V-Guard Strongly Connects with Audiences Through a Moving Holi Film

12th March 2025: V-Guard Industries Limited, India’s leading consumer electrical and electronics brand this Holi has launched a special film that encourages everyone to let go of past misgivings, embrace reconciliation, and strengthen bonds. The emotional film, conceptualized and created by V-Guard’s creative agency Ralph&Das, revolves around a family event where a small boy, dressed in festive clothing, eagerly awaits his father’s monthly visit—a brief half-day breather allowed by the family court. Against the backdrop of Holi celebrations, the reunion stirs up memories for the separated couple, reminding them of their journey together—the golden moments of love and parenthood, as well as the darker times that led to their separation. Overcome by emotions, they decide to set aside their differences, embracing the spirit of Holi.
What makes the campaign unique is its open-ended storytelling. The film leaves the audience at a pivotal moment, prompting them to reflect on the beauty of forgiveness and the importance of nurturing relationships. By allowing viewers to interpret the conclusion in their own way, V-Guard fosters an interactive and thought-provoking experience that resonates deeply with audiences across all walks of life. The film got air this week and is being promoted across digital and social media to reach audiences nationwide and encourage Holi celebrations. This powerful narrative has struck a chord with viewers, amassing an impressive 3.5 million views on the YouTube channel and over 10.9 million views on Instagram so far.
Nandagopal Nair, VP and Head of brand and Communications, at V-Guard Industries Ltd, said, “At V-Guard, while our product storytelling remains central, we consistently create content that reflects the core purpose of the brand —bringing home a better tomorrow. Holi symbolizes the vibrancy of life and the spirit of renewal, offering an opportunity to embrace new beginnings by letting go of past differences. Our latest Holi film captures this essence, celebrating the diverse hues of life and reinforcing our commitment to fostering a more harmonious and compassionate world.”
Anil Ralph Thomas, Director and Chief Creative Officer, of Ralph&Das, who has written & directed the film, adds, “The starting point for any V-Guard communication is that it ends on an optimistic note to reiterate the brand ethos of ‘Bring Home A Better Tomorrow’ And the occasion of Holi culturally allows for that naturally. Which is all about moving past any angst and all animosity. In this film, we are not trying to solve a problem in a relationship but all that we have attempted to do is to remind people that sometimes it helps to think why ‘What got us together, in the first place is way stronger than what drove us apart. The role of the product needed to be innocuously and seamlessly woven in the narrative sans any hard sell…”
Mr. Kaustav Das, Director, and CEO, Ralph&Das opined, “For Holi, while looking for an insight to pass on a larger message of ‘bring home a better tomorrow’ we realized that our insensitive system and society pits one parent against the other in a bitter battle for custody when marriages break down. Fuelled by a host of vested interests and advisors. Innocent children are caught in between and end up being the unwilling, unfortunate victims, paying the price for a fight between two adamant adults. Even on festive occasions like Holi. Influencing a change in that behavior would certainly usher in a better tomorrow.”

Amrita Students Secure First Prize at DecodeX 2025 Hackathon

Hyderabad, 12th March 2025: A team of students from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amaravati Campus, secured the first prize at DecodeX 2025, a national-level hackathon held on February 14-15 at N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research (NLDIMSR) in Mumbai. Team CodeBlue, comprising Prajwala Yadlapalli, Naidu Yaswanth Reddy, and Parise Sri Vatsal from Amrita School of Computing, Amaravati, won the top prize of ₹100,000 for their innovative solution in the PalletSense Challenge.

DecodeX 2025 is a pan-India competition that brings together students from various institutions to address real-world business problems in technology, finance, marketing, and healthcare. Participants are tasked with developing solutions that demonstrate analytical thinking, creativity, and practical application of knowledge.

Team CodeBlue’s winning solution was an IoT-based system designed to improve goods tracking accuracy, optimize battery management, and enhance supply chain logistics through intelligent clustering and route adherence algorithms. The approach was recognized for its feasibility and effectiveness in addressing industry challenges.

Bhaskar Mallubhotla, Centre Head of Corporate and Industry Relations at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amaravati, said the win highlighted the institution’s emphasis on innovation and practical learning. “Our students have demonstrated the ability to translate theoretical concepts into industry-ready solutions, reflecting Amrita’s commitment to academic excellence,” he said.

The victory marks a significant achievement for Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, further strengthening its presence in competitive technology-driven events at the national level.

Indian Aviation Leasing Sector Eyes Robust Growth at GIFT City IFSC

March 12,2025:The latest report by KPMG in India, titled ‘Aviation Leasing and Financing Ecosystem at GIFT IFSC, India’ , highlights a transformative phase in India’s aviation leasing market, driven by robust economic growth and a strategic push towards becoming a global aviation hub. Key data points underscore the nation’s economic resilience and the burgeoning opportunities within the aviation and leasing sectors:

  • Aviation Recovery: Post-COVID-19, air passenger traffic not only rebounded to nearly 96% of pre-pandemic levels by FY23 but exceeded these levels in FY24, with 376 million passengers recorded.
  • Market Expansion: Currently ranked as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, India is set to witness a significant increase in its aircraft fleet – projected to reach approximately 2,100–2,200 aircraft by FY44.
  • Investment Outlook: With commercial airlines expected to require an investment of USD 210–255 billion over the next two decades, the shift towards leasing is emerging as a financially prudent strategy.
  • IFSC Advantage: The GIFT City IFSC, India’s first operational international financial services centre, offers competitive tax benefits, regulatory ease, and innovative financial products that are catalyzing the growth of aircraft leasing. With over 33 aircraft lessors registered and more than 60 aircrafts and similar number of engines have been leased as of January 2025, the ecosystem is rapidly evolving to support future expansion.

Sunil Badala, Partner, National Head of Tax, KPMG in India said, “The IFSC at GIFT City is a strategic initiative by the government to create a global financial hub. The IFSC offers robust regulatory framework and tax incentives for aircraft leasing and financing. Aircraft leasing ecosystem at Gift IFSC fosters an environment where innovative leasing solutions can thrive, driving sustainable economic growth.”

Commenting on the report, Girish Nair, Partner and National Head – Aviation and Global Lead Airports, KPMG in India, stated, “Our analysis strongly recommends that both global and local lessors tap into the unique opportunities at GIFT City IFSC. With a confluence of favorable tax incentives and a robust regulatory framework, this platform is not only setting new benchmarks in aircraft leasing but also paving the way for a more modern, asset-light approach that can propel the aviation sector into a sustainable future.”

A Grand Fusion of Dance & Theatre: Dr. Sonal Mansingh’s Vision for Social Awareness

New Delhi,12 March 2025: Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, India’s best-known cultural icon, is set to present the Delhi premiere of her latest dance-theatre production, Bhava-Ganga, on March 18, 2025, at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Presented by Shri Kamakhya Kalapeeth (Centre for Indian Classical Dances), founded by Dr. Sonal MansinghBhava-Ganga is an artistic confluence of history, culture, and contemporary relevance, seamlessly weaving narratives that resonate across time. Through this visually stunning and thought-provoking production, Dr. Mansingh highlights pressing societal issues such as social equality and women empowerment —a theme deeply intertwined with the timeless essence of Maa Ganga.

Speaking about the production, Dr. Sonal Mansingh remarked, “Ganga is not just a river; she is the lifeline of our civilization, witness to the rise and fall of empires, and symbol of purity and strength.”

Dr. Mansingh has consistently used her choreographies as a powerful medium to reflect on social realities. Her past productions have explored themes on women’s rights, environmental sustainability, and cultural heritage, making Bhava-Ganga yet another masterpiece that blends tradition with contemporary discourse, Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi.

Through evocative storytelling, spellbinding music, and intricate dance movements, Bhava-Ganga takes the audience on a journey across time—from the legend of Bhagirath’s penance to bringing Ganga to Mother EarthPrabhu Shri Ram’s encounter with the Kevat (boatman), and the divine presence of Ganga in Kashi as witness to Mahadev begging for alms from Devi Annapurna. These narratives serve as allegories, drawing powerful parallels with contemporary discourse on justice, equality, and environmental consciousness.

The production features the Repertory Group of the Centre for Indian Classical Danes (CICD), a dynamic ensemble of artists trained under Dr. Mansingh’s expert guidance, bringing her visionary choreography to life with their enthralling performance.

CBM India Marks Women’s Day with a Growth-Focused Eye Health Campaign

Hyderabad, March 12, 2025 – CBM India has organized a free eye screening camp on the occasion of International Women’s Day, under their ongoing Inclusive Eye Care Services in Hyderabad’ project. The camp aimed at providing critical eye care services to marginalized communities and has reached around 200 people, including approximately 160 women, in Rasoolpura, Hyderabad.

Supported by a CSR initiative by Movate, over the past three years, the project has been instrumental in promoting inclusive eye care. For the first two years, it focused exclusively on trans women’s vision care through eye screening camps. From 2024-25, the scope was expanded to include members of other marginalized communities. The program now brings diverse groups together in the same space, promoting interaction, inclusion, and community understanding while continuing to provide vital eye care support.

The project has made significant strides in advancing inclusive eye health. As it approaches its three-year mark in March 2025, it is on track to reach over 3,200 people, distribute more than 1,500 spectacles, conduct 30 eye surgeries, and provide 770 ration kits.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Sony Thomas, Executive Director, of CBM India, said, “Vision care is a fundamental right, and through this initiative, we aim to ensure that people from marginalized communities have access to quality eye care, irrespective of gender identity or socioeconomic status. Good vision is essential not just for daily activities but also for education, employment, and overall well-being.

Mr. Anish Phillip, EVP, and Chief People Officer, Movate, remarked, “Diversity, equality, and inclusivity are values deeply etched in Movate’s corporate conscience. We have organized health assessment drives, eye screening camps, and surgery if needed. Looking ahead, we plan to organize more camps and expand our initiatives.”

The eye screening camp is a continuation of CBM India’s commitment to inclusive healthcare. The shift towards integrated community participation marks a progressive step in reducing social marginalization while ensuring equitable healthcare access.

Cornitos’ Growth in Gourmet Snacking Shines at AAHAR 2025

March 12, 2025:  Cornitos, a favorite snack brand in India, made a flavor-filled impression at AAHAR 2025, one of Asia’s largest food and hospitality trade shows. With the aim of delivering bold, innovative, and high-quality snacking, Cornitos featured CRUSTIES with its newly launched flavors, along with its Gourmet Nachos, Combo Packs, On-the-Go Snacks, Roasted Nuts & Kernels, Mexican Delight Kits, Salsa Dips, and Taco Shells, reinforcing its commitment to revolutionizing the snacking experience for the guest at the event.  With eye-catching packaging that reflected its commitment to quality and innovation, Cornitos’ vibrant stand drew in visitors, offering them a first-hand taste of its diverse and exciting snack selection.
Sharing the experience, Manoj Singh, Head of Marketing, Cornitos shared, “AAHAR has always been an incredible platform for engaging with consumers and industry peers. It provided us with the perfect opportunity to showcase our innovative product range, including the newly launched Crusties flavors, and gather valuable feedback. The enthusiasm from food lovers and professionals alike encourages us to keep pushing the boundaries of snacking.” 
Cornitos introduced its latest Crusties in Korean Chilli, Fiery Peri Peri, and Sour Cream & Onion flavors, along with the indulgent Classic Cheese Balls and Honey Chilli Potato Balls, delighting guests with their bold flavors and satisfying crunch.  Elevating the experience, live culinary demonstrations by expert chefs showcased the versatility of Cornitos’ products through Nachos, Salsa, Tacos, and Wraps. Among the standout creations, the Cottage Cheese Loaded Nachos, Tangy Veggie Wrap, and Chickpea Chipotle Tacos received glowing appreciation for their vibrant flavors and delicious combinations.

Elista’s Growth Strategy in Storage Solutions Gains Momentum with Sanjay Kumar’s Appointment

New Delhi, March 12, 2025 – Elista, a leading Indian consumer electronics brand known for diverse range of innovative technology products, is now expanding its portfolio by venturing into storage solutions. To spearhead this new category, Elista has appointed Mr. Sanjay Kumar as Director (Sales) – Storage Solutions, marking a significant milestone in its journey of innovation and growth.

With over 27 years of experience in the IT flash storage industry, Mr. Kumar is a seasoned professional with expertise in product sales, business strategy, and market expansion. He has been instrumental in driving revenue growth and launching innovative products in highly competitive markets. Prior to joining Elista, Mr. Kumar held leadership roles at esteemed organizations like OSCOO, Moser Baer and Beetel, where he drove growth and strengthened market presence. As Director (Sales), he will drive the growth of Elista’s upcoming product category while supporting the company’s global expansion goals.

Mr.-Sanjay-Kumar-Director-Sales-Elista

Welcoming Mr. Kumar to the team, Mr. Pawan Kumar, CEO of Elista, said: “We are pleased to have Sanjay Kumar join us as we expand into the storage solutions category. His extensive experience and strategic approach will be pivotal in establishing this segment as a vital part of our diverse portfolio. The storage solutions market is evolving rapidly, and with Sanjay’s leadership, we aim to deliver innovative, high-quality products that address both consumer and business needs. His insights will also help us strengthen our presence in key markets and align with Elista’s long-term vision of growth and excellence.”

 Elista, part of the TeknoDome Group, has rapidly evolved since its inception in 2020, growing from a startup into a global brand present in over 18 countries. With plans to expand to 35 countries within two years and a revenue target of Rs 1,500 crore by 2026, Elista remains committed to delivering innovative, affordable products to diverse markets worldwide.

The addition of the storage solutions category reflects Elista’s focus on addressing the growing demand for high-performance, reliable products. This new segment will enhance Elista’s portfolio, positioning the brand to meet evolving consumer needs while capitalizing on emerging market opportunities.

Noise’s Growth Story Continues with Its Entry into Key International Markets

India, 12th March 2025: Noise, India’s leading smartwatch and connected lifestyle brand, is taking its decade-long innovation and market leadership to the global stage. The company has officially announced its international expansion as part of its robust growth strategy, beginning with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. This strategic move aligns with the brand’s vision of democratizing meaningful technology and making India’s best-in-class innovation accessible to consumers worldwide. Noise announced its entry into the Middle East market with leading partners to establish a strong presence in the region as part of its first expansion phase.

Noise is strengthening its overseas market presence through strategic retail partnerships, online marketplaces, and key distribution networks. To replicate its India success story globally, Noise is bolstering its presence through strategic retail partnerships, online marketplaces, and key distribution networks. As part of this expansion, Noise has entered the Middle East market in collaboration with Lime Concepts. Noise products will now be available across Virgin Mega Stores, a leading lifestyle and electronics retailer in the GCC region. This will provide consumers with a hands-on opportunity to explore and engage with Noise’s premium offerings.

Commenting on this milestone, Gaurav Khatri, Co-Founder of Noise, said, “After leading India’s wearable revolution for over a decade, we are thrilled to take our innovation and offerings to international markets. This global expansion marks the realization of our vision and the next bold chapter in our journey to become a leading force in smart wearables worldwide. Our goal has always been to create technology that seamlessly integrates and enhances users’ everyday lives, and we are excited to introduce the best of Noise to consumers around the globe. As we enter new regions, starting with the GCC through strong strategic partnerships, we are poised to replicate our success story on a global scale as a ‘Made in India, Made for the World’ brand.”

The GCC region marks a strategic first step in Noise’s global expansion, with a market that is primed for smart wearables. Today, the GCC region is home to one of the world’s youngest and most tech-savvy populations, with over 50% under the age of 25. Technology is deeply embedded in their daily lives—not just for convenience but as an essential part of their lifestyle. Smart wearables are no longer a luxury but a necessity; their role is no longer limited as a fitness tracker but encompasses fitness, health, lifestyle, enabling functionalities which allow users to do more with their wearables, while seamlessly integrating into their lives and enhancing their overall experience. With these parameters accelerating digital adoption, it makes this an opportune time for Noise to bring their offerings to the market.

Noise’s global expansion is a strategic effort towards replicating its India playbook of democratizing technology and building consumer trust worldwide. Noise will offer its full range of products across categories—smartwatches, smart rings, and audio devices including the celebrated Luna Ring, Master Buds with Sound by Bose, and the ColorFit Pro Series. The brand’s NoiseFit App—India’s highest-rated health and fitness platform—will also be a key part of its global proposition, creating an integrated experience for users while expanding the ecosystem with a growing global community.

As a proud ‘Made in India’ brand, Noise has strived to strengthen India’s position in the global smart wearables industry. Its success story has stemmed from its core belief of making premium wearable experience accessible, laced with consumer-centric innovations, industry-forward design and an unwavering consumer loyalty. This milestone further underscores Noise’s vision to empower global consumers with an intelligent, connected ecosystem and establish itself as an aspirational ‘Made for the World’ brand.’ Earlier this year, Noise showcased its offerings at CES, receiving an overwhelming response—further validating the global demand for its advanced wearables.

As Noise enters new territories, it continues to champion India’s innovation prowess, delivering premium smart wearables that cater to evolving global consumer needs. This expansion marks a significant milestone in its journey, reinforcing its mission to bridge technology and lifestyle while setting new benchmarks in the international smart wearables industry.

WSO2 Secures Future with AI-Driven Automation for Identity and Access Management

Mumbai – March 12, 2025 – Enterprise software developers are increasingly tasked with going beyond their core skills to create secure, branded applications and digital experiences. WSO2 is addressing this demand with today’s introduction of new, integrated artificial intelligence (AI) based capabilities for automating IAM-related processes. The features are generally available on all three of the company’s identity and access management (IAM) offerings: WSO2 Identity Server open-source software (OSS), Asgardeo identity as a service (IDaaS), and WSO2 Private Identity Cloud.

WSO2 will demonstrate the new AI capabilities for IAM at WSO2Con 2025, which runs March 18-20, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Additionally, the company will use the event to preview new functionality for enabling AI-driven applications by providing robust IAM for AI agents and workloads, which will be rolled out in Q2 2025.

“As AI reshapes how developers create and deliver digital experiences, this evolution needs to extend to how we protect those services and the users who rely on them,” said Geethika Cooray, vice president and general manager of identity and access management at WSO2. “Through our new and forthcoming AI capabilities, we are not only helping developers to streamline key IAM-related functions; we’re also empowering them to provide a new generation of secure AI-driven applications and services.”

The new WSO2 product versions build on the proven IAM capabilities of WSO2 Identity Server, Asgardeo, and Private Identity Cloud. Collectively, they manage more than 1 billion identities worldwide and support a range of scenarios, including customer IAM (CIAM) business-to-business (B2B) CIAM, and government-to-citizen (G2C) IAM, among others. Because the three products share the same code base and user interface (UI), WSO2 customers have unprecedented flexibility to migrate between cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployments while delivering a consistent, best-in-class user experience for developers, consumers, and other users.

The latest IAM product releases also extend WSO2’s leadership in delivering comprehensive functionality for complex B2B IAM and CIAM business scenarios, enhance extensibility to facilitate customization, and add identity verification and post-quantum security.

 Enhanced Productivity via AI-Driven Automation

The new versions of WSO2 Identity Server, Asgardeo, and Private Identity Cloud now offer AI-driven capabilities for the intelligent automation of IAM-related processes, including branding and login flows. The AI-powered branding function analyzes the visual elements of an organization’s existing website and automatically applies colors, fonts, button styles, and more to ensure brand consistency while reducing the manual design effort required for developers. Meanwhile, the AI-powered login flow generator empowers developers to use natural language requests to automatically create customized workflows, accelerating the configuration process while reducing the complexity of authentication.

In Q2 2025, WSO2 will complement current AI-driven developer productivity features with agentic AI security. New capabilities, among others, will include a pre-configured application template for AI agents with built-in IAM protocol support along with the ability to extend current AI agent frameworks with agent authentication and access delegation.

Expanded Comprehensive B2B Support

WSO2 Identity Server, Asgardeo, and Private Identity Cloud offer the industry’s most comprehensive B2B CIAM support. With WSO2, enterprises can easily onboard enterprise customers and their consumers; delegate administration to enterprise customers; flexibly manage complex, multi-level organization hierarchies; and support enterprise customers’ entire B2B application portfolio.

The latest WSO2 IAM products add three new features to further facilitate B2B CIAM implementations. First, enhanced IAM sub-organization functionality enables customers to sign on once to access multiple enterprise customers and sub-organizations or brands within those customers. Second, new impersonation capabilities enable primary organization administrators to operate on their customer organization’s behalf. Third, support for distinct branding and notification options facilitates customization, including application-specific branding for consumer-facing UIs.

Increased Extensibility and Security

WSO2 builds on the strong extensibility provided by WSO2 Identity Server via Java with a new API-based product extension architecture that works with all three IAM products: WSO2 Identity Server, Asgardeo, and Private Identity Cloud. Now enterprise developers can customize their experience—even within a simplified software as a service (SaaS) environment—by using any language they want to build and deploy extensions anywhere they choose, connecting them via APIs. Organizations can then control the execution of these extensions with custom rules.

Additionally, WSO2’s IAM products feature a number of security enhancements: Built-in support for post-quantum safe cryptography protects against a quantum computer’s ability to crack traditional cryptographic techniques. Integration with OnFido provides advanced identity verification (IDV) capabilities. Integration with Sift enables AI-powered fraud decisioning. Finally, a sovereign identity proxy from partner InCountry offers the ability to isolate identity data in other countries to address regulatory requirements.

 

Jack Quaid Reflects on Novocaine’s Intense Action, Says It’s Tough to Fight Instincts

March 12,2025:Love can be a powerful force but what happens when it’s tested like never before? Novocaine is a high-octane action thriller wrapped around a pulse-pounding love story. When Nate’s world is shattered by the kidnapping of the girl he loves, he must turn his rare condition – an inability to feel pain, into his greatest weapon.

Bringing the intensity to life is The Boys star Jack Quaid, who steps into Nate’s shoes with a fresh challenge of performing action scenes without showing any pain. Talking about this, Jack Quaid said, “The stunt scenes were very fun to do, I have to say. Like a lot of rigorous training and rehearsing and all of that but it was so worth it. And it was so fun to do these fight scenes as a guy who can’t feel pain, it’s a challenge cause your natural instinct is to wince or play like you got hurt like that’s what I’ve done for every other fight scene, and this you have to kind of fight that natural reaction, so we kind of found a way that Nate fights specifically cause he’s not a trained fighter, so that was really cool figuring out how these fight scenes play out”.

Talking about the action sequences and the team behind them, Jack added, “Shout out to Stanny and our entire stunt team. They did such a great job. I think maybe the kitchen fight was my favourite one to do and then there’s a scene in this rundown house that was unbelievably fun to do. Nathan Kane can’t feel pain, that’s about it!”

Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, Novocaine delivers a gripping mix of action, romance, and suspense, pushing Nate to his limits as he fights against impossible odds. Packed with intense chases, raw emotion, and a story that proves love is worth every battle, this is one ride you won’t want to miss.