Archives January 2026

Public Speaking is emerging as a career deal-breaker

Despite strong academic credentials, youth struggle to express themselves

Hyderabad, Jan 6: In an increasingly competitive academic and professional environment, experts caution that public speaking has become a decisive factor in a youth’s career success. While degrees and technical knowledge remain important, the inability to communicate confidently is emerging as a major stumbling block in career progression for young Indians.

Public speaking today goes far beyond stage performances. It plays a crucial role in elocution contests, debates, youth festivals, panel discussions, group discussions, and job interviews. Young individuals who struggle to express themselves often fail to gain recognition, despite having strong academic or professional credentials.

“Many talented youths lose opportunities not because they lack ability, but because they cannot present their competence convincingly,” says a communication expert. “In interviews and group discussions, silence is often mistaken for lack of confidence or leadership potential.”

Recruiters and institutions increasingly evaluate how candidates articulate ideas, respond to questions, and handle pressure situations. Youth who cannot speak up confidently often remain invisible, while more articulate peers move ahead faster in careers and leadership roles.

Public speaking also shapes leadership development. Participation in debates, panels, student bodies, and public forums helps youth gain confidence, recognition, and influence. Those who master communication skills early stand out, while others with equal or greater knowledge struggle to be noticed.

Recognising this growing challenge, Media Junction, a Hyderabad-based specialist school for public speaking, is organising a Four-Day Practical Workshop on Public Speaking from January 8 to 11, between 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm, at Parthani Towers, Golconda Cross Roads, Musheerabad, Hyderabad.

The workshop is designed to help participants overcome stage fear, build confidence, and communicate effectively through hands-on practice and personalised guidance. To ensure individual attention, only 15 participants will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Public speaking is not a talent one is born with; it is a learnable skill,” adds D. Kalpana, Director of Media Junction. With the right training and practice, youth can transform their knowledge into confidence and visibility.

Mumbai, Jan 06: DOMS Industries Limited (‘DOMS’), a company engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a diverse range of products that cater to the evolving needs of children, adolescents, and young adults through their formative years, transformed the festive season into a celebration of colour, creativity and new beginnings at the DOMS Painting Studio at KidZania. Blending the warmth of Christmas with the optimism of the New Year, the brand curated a month-long creative journey that delighted children and families while encouraging imagination, reflection and joyful self-expression.

Young visitors stepped into a world of festive creativity through thoughtfully designed, hands-on activities. The DIY Christmas Card sessions became a heartwarming highlight, with children creating personalised cards for loved ones and Santa Claus, turning festive wishes into cherished keepsakes. As December unfolded towards the New Year, the celebrations took on a hopeful tone, with children crafting New Year cards that captured their dreams, aspirations and goals for the year ahead expressing what they wished to become, create and achieve.

Adding to the festive excitement, DOMS introduced children to its newly launched Zillion pencils, allowing them to experience the brand’s latest innovation first-hand through live sampling and creative usage during activities.

The spirit of celebration reached its peak with a vibrant Ornament Painting activity, where children and parents came together to paint Christmas décor using DOMS Acrylic Colours. These shared moments of creativity transformed the painting studio into a lively family space filled with colour, laughter and festive warmth celebrating togetherness as much as art.

Weekends became even more special with mom influencers hosting activities and engaging closely with participating families. Their candid interactions and real-time feedback captured authentic moments of creativity, learning and joy, extending the DOMS festive and New Year experience beyond KidZania and onto digital platforms.

Commenting on the initiative, Saumitra Prasad, Chief Marketing Officer, DOMS India, said,

“The festive season is a time of joy, reflection and new beginnings. At DOMS, we believe creativity plays a vital role in how children express themselves, dream big and step confidently into a new year. Our collaboration with KidZania allowed us to celebrate both Christmas cheer and New Year aspirations through meaningful, hands-on experiences.”

Through this festive collaboration with KidZania, DOMS India reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing creativity, encouraging self-expression and making learning joyful—turning December 2025 into a colourful bridge between celebration and new beginnings for children and families.”

Mumbai, Jan 06: DOMS Industries Limited (‘DOMS’), a company engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a diverse range of products that cater to the evolving needs of children, adolescents, and young adults through their formative years, transformed the festive season into a celebration of colour, creativity and new beginnings at the DOMS Painting Studio at KidZania. Blending the warmth of Christmas with the optimism of the New Year, the brand curated a month-long creative journey that delighted children and families while encouraging imagination, reflection and joyful self-expression.

Young visitors stepped into a world of festive creativity through thoughtfully designed, hands-on activities. The DIY Christmas Card sessions became a heartwarming highlight, with children creating personalised cards for loved ones and Santa Claus, turning festive wishes into cherished keepsakes. As December unfolded towards the New Year, the celebrations took on a hopeful tone, with children crafting New Year cards that captured their dreams, aspirations and goals for the year ahead expressing what they wished to become, create and achieve.

Adding to the festive excitement, DOMS introduced children to its newly launched Zillion pencils, allowing them to experience the brand’s latest innovation first-hand through live sampling and creative usage during activities.

The spirit of celebration reached its peak with a vibrant Ornament Painting activity, where children and parents came together to paint Christmas décor using DOMS Acrylic Colours. These shared moments of creativity transformed the painting studio into a lively family space filled with colour, laughter and festive warmth celebrating togetherness as much as art.

Weekends became even more special with mom influencers hosting activities and engaging closely with participating families. Their candid interactions and real-time feedback captured authentic moments of creativity, learning and joy, extending the DOMS festive and New Year experience beyond KidZania and onto digital platforms.

Commenting on the initiative, Saumitra Prasad, Chief Marketing Officer, DOMS India, said,

“The festive season is a time of joy, reflection and new beginnings. At DOMS, we believe creativity plays a vital role in how children express themselves, dream big and step confidently into a new year. Our collaboration with KidZania allowed us to celebrate both Christmas cheer and New Year aspirations through meaningful, hands-on experiences.”

Through this festive collaboration with KidZania, DOMS India reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing creativity, encouraging self-expression and making learning joyful—turning December 2025 into a colourful bridge between celebration and new beginnings for children and families.”

Hyderabad,  Jan 06: Actress Pragya Nayan welcomed the New Year with a special appearance at Country Club as a guest during its grand celebrations. Hosted under the leadership of Country Club owner Mr. Rajeev Reddy, the event saw an energetic gathering of over 5,000 attendees.

Pragya Nayan interacted with the audience and delivered a brief, engaging performance that added glamour to the evening and was warmly received. In appreciation of her presence and contribution, Mr. Rajeev Reddy and the Country Club management honored her with an exclusive VIP Membership.

The actress expressed her gratitude to Mr. Rajeev Reddy, the Country Club team, and the audience for their warm support, calling the experience truly memorable.

Telangana, Hyderabad, Jan 05th: The Niri9 International Film Festival 2025 will be held on January 10 and 11, 2025, in Hyderabad, bringing together socially relevant and internationally celebrated cinema. Hon’ble Governor of Telangana his Excellency Shri Jishnu Dev Varma will inaugurate the event. The event will also have celebrities like bollywood actor Seema Biswas, singer Lou Majaw, international singet Carlyta Mouhini and former Justice of Guwahati High Court, Shri Ajit Borthakur. 

The festival has announced that the critically acclaimed supernatural thriller Dahini will be the opening film of this year’s edition. The festival will also host special screenings of the hard-hitting Indian film Kooki and the internationally lauded The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by the Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Four Daughters. 

Directed by Rajesh Touchriver, Dahini – The Witch (2022) stars Tannishtha Chatterjee, J.D. Chakravarthy, and Sruthy Jayan, and has received widespread international recognition. The film won Best Feature Film at the Titan International Film Festival and Best International Feature Film at the Pacific Beach International Festival, and was also nominated at the Swedish International Film Festival. Its selection as the opening film reflects Niri9’s focus on powerful narratives that blend genre storytelling with global appeal. 

Kooki, directed by Pranab J Deka, is a deeply unsettling and socially urgent film that examines sexual violence and the failures of the justice system through the experience of a teenage survivor. The film confronts the normalisation of sexual crimes and compels audiences to listen to voices that are often silenced, making it one of the most impactful contemporary Indian films on the subject. 

The Voice of Hind Rajab, from the Oscar-nominated director of Four Daughters, Kaouther Ben Hania, is based on real emergency call recordings surrounding the final moments of six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza. 

Premiered at leading international festivals including Venice and Toronto, the film stands as a haunting testament to cinema’s power to preserve memory, truth, and humanity.

LdotR expands dotBrand Advisory across India, Middle East and ASEAN, aim to help organisations prepare ahead of ICANN’s 2026 Domain Opportunity, opening in April 2026

“Enterprises are reassessing how they manage trust, security, and brand presence online in the fast-changing world of generative AI. A dotBrand allows organizations to move from defending their brand on the internet to owning their digital ecosystem outright. The next gTLD round is not just a naming exercise, it’s a strategic inflection point in customer trust,” said Vinay Singh, CEO and Co-founder, LdotR.

Mumbai, Jan 05th: Co-founded by Sanjay Kohli and Binaiferr Kohli, Edit II has been a consistent force in Indian television for over a decade, known for creating content that balances mass appeal with longevity. The production house has delivered some of Indian television’s most recognizable and long-running shows, like FIR, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain, and Happu Ki Ultan Paltan; the latter two continue to garner strong viewership.

Sanjay Kohli is widely regarded as a visionary producer with a strong understanding of audience preferences and sustainable content creation, while Binaiferr  Kohli is known for her hands-on creative leadership and ability to deliver character-driven stories at scale. Together, they have built Edit II into a leading production house with a strong legacy and lasting cultural impact, defined by consistency and deep audience connection.

As the entertainment ecosystem evolves, Edit II is entering a new chapter, one that builds on its strong television legacy while expanding its creative and business footprint across digital platforms, OTT, feature films, and new-format storytelling. In line with this growth roadmap, the company’s leadership structure reflects a generational transition with Vihaan Kohli as Head of Content and Co-Producer of the ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain’ film, underscoring a renewed focus on long-term, future-facing growth.

In his expanded role, Vihaan Kohli will strengthen the production house’s content vision while driving expansion into newer formats and platforms beyond television. His leadership brings fresh creative energy while building on the solid foundation established by the founders as Edit II scales into a larger, multi-platform entertainment company.

Speaking about the journey ahead, Vihaan Kohli shares, “Television has been our greatest learning ground, it has taught us discipline, scale, and a deep understanding of audiences. As we move forward, my focus is to build on this strong foundation and expand Edit II into newer verticals, including OTT and films, while continuing to create content that resonates across platforms. I sincerely hope to carry forward the vision started by Sanjay sir and Binaiferr  ma’am and do justice to the body of work and values they have built over the years.”

With a legacy rooted in successful television IPs and a renewed focus on the future, Edit II continues to evolve, bridging experience with fresh creative leadership as it expands its presence across the entertainment landscape.

Hoopr, India’s leading music licensing platform, has received institutional support from AIC-GIM, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Samridh Programme, to contribute towards the development of structured, technology-led frameworks for India’s rapidly expanding digital music and content economy. Backed by an undisclosed investment, Hoopr represents a significant step towards institutionalising transparent music licensing, strengthening compliance, and enabling fair, scalable artist remuneration across the digital ecosystem.

Hoopr operates at the intersection of music, technology, and the creator economy, addressing a critical challenge facing India’s digital content market. Over the past three years, Hoopr has onboarded more than 1,500 artists, curated a catalogue of 15,000+ tracks, and disbursed ₹4.5+ crore in direct earnings to artists. Today, the platform supports ethical music usage for over 400,000 creators and 200+ brands, positioning Hoopr as one of the country’s most trusted digital licensing infrastructures.

At a time when over 80,000 brands and close to 600,000 creators produce digital content daily and nearly 87% of music usage remains unregulated, India’s creator economy faces a critical governance and compliance gap. Through institutional backing from MeitY and ecosystem support from AIC-GIM, Hoopr is working to accelerate the adoption of compliant music practices and contribute to the establishment of national standards for digital music usage.

As India’s digital economy continues to scale—driven by short-form video, social platforms, and creator-led content the limitations of legacy copyright systems designed for linear media have become increasingly evident. This shift necessitates modern, technology-enabled licensing frameworks capable of operating at internet scale while ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness.

Under the MeitY SAMRIDH programme, AIC-GIM-backed Hoopr is contributing to the development of future-ready digital music licensing infrastructure through transparent digital workflows, real-time music usage visibility, and equitable royalty distribution enabled via its integration with the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS). These efforts are aimed at supporting a compliant, sustainable, and globally aligned music rights ecosystem for India’s digital future.

Sumit Garg, CEO, Atal Incubation Centre  Goa Institute of Management (AIC-GIM), said,

“Hoopr is addressing a structural gap in India’s creator economy by building rights-respecting digital infrastructure for music usage. Through the MeitY SAMRIDH programme, our role has been to support Hoopr in strengthening its technology architecture, compliance frameworks, and ecosystem readiness—enabling it to contribute meaningfully to national efforts around digital rights management and creative economy governance.”

Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-Founder & CEO, Hoopr, said,

“The digital transformation of content has fundamentally changed how music is created, experienced, and monetised. Institutional support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, enabled through AIC-GIM under the MeitY SAMRIDH programme, is a critical step towards building long-term, technology-led frameworks that allow the industry to operate responsibly. This effort ensures that artists, creators, and brands engage within an ecosystem that is structured, compliant, and built for the future.”

Meghna Mittal, Co-Founder, Hoopr, added,

“At Hoopr, we have always prioritized the development of an accessible, tech-first monetization infrastructure. Backing from the Ministry further emphasizes this need for scalable systems to monitor and manage music usage across multiple platforms in real-time. Our collaborative goal is to develop a framework that demonstrates how technology can facilitate compliance, fairness and accountability in the digital music landscape in India.”

This partnership exemplifies the Ministry’s progressive stance towards enabling new-age solutions in pursuit of India’s creative and digital aspirations.

Jan 05th: The DP World ILT20 Season 4, exclusively on ‘Z’, continues to captivate cricket fans with high-quality competition and compelling storylines. After delivering thrilling encounters day after day through the league stage, the tournament has now reached the knockout phase, where the top four teams will go head-to-head in a high-stakes battle to secure their place in the final. With the summit clash just around the corner, anticipation is building for what promises to be an edge-of-the-seat contest between two deserving finalists. DP World ILT20 Commentator and legendary Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh spoke about the league’s steady growth, its rising competitiveness, and the strong connect it has built with audiences since its inaugural season.

Associated with the DP World ILT20 since Season 1, Harbhajan said, “This is the fourth year of the tournament and every season has brought something new. The expectations have grown year on year, and the quality of cricket has improved consistently. From where the league started to where it is today, the journey has been very satisfying. It shows how the DP World ILT20 has established itself as a strong and competitive league in a short span of time.”

Speaking about the presence of Indian players in the league, Harbhajan added, “It’s lovely to see Indian players like Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla playing this season. In earlier editions, we also saw players like Yusuf Pathan and Robin Uthappa. Indian players who have recently retired are coming here to continue playing competitive cricket, and their experience adds great value to the league.”

Adding to the same, Laxmi Shetty, Head – Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, said, “The inclusion of Indian players has brought a wonderful dimension to this season of DP World ILT20. At ‘Z’, we’ve seen a strong positive reflection in viewership and audience engagement, as these familiar faces resonate deeply with Indian cricket fans. Their experience and competitive edge have not only raised the bar for the tournament but also strengthened the emotional bond viewers share with the league. With the finals just around the corner, the anticipation is at an all-time high, and we are excited to broadcast this thrilling showdown to millions of enthusiasts across our network.”

Reflecting on the league as a whole, the former Indian spinner noted, “The DP World ILT20 has become a great platform not just for international stars, but also for players to test themselves in a high-pressure environment. Playing in Dubai and across the UAE is always special, and being part of this league for the fourth year continues to be a pleasure.”

Cricket fans and sports enthusiasts across India can catch the LIVE action exclusively on &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai – SD, Zee Cinemalu and OTT platform Zee 5.

Jan 05th: The DP World ILT20 Season 4, exclusively on ‘Z’, continues to captivate cricket fans with high-quality competition and compelling storylines. After delivering thrilling encounters day after day through the league stage, the tournament has now reached the knockout phase, where the top four teams will go head-to-head in a high-stakes battle to secure their place in the final. With the summit clash just around the corner, anticipation is building for what promises to be an edge-of-the-seat contest between two deserving finalists. DP World ILT20 Commentator and legendary Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh spoke about the league’s steady growth, its rising competitiveness, and the strong connect it has built with audiences since its inaugural season.

Associated with the DP World ILT20 since Season 1, Harbhajan said, “This is the fourth year of the tournament and every season has brought something new. The expectations have grown year on year, and the quality of cricket has improved consistently. From where the league started to where it is today, the journey has been very satisfying. It shows how the DP World ILT20 has established itself as a strong and competitive league in a short span of time.”

Speaking about the presence of Indian players in the league, Harbhajan added, “It’s lovely to see Indian players like Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla playing this season. In earlier editions, we also saw players like Yusuf Pathan and Robin Uthappa. Indian players who have recently retired are coming here to continue playing competitive cricket, and their experience adds great value to the league.”

Adding to the same, Laxmi Shetty, Head – Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast and Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, said, “The inclusion of Indian players has brought a wonderful dimension to this season of DP World ILT20. At ‘Z’, we’ve seen a strong positive reflection in viewership and audience engagement, as these familiar faces resonate deeply with Indian cricket fans. Their experience and competitive edge have not only raised the bar for the tournament but also strengthened the emotional bond viewers share with the league. With the finals just around the corner, the anticipation is at an all-time high, and we are excited to broadcast this thrilling showdown to millions of enthusiasts across our network.”

Reflecting on the league as a whole, the former Indian spinner noted, “The DP World ILT20 has become a great platform not just for international stars, but also for players to test themselves in a high-pressure environment. Playing in Dubai and across the UAE is always special, and being part of this league for the fourth year continues to be a pleasure.”

Cricket fans and sports enthusiasts across India can catch the LIVE action exclusively on &Pictures SD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Action, Zee Thirai – SD, Zee Cinemalu and OTT platform Zee 5.