BUSINESS
Lights, camera, rebound: PVR Inox scripts comeback in Q1 FY26 as Bollywood and Hollywood deliver hits
Hindi movies like Sitaare Zameen Par and Bhool Chuk Maaf have brought audiences back to theatres with Hollywood also sparking revival in box office business.
BUSINESS
Rs 200 ticket fallout: Karnataka’s move could dent PVR Inox revenues, exhibitors urge for dialogue
The draft notification issued by the Karnataka government is currently open for public feedback and objections for a 15-day period, following which the government is required to review all submissions before releasing a final gazette notification.
TRENDS
Creators use AI to chase viral moments but fear it may replace marketing jobs
According to a NASSCOM report, the Indian AI market is projected to reach $17 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 25-35 percent. Within this surge, generative AI is emerging as a powerful content creation tool.
BUSINESS
Marriott and Ventive Hospitality sign a pact to build over 1,500 rooms worth Rs 3,200 crore
Of the seven hotels, three hotels are being developed by Ventive Hospitality and its subsidiaries – the Ritz-Carlton Reserve including 73 villas along with 80 branded residences for sale at Pottuvil, near Yala East National Park in Sri Lanka; Varanasi Marriott Hotel (161 rooms) at Varanasi, India and Courtyard by Marriott (200 rooms) at Mundra, India.
TRENDS
Decoding creator economy: 45 lakh strong, just 6 lakh monetise; Reels and Shorts drive earnings
Short-form video has emerged as the most preferred format for monetisation. It is expected that short-form ad spending will double by 2026
BUSINESS
Game on again: Indian esports arena gets bigger as Garena unleashes Free Fire Max Cup
With the Free Fire MAX India Cup 2025 announced, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of S8UL, an esports and gaming content company sees a strong potential for a broader competitive calendar, including publisher-led tournaments, community leagues, and grassroots events. "This will naturally attract new talent and revive dormant rosters."
BUSINESS
Sponsorships rain down on Neeraj Chopra Classic, brands bet big on track glory
Calling it a landmark moment for Indian sports, marketers said that 16 brands coming on board for a non-cricket sporting event speaks volumes about the shift in perception and interest in Olympic sports.
BUSINESS
PVR Inox doubles down on South, plans Rs 150 crore screen boost in FY26
The spotlight is on the southern market due to the robust cinema-going culture, and many metrics, like footfalls, seeing healthy recovery, versus other regions in the post-Covid period.
BUSINESS
Indian music royalties hit new high amid digital boom, Netflix and Amazon on radar
IPRS is eyeing two segments to drive royalty revenue for music artists----collection from streaming platforms and increasing collections from public performances
TRAVEL
Monsoon makes a splash this year as flight, bus and hotel bookings pour in
Many had to defer summer getaways due to global tensions, and are now ready for a break. Also fuelling travel demand during the monsoon are discounts by airlines as well as travel platforms.
ENTERTAINMENT
Aamir’s big-screen gamble delivers as Sitaare Zameen Par shines at the box office
Made with a budget of around Rs 90 crore, the film has emerged as a successful venture, a rare feat for Hindi films in the last one year. Playing at limited screens, the sports comedy is recording higher footfalls in the second week of the film's release, especially in smaller centres where people depend on word of mouth.
TRAVEL
Sacred journey, silent revival: Amarnath Yatra breathes life into Kashmir’s tourism
The government is pulling out all the stops to ensure that Amarnath Yatra brings back the confidence of travellers to J&K. Though tourism has taken a hit since Pahalgam, the successful execution of the Yatra may be the remedy.
TRENDS
Airtel's arena, Samsung's stage: Gaming levels up in mobile, telco brand playbooks
Over the last 3–4 years, there has been a massive shift in how smartphone and telecom brands perceive the gaming ecosystem. Brands are doubling down on mobile-first competitive titles like BGMI, Free Fire, CODM (Call of Duty Mobile).
BUSINESS
Iran-Israel conflict may hit travel between India & US as airlines rethink routes, frequency
Passengers will feel the impact in terms of fewer options, longer travel time, and higher fares, said industry insiders.
BUSINESS
Small stories, big push: JOJO to launch new micro-drama segment, Eloelo ramps up offerings
Platforms tapping into the micro-drama space note that the vertical viewing behaviour already exists in India thanks to YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels but there is a need for separate apps for the bite-sized content.
BUSINESS
The rise of the 2-minute thriller: Startups chase India’s $10-billion micro-drama boom
Startups are racing to build mobile-first platforms for short, serialised fiction as VCs pour in capital, users binge cliffhanger-led episodes, and AI slashes production costs. Monetisation is in early stages, but the format is gaining serious traction.
BUSINESS
Kashmir tourism begins to rebound after Pahalgam attack, boosted by affordable travel, improved connectivity
Domestic travel operators, airlines, hotel owners, and shikara operators that Moneycontrol spoke to expressed confidence that tourists would return to Kashmir for the remainder of the 2025 summer season.
ENTERTAINMENT
PVR Inox eyes extended movie runs, higher traffic with Sitaare Zameen Par staying off OTT
The country's largest multiplex chain expects Khan's new release to buck the trend of short runs in theatres, instead staying in cinemas for at least 10 weeks as it skips an early release on streaming platforms.
ENTERTAINMENT
Dip in TV revenues as broadcaster budgets remain tight: Sanjay Dwivedi, Balaji Telefilms CEO
Dwivedi added that one of the challenges of linear TV is that the prime time slot has not expanded beyond 7-11 pm in all these years.
TRENDS
Goa turns to cultural tourism to cash in on growing concert economy
Goa is attempting to move away from its image of a beach destination to that of a cultural destination with a rich calendar of concert and festival related event
ENTERTAINMENT
King Khan rules IPL 18 even as celebrity endorsed ads see 13% drop
Film actors continued to dominate brand endorsements, contributing 50 percent of total ad volumes, while sports personalities maintained a strong presence with a 32 percent share.
BUSINESS
What plane am I flying? Passengers demand aircraft filters on travel sites after Air India crash
The consumer protection authority has reached out to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism and major online travel portals in India to discuss these changes on booking portals
ENTERTAINMENT
Rewriting the script: Balaji embraces AI and snackable shows for future growth
Balaji is exploring more bite-sized content to tap into the GenZ viewership with an AI twist that will be extended to long-format shows too, as the company does not want to be left behind when it comes to innovation.
BUSINESS
Europe travel takes a hit as Indian flyers rethink plans after Iran airspace closure, Air India crash
Currently, around 5–7 percent of bookings to Europe are being impacted due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, said Govind Gaur, CEO of WanderOn, noting that flight cancellations are prompting Indian travellers to look for options.
