TRENDS
GST flavour in Indian weddings: Venues get cheaper, designer wear expensive
Government is expecting the festive and wedding season turnover to exceed Rs 7 lakh crore in 2025, marking one of India’s largest spending sprees in years on the back of recent cuts in the goods and services (GST) tax.
ENTERTAINMENT
PVR INOX on why India’s box office won’t feel the heat from US 100% film tariff
The footfalls in theatres are now getting closer to the levels that cinemas recorded in pre-covid period, said PVR INOX's chief financial officer.
ENTERTAINMENT
IPL hits a valuation slump — gaming ban curbs its winning streak, WPL hits a roadblock too
Despite headwinds, the fundamentals of both the leagues remain resilient.
ENTERTAINMENT
Kantara: Chapter 1 turns ancient Indian tales into box-office gold
Kantara: Chapter 1 has not only delivered commercial success but has also created a new cinematic category — one where mythology, faith, and folklore drive mass appeal and mainstream box office numbers.
BUSINESS
More Indians heading abroad for luxury and longer holidays, spending big billions since pandemic
Indians have spent $50 billion on overseas travel in the last 3 years accounting for 55% of total LRS remittances by Indians.
TRAVEL
Diwali rush sends airfares soaring as ticket for key routes touch Rs 40,000 on heavy demand
If you're planning to fly home this Diwali, be prepared to pay a premium, as airfare on popular routes have shot up and tickets during Diwali week are higher than the average festive period last year.
TRAVEL
From Nainital to Rudrapur, why MakeMyTrip is hiring more from tier 2, 3 towns
MakeMyTrip is taking its talent hunt beyond metros, hiring more from tier 2 and 3 markets such as Nainital and Rudrapur. The travel platform sees smaller towns as untapped talent hubs, helping it diversify workforce, while tapping India’s growing heartland potential
TRAVEL
Rush Hour: Bus travel in fast lane with high festive bookings; Diwali demand doubles
With limited train availability and rising airfares, more Indians are choosing premium bus options for their festive journeys, with bookings nearly double, compared to regular non-festive weeks.
ENTERTAINMENT
From folklore to frenzy: Kantara prequel storms Box Office, now comes Rishab Shetty’s big test
While the early numbers point towards another potential hit, the film’s long-term success will depend on whether it can maintain momentum beyond its opening surge.
TECHNOLOGY
Levelling up or locking down? Here is what draft online gaming rules mean for esports in India
The draft online gaming rules, released on October 2, bring recognition but also expects the industry to do some heavy lifting in the form of tighter regulation, internal checks and redressal mechanisms
TRENDS
Changing track: Meesho, ITC and others tune into music licensing to avoid IP pitfalls
More and more companies and influencers are buying music licences to avoid lawsuits, which is giving good business to music licensing platforms
TRENDS
Trending on Dalal Street: Chatterbox CEO says going public proves influencing is no side hustle
On October 3, Chatterbox Technologies becomes the first influencer marketing company to be listed in India. The stock listed at Rs 135 on the BSE, a premium of nearly 18 percent over the issue price
ENTERTAINMENT
Franchise fever builds, ticket cap lifted but can Kantara Chapter 1 match its prequel’s success?
The legend of Kantara is back and the buzz is strong but the new installment's big budget and lower than expected pre-sales revenue is posing the question whether Kantara Chapter 1 will echo the success of its first run.
TRENDS
Festive playlists power Amazon Music surge: Falguni fever, Bollywood's Bijuriya drive engagement
Amazon Music's Country head Rishabh Gupta noted that the sale on the ecommerce platform Amazon, like the Great Indian Festival, also drives engagement on the audio-streaming platform.
ENTERTAINMENT
Demon Slayer’s success, Shinchan’s comeback fuel India’s anime craze, box office boom
The previous instalment in the Shin Chan franchise --- Shin Chan: Our Dinosaur Diary, distributed by PVR INOX Pictures had released in India on May 9 and made history with the first-ever theatrical release under the Shin Chan franchise in India.
TRENDS
IPL match days just got costlier; higher GST sparks concerns over gate revenue, attendance
While a rise in IPL ticket prices will dampen spectator sentiment, other leagues such as the PKL may also face a significant loss of revenue
TRENDS
Indian celeb brand growth slows, but Kohli, Ranveer, SRK still dominate
Virat Kohli continues to secure the top spot in 2024 with a brand value of $231.1 million. His brand grew by close to 2 percent from $227.9 million in 2023.
TRAVEL
Hotel stays turn cheaper as GST cuts kick in, but chains caution on ITC loss
While some hotels expect higher bookings, especially with new GST rates coming into effect during the festive season, others are worried that due to ITC, they may not be able to pass on lower tax benefits.
ENTERTAINMENT
Karnataka High Court stays Rs 200 price cap, theatres to return to dynamic pricing
From September 24, theatres in Karnataka, including multiplexes and single screens, can go back to dynamic pricing
TRENDS
GST cuts, festive rush drive influencers’ big-billion days as brands loosen purse strings
With a decrease in tax outflow, many brands have been able to expand their marketing budgets and that is turning out to be good news for influencers.
TRAVEL
Visa hikes: Is brand America losing its shine for Indian travellers?
Tougher visa processing rules and fee hikes by the US may take Indian travellers away to other easier destinations, though travel already planned and organised may not take a hit immediately
TRAVEL
$100K H1B visa fee spurs last-minute US bookings on travel platforms like MakeMyTrip
With H1B costs shooting up, many Indians scramble to get back to the US before the financial pinch deepens. Several large firms including Amazon, Microsoft, and JPMorgan have advised employees to return and this can create localized booking surges and airline seat pressure.
ENTERTAINMENT
Coolie wins the war as it tops August box office; Malayalam movies sweep the chart
The 2025 box office tally has already hit Rs 8,370 crore, marking a 21 percent surge compared to 2024’s performance.
TRAVEL
Where is Gen Z going for festive break? Gujarat’s Garba to Kolkata’s Puja fuel holiday travel rush
Gen Z and millennials are giving a fillip to cultural and spiritual tourism in India, promoting growth in the transport and hospitality sectors as well
