Archive: June 1, 2023

Hungama in association with Bhamla Foundation joins hands to empower people about plastic pollution with Tik Tik PLASTIC 2.0 anthem

National, 01st June 2023: Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd, In honor of World Environment Day 2023, The Bhamla Foundation, Hungama Digital Media, and Godrej Industries have come together to curate a global musical anthem with a strong message against plastic pollution. Titled “Tik Tik PLASTIC 2.0,” this anthem serves as a rallying call to combat plastic pollution and find sustainable solutions. It is composed by the talented Shaan, with lyrics penned by Swanand Kirkere and brought to life through captivating choreography by Shaimak Davar.

This impactful initiative has garnered significant support from Godrej Industries and is a collaboration with esteemed organizations, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Government of India), G20 India Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Ministry of Forest and Ministry of Environment (Maharashtra). This collective effort signifies the importance and urgency of addressing plastic pollution on a global scale. The initiative is also supported by brands like Godrej Magic and Godrej L’Affaire.

The anthem features a line-up of industry powerhouses and influential artists who have dedicated their talents to this cause. The renowned Vidya Balan, legendary Gulzar Sahab, Alia Bhatt, Ayushmann Khurrana, Shaimak Davar, Jannat Zubair, Guneet Monga, Shaan, Ricky Kej, Armaan Malik, Neeti Mohan, Raveena Tandon, Stebin Ben, Sonu Nigam, and Faisu, all unite in this anthem.

Together, Hungama Digital Media, The Bhamla Foundation, Godrej Industries, and other collaborators aim to ignite a global movement and raise awareness about the pressing issue of plastic pollution. By leveraging the power of music and the influence of renowned actors, and changemakers, they aspire to inspire individuals and communities worldwide to act in protecting our environment for future generations.

Neeraj Roy, Founder & MD, of Hungama Digital Media said, “We believe it is time to take decisive action through awareness and collaboration to bring about a transformative change when it comes to plastic usage. We at Hungama, are glad to continue our long-standing association with The Bhamla Foundation and support the United Nations’ initiative to beat plastic pollution. Along with The Bhamla Foundation, we will march forward in our quest to spread the word and distribute this anthem with a compelling message across our digital distribution network.”

Speaking about the initiative, Asif Bhamla, President of, Bhamla Foundation, said, “It has been 14 years since we have been proudly celebrating World Environment Day. Through ‘Tik Tik PLASTIC 2.0,’ our mission is to educate the masses about the rampant plastic pollution plaguing our planet. This new anthem serves as a powerful tool to protect our beloved Mother Nature from the perils of hazardous plastic waste. We would like to thank Hungama and our Bollywood fraternity for supporting us with this initiative.”

Composer and Singer Shaan said, “World Environment Day is a reminder that each of us holds the power to shape the future of our planet. It is our collective responsibility to take action and make a sustainable difference. I am glad that through the power of music, we can support a cause of such great calibre. I am excited to bring forth to the audience a song like ‘Tik Tik PLASTIC 2.0,’ that purely aims at raising awareness on the need to protect our environment.”

Lyricist Swanand Kirkire said, “Plastic pollution poses a grave threat to our planet, and through the anthem Tik Tik PLASTIC 2.0, we aim to amplify the message far and wide. It’s imperative to take action now to secure a healthy and thriving ecosystem for future generations. Let the rhythm of this initiative inspire us to come together and create a lasting impact, forging a path towards a plastic-free world.”

World Environment Day 2023 marks a pivotal moment in this campaign, and the release of the “Tik Tik PLASTIC 2.0” anthem will serve as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility we all bear in tackling plastic pollution. Through this, we strive to make a lasting impact on our planet and foster a sustainable future for all.

The composition will be showcased on Hungama and across Hungama’s affiliates and partner platforms.

Blox Announces Strategic Partnership with VDV Developers for Real Estate as a Service (REaS) Platform

Mumbai, 1st June 2023: Blox, India’s revolutionary online home-buying platform, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with VDV Developers for two assets valued at $100 million, located in Tardeo and Mulund. These assets, covering an area of approximately 210,000 sq. ft, will be launched this calendar year. This partnership is a part of Blox’s REaS /Development Management platform, which aims to target $500 million worth of revenue potential projects over the next three years.

Blox has already launched its first project under this platform with VDV Developers, where they will execute and sell real estate projects. The first development, a 41-story architectural masterpiece known as “The Altitude,” is located in Tardeo, with plans for the next project in Mulund towards the end of this year.

In just 60 days since its launch on March 9th, The Altitude has seen over 2000 customer walk-ins and is projected to generate approximately $30 million in revenue this calendar year. Blox’s blox.XYZ platform has a network of 8000+ RERA registered channel partners, in addition to D2C sales directly from its platform www.blox.xyz.

Blox’s cutting-edge technology platform offers expertise in various areas, including brand conceptualization, go-to-market strategy, sales and marketing support across channels, channel partner activation, sales collection process, and custom CRM development. By providing these services, Blox ensures that the projects they work with have successful sales. This approach enables the developer to concentrate on building high-quality products and sourcing additional projects, without having to worry about the actual product sales.

Commenting on the partnership, Aditya Jhaveri, Founder, and CEO of Blox, stated, “Partnering with VDV Developers is a strategic move for Blox as we aim to revolutionize the real estate industry in India. With this partnership, we plan to take on multiple projects across Mumbai and Thane, leveraging VDV’s core expertise in real estate development and Blox’s cutting-edge technology platform. Our platform, powered by AI, will enable 3D project planning, AR/VR, and advanced customer visualization tech, ensuring that developers, brokers, and customers can transact seamlessly. By automating lead generation, CRM, sales and marketing, and financial management, Blox will enable VDV to focus on their core competencies, while providing world-class customer service and increasing sales velocity.”

Blox and VDV Developers aim to launch multiple assets over the next three years with a particular focus on emerging redevelopment markets such as South Mumbai and Worli by providing real estate as a service to enable redevelopment and self-redevelopment of housing societies and slums.

Blox is the first and only platform in India to allow e-booking of apartments on its website blox. XYZ, with payments being made to and receipts being generated directly from the developer. Blox has an unparalleled sales and marketing infrastructure, powered by complex machine learning algorithms and AI, enabling huge efficiency creation and increasing sales velocity for the developer while increasing transparency and world-class customer service for the homebuyer.

MentorMyBoard Announces 3rd Independent Directors Summit

June 1st, 2023; India: MentorMyBoard, a leading provider of governance tech solutions for boardrooms, is proud to announce the 3rd Independent Directors Summit. The summit is set to take place on June 2, 2023, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm in Mumbai.

After the resounding success of the previous summits, attracting 450 and 700 participants respectively, this year’s summit aims to build on these achievements. The central theme is “Transforming India Through Good Governance” focusing on the crucial role Independent Directors play in the future of corporate governance in India.

The summit will host distinguished guests such as Mr. Ajay Tyagi, Ex-Chairman of SEBI who will grace the event as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Kiran Bedi, who will deliver the Keynote Address. The summit will feature participation from board members of leading Indian companies, including ONGC, NTPC, Tata Steel Long Products Ltd., Beacon Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd., Nelito Systems Ltd., GTPL Hathway Limited, Welspun Corp Ltd., and various other reputed companies.

A series of thought-provoking debates, interactive discussions, and collaborative brainstorming sessions have been organized around the following key topics:

1.  Regulatory Oversight & Independent Directors
2. Debates: The Moving Needle of ESG
3.  Moving from Board Seat to Board Impact
4. Digitally Future Fit Boards

These discussions aim to deepen understanding, reveal the latest industry trends, and spark innovation, ensuring boards stay informed and competitive in an evolving marketplace.

Attendees will range from Independent Directors and aspiring Board Leaders to Founders, Promoters, Professionals from any field, Corporates, Incubators, and Growing startups.

Registration is now open and can be completed at

https://www.mentormyboard.com/event-detail/idsummit23-EVE0LF29V5TH

The 3rd Independent Directors Summit offers an unmatched opportunity to be a part of the ongoing transformation in India’s corporate governance landscape. Do not miss the chance to expand your network, gain valuable insights, and contribute to the advancement of good governance practices.

Mr. Rajneesh Karnataka attends the State Level Bankers Committee’s 83rd meeting held on May 30, 2023 at Jharkhand

Jharkhand, June 1st, 2023: Mr. Rajneesh Karnataka, MD&CEO of Bank of India, Head Office chaired the State Level Bankers Committee’s 83rd meet held at Hotel Radisson Blu. The Honorable Finance Minister, Government of Jharkhand, Dr. Rameshwar Oraon who was the chief guest for the event. Some of the Prominent guests/members present in the meeting were Mr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Jharkhand, Mrs. Deepti Jairaj, Special Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Jharkhand, Mr. Sanjeev Sinha, General Manager (Officer-in-Charge), Ranchi Regional Office, Reserve Bank of India, Mr. Sunil Kumar Jahangirdar, General Manager, NABARD, Regional Office, Jharkhand, Mr. Subodh Kumar, Deputy General Manager, SLBC, Jharkhand, Senior officials of various departments of the state government, State heads of all member banks, State Representative of Industries Association, Leading district manager of all 24 districts of the state.

The meeting was formally kicked off with the welcome address by Mr. Manoj Kumar, General Manager. He informed the meeting about the contribution of the annual loan scheme from 2010-11 to 2022-23 and told that in the year 2010-11, where it was even hard for the banks to achieve the annual loan target of 20,000 crores, today more than 04 times the amount is flowing with the annual loan scheme of 79000 crores. Mr. Kumar mentioned about the increase in the loan-deposit ratio in the current financial year and sought the cooperation of the banks in helping the state’s loan-deposit ratio cross the 50% mark by the end of the September quarter of financial year 2023-24. The General Manager urged the State Government to encourage new investors and infrastructure development in the State by linking banking with technology. Mr. Kumar informed that after the quarter of March 2023, total deposits stood at Rs. 3,07,414 crores, total loans at 1,38,545 crores, loan-deposit ratio at 45.07%, which is 6.37% more than last year (March’22).

Moving forward the program, the General Manager, referring to the achievements of the State Level Bankers’ Committee in March 2023, mentioned increasing the participation of private sector banks in the loan scheme promoted by the government. In order to take the banking facility to the masses in the state, it was informed about the target of opening a banking branch by June 2023 in all the villages having more than 3,000 population.

Mr. Sunil Kumar Jahangirdar thanked all the banks for their contribution in the development of the state and encouraged the banks to reach rural areas by establishing mutual relations with the concerned departments of the state for agriculture loans, especially animal husbandry, and fisheries he appealed for cooperation in increasing the income. Mr. Jahangirdar highlighted the issue of encouraging FPO (Farmers Producers Organization) and Self Liability Group (JLG) from banks in the state.

Further, Mr. Sanjeev Sinha, General Manager (Officer-in-Charge), Reserve Bank of India, Ranchi Regional Office highlighted the importance of the pioneering bank scheme of Reserve Bank of India and discussed the issue of making helpful decisions in the district level various banking committee meetings.

Dr. Rameshwar Uraon thanked the member banks of the State Level Bankers’ Committee Jharkhand for helping in the state’s maximum contribution, as well as helping the banks to protect the interests of the rural people of the state. Referring to the upcoming budget to be presented by the state government, he thanked the banks for participating in the pre-budget meeting and bringing many important issues to the notice of the government.

The newly appointed MD &CEO of the Head Office of the Bank of India thanked all the members present during the meet. Besides he also informed all the members about the important role of banks in the economic development and financial inclusion of the country and praised the cooperation of the state government in the integrated development of Jharkhand state. He gave many important suggestions for the development of the state and the strengthening of the banking system.

During the second phase of the meeting, Mr. Vibhi Kumar, Chief Manager of the State Level Banks’ Committee-Jharkhand, presented key topics through a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. Also today, under the aegis of Bank of India National Banking Group-Jharkhand, camps were organized by Bank of India on the topic “Empowering camps through Mega public security and Financial Inclusion“. “Mr. Srinivasan Satak, Managing Director and Chief Secretary, Bank of India” participated in the Mega Public Safety and Financial Inclusion Empowerment Camp organized at Village Panchayat Saparom, Nagri, Ranchi. Today in 758 Gram Panchayats in all 24 districts of Jharkhand State, in which 8348 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, 12365 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, 4557 Atal Pension Yojana, 5734 Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan accounts 401 accounts were opened and overdraft facility was given, as well as loans worth 75.69 crores were sanctioned under various government-sponsored schemes in total 1411 loan accounts. Mr. Manoj Kumar, General Manager, Bank of India, National Banking Group, Jharkhand, said that such programs will be continued further.

Mr. Rajneesh Karnatak, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer urged all the customers not to keep the benefits of government schemes limited to themselves only and take it from village to village and take full advantage of every scheme of the bank.

KarmaLife raises ₹44 crores in Pre-Series A-extension from Krishna Bhupal’s family office, Artha Venture Fund and others

Bengaluru, June 01, 2023: KarmaLife, an earnings-linked financial solutions provider for the gig and blue-collared workforce and already the largest Early Wage Access (EWA) platform in India, has raised ₹44 crores in an extension to its Pre-Series funding round led by Krishna Bhupal’s family office and existing investor, Artha Venture Fund, amongst others.

The financing round saw participation from other existing investors, including Net Graph Investments, Singularity Ventures, LogX Venture Partners, Balesh Sharma, Amit Jain, Vikram Kailas, and Shaji Kumar Devakar.

Founded by Rohit Rathi, Naveen Budda, and Badal Malick in March 2020 with a combined 25+ years of business experience, KarmaLife operates in a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) model and has partnered with 50+ organizations, which includes Flipkart, Elastic run, Uber, Porter, Delhivery, and others, to give their employees an option to access their pay-out before payday.

Rohit Rathi, Co-Founder & CEO – KarmaLife, says, “The Company plans to use the fresh capital for scaling, expanding into different geographies, launching more products, and spreading awareness about the product. We welcome this funding round, which reaffirms our investors’ alignment with KarmaLife’s mission. Together, we aim to drive financial inclusion and offer alternatives to predatory lending. Our unwavering goal is to transform the financial lives of millions of blue-collar workers.”

The Company has impacted the lives of 2.70 lakh workers to date. It offers personalized, subscription-based credit products, such as Earned Wage Access and dynamic Line-of-Credit, based on a proprietary real-time credit scoring system called ‘KarmaScore.’ KarmaLife currently serves over 1,00,000+ blue-collar workers through its platform, continually striving to expand its reach and impact.

“We invest in people and entrepreneurs who have the vision, purpose, and team, who have the ability to create great teams and execute. This is the secret sauce to creating any great company. Our portfolio spans geographies (Silicon Valley, Singapore, India, etc.) and mission-critical businesses such as fintech, quant investing, wealth management, and healthcare. KarmaLife is creating a long-term business that is underserved not only in India but in markets globally. We share the business’ growth plans as a portfolio investment, and more importantly, the impact of the business connects a few hundred million Blue collar and gig entrepreneurs into a network-based approach to transparently access credit which is sustainable and affordable,” says Krishna Bhupal, Chairman of his family office.

Earned Wage Access (‘EWA’) gives individuals access to a portion of their earned but unpaid salary any time before their payday. Freeing up employees and employers from the traditional pay cycle, EWA helps disrupt predatory lending models and incentivizes employees to stay longer with an organization. Within six months of partnering with KarmaLife, companies are seeing a 37% increase in retention, enabling them to drive more productivity.

Anirudh A Damani, Managing Partner – of Artha Venture Fund, says, “We’re thrilled to extend our support for KarmaLife. Their success is a testament to our conviction that lending and lending infrastructure are fundamental to India’s economic future. The KarmaLife team’s commitment to empowering the blue-collar and gig workforce resonates deeply with our vision of fostering an inclusive financial landscape. To say we’re eager to fuel their ongoing growth and impact would be an understatement.”

The World Bank’s Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (‘CGAP’) had partnered with KarmaLife to publish research on financial inclusion for gig workers and run pilots to refine KarmaScore for larger ticket/longer tenure loan products in 2022. The Company was also recently recognized as the winner under ‘The Financial Inclusion’ Category at NASSCOM India Fintech Awards 2023; it was one of the 90 leading FinTechs evaluated by NASSCOM for the award.

Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Hyderabad International Convention Centre Appoints Prithvi Pal Singh as Director of Sales and Marketing

Embarking on a journey of inspiration and success, the dynamic Prithvi Pal Singh Anand takes the helm as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the prestigious Novotel Hyderabad and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), India’s largest state-of-the-art convention hotel complex. With an awe-inspiring career spanning over 17 years in the realm of hospitality, Prithvi brings a remarkable blend of expertise, passion, and a proven track record of excellence.

A trailblazer in the industry, Prithvi has left an indelible mark during his tenure with renowned hotel brands; including the likes of Taj Hotels, Accor, ITC Hotels, Bharat Hotels, and his last stint of 7 years with Trident and the Oberoi Group. His repertoire boasts an unrivalled proficiency in Business and Account Strategy, International Conventions, Exhibitions, and Associations, alongside the mastery of corporate and social sales.

A true visionary, Prithvi played a pivotal role in the pre-opening teams of the iconic ITC Grand Chola Chennai and the splendid ITC Maurya New Delhi, where he meticulously crafted strategies that propelled these establishments to the forefront of MICE and Catering Sales.

An alumnus of Hyderabad Public School, holding a bachelor’s degree in arts from the esteemed University of Huddersfield, U.K., Prithvi specialized in Hotel Management from renowned IHM Aurangabad, honing his skills to perfection.

With an extraordinary fusion of knowledge, unwavering leadership acumen, and an unyielding dedication to excellence, Prithvi is poised to revolutionize the Sales and Marketing landscape, further solidifying Novotel Hyderabad and HICC as the quintessential haven for both discerning business travelers and leisure seekers alike.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Rubin Cherian, General Manager of Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Hyderabad International Convention Centre, expressed his excitement, stating, “It is our pleasure to have a leader join our Sales and Marketing department, whose experience in the hospitality industry, coupled with his exceptional skills and strategic mindset, will be instrumental in driving our sales efforts and achieving new heights of success. Prithvi’s leadership and industry knowledge will further solidify and extend Novotel Hyderabad and HICC’s positions as a premier destination for world-class events and conventions ahead.”

Belleza Entertainment and Mystique Entertainments partner with Bravia Hotels to present an unforgettable fashion extravaganza

Ajmer, India – June 1st 2023 – Belleza Entertainment and Mystique Entertainments are proud to announce the highly anticipated Rising Star India Fashion Event, set to take place at the luxurious Bravia Hotels in Ajmer. This collaborative effort aims to showcase the emerging talent and creativity in the Indian fashion industry while providing a platform for aspiring designers and models to shine.

The Rising Star India Fashion Event was one-of-a-kind experience, featuring an evening filled with glamour, style, and innovation. With Bravia Hotels as the esteemed event partner, guests can expect a seamless blend of opulence and hospitality, elevating the overall event experience.

Set against the backdrop of the picturesque city of Ajmer, the event will bring together renowned fashion designers, talented models, industry experts, influencers, and fashion enthusiasts from across the country. Attendees will witness an exclusive runway show featuring the latest collections from emerging designers, pushing the boundaries of Indian fashion and setting new trends.

Belleza Entertainment, known for its expertise in event management, and Mystique Entertainments, a leading entertainment agency, have joined forces to curate an unforgettable evening. Their combined experience and meticulous attention to detail promise an exceptional event, where every element has been carefully planned to captivate and inspire the audience.

“We are thrilled to present the Rising Star India Fashion Event in collaboration with Mystique Entertainments and Bravia Hotels,” said Ms. Rinki Rajput manageing director of Belleza Entertainment and Mr. Neeraj Popli CEO Mystique Entertainments. “Our goal is to provide a platform for the brightest talents in the fashion industry and showcase the incredible potential of the Indian fashion scene. With the support of our partners and the stunning venue of Bravia Hotels, we are confident that this event will be an incredible success.”

Mr. Ekkambir Singh & Miss Manisha were choose winner by celebrity jury Mr. Mukesh Beher, Miss Gunjan Bedi, Miss Gurjeet Kaur and Official Judges Ms Yamini Mehra& Mrs. Param Arora.

All the models were groomed by Dr. Tarandeep Kaur who is a renowned personality was the official groomer & yoga trainer for Belleza.she said it was an wonderful experience training Models at Bravia with Their amazing ambiance.Mr. Himanshu Yadav who was the anchor of the show took the event to next level and left a remarkable impression on the audience. Models were looking ravishing after their makeover done by Bollywood makeup artist Mr. Raj Katoch and we can surely say that will be soon seeing great pictures of the event on social media as official photographer of the event was none other than Celebrity Photographer Mr. Davinder Pal Singh #guramolphotography.

The Rising Star India Fashion Event at Bravia Hotels is not just about celebrating fashion; it also aims to support charitable causes. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to a local NGO working towards empowering underprivileged youth through education and skill development programs.

Media personnel, industry influencers, and fashion enthusiasts are cordially invited to attend the Rising Star India Fashion Event. The red carpet affair promises to be an evening of glitz, glamour, and inspiration. for Belleza, she said it was an wonderful experience training Models at Bravia with Their luxurious ambiance, with his amazing anchoring Mr. Himanshu Yadav took the event to next level and left the remarkable impression on audience. Models were looking ravishing after their makeover done by Bollywood makeup artist Mr. Raj Katoch and we can surely say that will be soon seeing great pictures from the Belezza and models on social media as official photographer kf the event was none other than Celebrity Photographer Mr. Davinder Pal Singh #guramolphotography.

The Rising Star India Fashion Event at Bravia Hotels is not just about celebrating fashion; it also aims to support charitable causes. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to a local NGO working towards empowering underprivileged youth through education and skill development programs.

Media personnel, industry influencers, and fashion enthusiasts are cordially invited to attend the Rising Star India Fashion Event. The red carpet affair promises to be an evening of glitz, glamour, and inspiration.