On the lately concluded FICCI Media & Leisure Enterprise Conclave (MEBC)–South Join 2025, business leaders gathered to debate the evolving panorama of Indian media and leisure.
Kevin Vaz, Chairman of the FICCI Media and Leisure Committee and CEO of Leisure at JioStar, delivered an insightful keynote, emphasising the South Indian movie business’s rising affect on a worldwide scale and the function of tv.
Vaz additionally spoke concerning the rise of digital media and methods to navigate the co-existence of TV and digital within the Indian market.
Addressing the considerations surrounding the shift to digital, Vaz dismissed the notion that tv is shedding its youthful viewers. “In contrast to Western markets, India continues to see excessive youth engagement in tv resulting from its affordability, accessibility, and deep-rooted presence in Indian households. Whereas digital consumption is accelerating, tv stays a trusted supply of leisure and cultural connection,” he provides.
“India is an ‘AND’ market, not an ‘OR’ market,” he acknowledged additional. He additional emphasised the necessity to foster coexistence between tv and digital platforms to drive progress and innovation within the media business.
The Problem with digital evolution
Vaz highlighted that whereas Social media has revolutionised content material consumption, with viral clips, trending songs, and on-line critiques shaping viewers preferences. Nonetheless, the dangers towards unchecked content material, underscores the necessity for stability between inventive freedom and societal duty.
“Guaranteeing moral content material practices is essential for each creators and advertisers,” he says
The success of South Indian content material and the function of Tv
Vaz identified that South Indian cinema has constantly pushed boundaries, a trait exemplified by business stalwart Kamal Haasan. Extra lately, movies like RRR, KGF-2, and Kantara have dominated the Indian and worldwide field workplace, collectively grossing a whole bunch of crores.
“The pattern continued in 2024 with Pushpa 2, whose Hindi-dubbed model alone contributed to twenty% of the Hindi field workplace collections,” he says.
Vaz additional highlighted how South Indian content material can be gaining worldwide recognition. He acknowledged the examples of the Telugu epic RRR that made historical past by profitable on the ninety fifth Academy Awards in 2023, whereas Payal Kapadia’s All We Think about As Mild earned a number of international accolades.
In accordance Vaz, tv has performed a big function in popularising these movies, with channels like Star Gold, Colours Cineplex, and Set Max introducing regional motion pictures to nationwide audiences.
“Regardless of the rise of digital platforms, tv stays a dominant power, accounting for over 30% of India’s media and leisure market,” states Vaz.
He provides that Southern states have significantly benefited from localised content material that resonates deeply with audiences.
Vaz concluded by highlighting India’s media and leisure sector as being at an inflection level, poised for additional international recognition. He introduced the upcoming WAVES discussion board, an initiative led by Sanjay Jaju below the steerage of the Prime Minister and an elite advisory board, aiming to drive innovation and broaden India’s footprint in international leisure.
Written with the View : afaqs
