI with industry luminaries.

Bringing together industry leaders from CSPs (Communication Services Providers) such as Jio Platforms, Airtel, Vodafone, PwC, Colt Technology Services, Accenture, Bain & Company, Lightstorm, Tata Communications, Sri Lanka Telecom, and more, TM Forum Tour Mumbai is a premier platform for telecom experts, strategists, and innovators to explore AI-driven growth and efficiency.

InfoVision’s exclusive workshop on ‘Monetizing Telecom AI: Balancing Data, Customer Experience, and Network Automation’ will equip telecom leaders with strategic insights into:

● Scaling Data & Insights using AI

● CX 2.0 & AI

● AI driven Network Automation & Optimization

● Monetizing Telecom Network Assets

The session will feature industry experts:

● Sampath Paranavitane, SVP & Head of Global Strategy, InfoVision

● Abhilash Vantaram, VP Technologies & Solutions, Head of Cloud & Data, Emerging Tech & Innovation, InfoVision

● Nilesh Mahajan, VP, Jio Platforms

● Vivek Gaur, VP, Engineering, Colt Technology Services.

“AI is redefining the telecom industry, and those who harness its potential timely will lead the future. TM Forum Mumbai is a must-attend for decision-makers looking to capitalize on AI’s impact,” said Sampath Paranavitane, VP & Head of Global Strategy, InfoVision.

Abhilash Vantaram, VP Technologies & Solutions, InfoVision, added, “With AI revolutionizing telecom, companies must rethink how they monetize data, optimize networks, and personalize customer interactions. This session will provide real-world strategies to drive tangible business impact.”

Mumbai, 12 March 2025 – Worldline, a global leader in payment services, is proud to announce that it has been awarded with ‘Top Employer’ and ‘Great Place To Work’ certifications in India for the fourth consecutive year.

This recognition is based on the HR Best Practices Survey, which evaluates key areas such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Wellbeing, and more. Additionally, Worldline’s performance in the Great Place To Work rankings has consistently improved year after year.

Mr. Jose Raj, Senior Vice President and Head of HR India and APAC, Worldline said: “For the fourth time in a row, we’re getting the Top Employer and Great Place To Work certification – an amazing achievement. It is a testament to our processes, values, and culture that Worldliners feel that was a great place to work and continues to be one and will continue to be one. We’re highly focused on improving employee workplace satisfaction and fostering their development. We want to build a strong culture, a culture of excellence.”

The certification demonstrates Worldline’s steadfast commitment to maintaining high standards in HR practices and highlights its dedication to fostering a positive work environment. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases Worldline’s efforts to create a better workplace through employee-friendly HR policies and people-centric practices.

AUSTIN, Texas and APJ Partner Symposium, Taipei. – March 12, 2025 – CrowdStrike announced the winners of the annual CrowdStrike Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) Partner Awards at its 2025 APJ Partner Symposium in Taipei. The APJ Partner Symposium unites CrowdStrike’s ecosystem, bringing together leading channel and distributor, service provider and technology alliance partners across the region. The exclusive, invite-only meeting covers content, training and updates to accelerate partners’ growing and scaling their CrowdStrike businesses, helping customers consolidate their security spend and stop breaches with the industry-leading CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform.

CrowdStrike’s APJ Partner Awards recognize the incredible impact and effort that partners throughout the region have accomplished in the previous year. With a partner-first go-to-market strategy, the power of CrowdStrike’s partner ecosystem is critical to transforming cybersecurity for leading organizations in APJ and around the world, consolidating point products and driving customer adoption of the world’s most advanced AI-native cybersecurity platform. Award winners were selected based on criteria that encompassed the value the organization or individual created and delivered to both mutual customers and CrowdStrike.

2025 CrowdStrike APJ Partner Awards winners include:

Overall APJ Winners:

● Sekuro Operations Pty Ltd – APJ Partner of the Year

● Ernst & Young – SI Partner of the Year

● Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Technology Alliance Ecosystem Partner of the Year

● Nexus Technologies, Inc. – MSSP of the Year

● Macnica, Inc. – Distributor of the Year

● Theos Cyber Solutions – Growth MSSP of the Year

● Inflow Technologies Private Limited – Growth Distributor of the Year

● Chiranjeebi Samantaray, Value Point Systems – Champion MVP of the Year

● Lye KinWeng, UnThreats Pte Ltd. – Champion MVP Technologist of the Year

ANZ:

● Dell Technologies – Partner of the Year

● Baidam Solutions Pty Ltd – Growth Partner of the Year

● Zac Cochrane, Dell Technologies – Best Partner Salesperson of the Year

● Ash Watts, Prescient Solutions Pty Ltd – Best Partner Solution Engineer of the Year

India & SAARC:

● ACPL Systems Pvt. Ltd – Partner of the Year

● Quadrasystems.net India Pvt. Ltd – Growth Partner of the Year

● Balaji S, Quadrasystems.net India Pvt. Ltd – Best Partner Salesperson of the Year

● Bhavesh Khola, ACPL Systems Pvt. Ltd – Best Partner Solution Engineer of the Year

Japan:

● NTT Data Japan Corporation – Partner of the Year

● Kanematsu Electronics Ltd – Growth Partner of the Year

● Yuichiro Sato, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. – Best Partner Salesperson of the Year

South East & North Asia:

● Ensign InfoSecurity (Smarttech) Pte Ltd. – Partner of the Year

● Stark Technology Inc. – Growth Partner of the Year

● Michael Koh, Ensign InfoSecurity (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd. – Best Partner Salesperson of the Year

● Leo Liaw, Stark Technology Inc. – Best Partner Solution Engineer of the Year

“CrowdStrike’s APJ Partner Symposium is an opportunity for us to recognize the exceptional business achievements and extensive relationships we have with our partners. I congratulate all of our 2025 APJ award winners for accelerating their growth with CrowdStrike and delivering superior customer outcomes,” said Jon Fox, VP of Channels, APJ at CrowdStrike. “Our partner ecosystem understands and delivers the immense value that CrowdStrike’s AI-native Falcon platform provides to organizations. We look forward to working with all our partners in the year ahead to help customers consolidate cybersecurity at scale while stopping breaches.”

-No to-do lists, just tea and engaging conversations
– Strengthening connections among women, with fun raffle prizes, delectable high tea, and plenty of laughter!

New Delhi, 12th March 2025 – In honor of International Women’s Day, Brand Talkeez, in collaboration with the newly revamped Swasti, Hotel Janpath, proudly hosted the exclusive No-Agenda Women’s Day Afternoon Tea. The unique gathering, held on March 8th, brought together influential women from diverse backgrounds for an inspiring afternoon of meaningful connections, empowering conversations, and shared experiences.

This invitation-only event created a casual yet dynamic space where women could come together to share their stories and celebrate the collective power of community. With no formal agenda, the focus was on fostering open dialogue, networking, and building meaningful connections.

It was a delight to see women entrepreneurs, corporate honchos, artists, educators, doctors, activists, and sportswomen coming to support and encourage other women who have made an impact in their respective fields to connect, learn, and empower one another.

The collaboration with Brand Talkeez, an integrated marketing communication agency based in New Delhi, and the newly reimagined Swasti Kala, an Artisanal Indian Culinary restaurant at Hotel Janpath, added an extra layer of creativity with the carefully curated menu set up in lush green outdoors of the restaurant included selection of teas, delectable treats, and thoughtfully designed ambiance.

Saloni Sood Mehra, Founder, Brand talkeez and Prakash Chandra, GM, Swasti, Hotel Janpath

Speaking on the occasion, Saloni Sood Mehra, Founder of Brand Talkeez, shared, “The No Agenda Women’s Day Afternoon Tea was an incredible celebration of the strength, resilience, and creativity of women. It was an afternoon where women from all backgrounds came together to empower and support each other. The conversations were inspiring, and the connections made will undoubtedly create a lasting impact. We are extremely thankful to have partnered with Swasti Kala, our hospitality partner and Tavasyam Teas, QNT Sports India to bring this vision to life and celebrate the essence of being a woman.”

As the event concluded, it marked not just the celebration of Women’s Day, but also the start of a deeper, more inclusive community where every voice matters and women continue to empower one another. The event was a resounding success, leaving attendees with a renewed sense of purpose, solidarity, and inspiration. It was a powerful reminder that when women support and uplift each other, extraordinary things happen.

March 12, 2025: Airtel announced today an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet services to its customers in India. This is the first agreement to be signed in India, which is subject to SpaceX receiving its own authorizations to sell Starlink in India. It enables Airtel and SpaceX to further explore how Starlink can complement and expand Airtel’s offerings, and how Airtel’s expertise in the Indian market complements SpaceX’s direct offerings to consumers and businesses.

Airtel and SpaceX will explore offering Starlink equipment in Airtel’s retail stores, Starlink services via Airtel to business customers, opportunities to connect communities, schools, and health centers, among many others, in even the most rural parts of India. Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilize and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India.

Airtel remains committed to delivering comprehensive and reliable connectivity and digital solutions leveraging advanced technology with a focus on customer-centric services. By adding Starlink, (in addition to its existing alliance with Eutelsat OneWeb) to its offerings, Airtel will further its ability to offer nationwide connectivity and connect previously underserved areas, particularly those with limited to no coverage today. With Starlink enterprise suite, Airtel will be able to offer enterprises, businesses, and communities comprehensive and seamless connectivity packages.

“Working with SpaceX to offer Starlink to Airtel customers in India is a significant milestone and further demonstrates our commitment to next-generation satellite connectivity,” said Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Bharti Airtel Ltd. “This collaboration enhances our ability to bring world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India, ensuring that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet. Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers – wherever they live and work.”

“Technology is always evolving and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation so that we can continue to bring the best connectivity experience for our customers. This includes collaborating with global leaders like SpaceX to extend our reach and add new coverage to customers throughout all of India.”

“We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer of SpaceX. “The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business.”

Mumbai, 12th March 2025: This Women’s Day, Chandak Group went beyond conventional celebrations to honor the individuality and strength of women with a deeply personal and meaningful gesture. Recognizing that a name carries identity, history, and empowerment, the real estate brand launched a heartfelt campaign to celebrate the women who have made Chandak homes their own.

As part of this initiative, every woman homebuyer received a personalized memento—a beautifully engraved, sustainable keyholder featuring her name. More than just a keepsake, this thoughtful token symbolizes the recognition of her journey, her achievements, and her space in the home.

At the heart of the campaign is an emotionally resonant video that captures candid moments of women reflecting on what home, empowerment, and identity mean to them. Through authentic storytelling, the film showcases the joy of being truly seen and heard, the warmth of a home where women nurture and grow, and the significance of a simple yet profound gesture—acknowledging a woman’s name and presence in her own space.

Commenting on the initiative, a spokesperson from Chandak Group said:
“At Chandak Group, we believe that a home is more than just four walls—it is a reflection of one’s identity, dreams, and aspirations. This Women’s Day, we wanted to go beyond celebration and offer something truly meaningful—an acknowledgment of the women who make our homes complete. By engraving their names on a personalized keepsake, we hope to reinforce the message that every woman’s name, journey, and contribution deserve to be seen, heard, and cherished.”

The campaign’s key message, “Because every woman’s name deserves to be seen, heard, and cherished,” reinforces Chandak Group’s commitment to creating spaces where every individual, especially women, feels valued and empowered. The video and engagement efforts are amplified through the hashtags #HeartOfTheHome #ChandakGroup #WomenPower #Inspirational #WomensDay #CelebratingHer to drive conversations around identity, recognition, and homeownership.

With a warm and natural visual aesthetic, the campaign ensures an emotional connection with its audience, positioning Chandak Group as a real estate brand that goes beyond infrastructure—it builds homes that nurture aspirations and celebrate identities.

Mumbai, 12th March 2025 – Kyoorius has announced the Chairs and Co-Chairs of the jury for the Kyoorius Creative Awards 2025. The Chairs and Co-Chairs exemplify creative excellence, and are armed with an impeccable reputation from not just their peers, but the industry itself.

“Achievements, merit, credibility and integrity are just some of the factors that help us curate our Chairs and Co-Chairs. These individuals have created breakthrough work, set new benchmarks, and know what it takes to push the industry forward. With their expertise, every entry will be judged with the insight, rigour, and respect it deserves” said Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder CEO of Kyoorius.

The role and responsibility of the Chairs and Co-Chairs will be to lead their respective juries by setting the tone and standards for the judging process, and ensuring that the jury adheres to the judging criteria. They will strive towards fairness in deliberations, and to reflect the essence of the Kyoorius Creative Awards: each work gets judged on its own merit.

The Chairs and Co-Chairs for the 2025 Kyoorius Creative Awards are:

Integrated, Commerce, Media, PR, B2B:

Chair: Prasoon Joshi, Chairperson, McCann Worldgroup

Co-Chair: Sandipan Bhattacharya, CCO – SA & Managing Director – India, Grey Worldwide India Pvt Ltd

Branded Content, Gaming, Direct, Experimental:

Chair: Paul Nagy, CCO – APAC, VML

Co-Chair: Jung A Kim, CCO, Innocean Worldwide

Digital + Social + Tech, Digital Craft:

Chair: Rajdeepak Das, CCO Publicis Groupe South Asia & Chairman, Leo, South Asia

Co-Chair: Binaifer Dulani, Creative & Founding Partner, Talented

Film, Broadcast

Chair: Kainaz Karmakar, CCO, Ogilvy India

Co-Chair: Swati Bhattacharya, Global Head, Godrej Creative Lab

Film Craft:

Chair: Ashish Khazanchi, Managing Partner & CCO, Enormous

Co-Chair: Rahul Mathew, CCO, DDB Mudra Group

Press, Outdoor, Radio + Audio, Regional, Industry Craft:

Chair: Surjo Dutt, CCO, Dentsu Creative India

Co-Chair: Mayur Hola, VP Brand, Swiggy

Health & Pharma:

Chair: Geet Rathi, Independent Creative Director & Design Director

Creativity for Good, ZEE Equality Award:

Chair: Anupama Ramaswamy, Jt MD & CCO, Havas Creative India

Co-Chair: Manish Bhatt, Founder Director, Scarecrow M&C Saatchi

The composition of each jury will be announced in the coming days. Judging for KCA 2025 begins on 24 April 2025, leading up to the awards night on 23 May 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai.