The devastating 2018 Kerala floods left a trail of destruction and loss across the state. Yet, from the depths of despair emerged stories that etched themselves in the archives of heroism. Prepare to be captivated by the highly acclaimed Malayalam film 2018: Everyone is a Hero, which is all set to stream exclusively on Sony LIV on June 7.

Forging its path to success, the film has become a phenomenon in the world of Malayalam cinema. Within a mere 10 days of release, it shattered box office records, crossing the coveted 100 crore mark. It also proudly holds the title of the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year and has secured its place among the top three highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. Following the addition of acclaimed films such as Kadina Kadoramee Andakadaham to its robust repertoire, this is yet another feather in the platform’s cap.

Directed by the visionary Jude Anthany Joseph, the film showcases the resilience of the people from all walks of life who find themselves thrust into the eye of the calamity and how unity becomes their driving force. As the floodwaters rise, their individual journeys converge, embodying the unyielding spirit of a community and transforming ordinary men into extraordinary heroes.

Commenting on the same, Jude Anthany Joseph said, "2018: Everyone is a Hero is an homage to the collective experience of the people of Kerala during the 2018 floods and to be able to bring it to the screen and see the kind of love it has been receiving has been a truly fulfilling experience. Through this film, we aimed to commemorate the heroism and courage shown by every individual during the catastrophe. With the film now set to stream on Sony LIV, more and more people get to witness our story and the extraordinary spirit of humanity that helped the state triumph."

Produced by Venu Kunnappilly, C. K. Padmakumar, and Anto Joseph, 2018: Everyone is a Hero boasts stellar performances by an ensemble cast, including Tovino Thomas, Kunchako Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali, Kalaiyarasan, Indrans, Sudheesh, Gilu Joseph, Vinitha Koshy, Aju Varghese, Thanvi Ram, and Gauthami Nair.

Brace yourselves to be moved, inspired, and immersed in a tale that celebrates the triumph of the human spirit with 2018, streaming from June 7 only on Sony LIV!

The Hyderabad City Chapter will be an evening filled with insightful discussions, empowering stories of women champions, and the unveiling of a special Playbook – an indispensable resource capturing the transformative journey of FFF, packed with industry best practices and impactful case studies

The city of Hyderabad is all set to witness the Future. Female. Forward - The Women’s Collective city chapter – CNBC-TV18’s mega initiative to chart a path to make gender parity an inevitable reality. For over a decade now, CNBC-TV18, as a purpose-driven brand, remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting gender equality at the workplace and its eventual overall impact on the economy and growth of the nation. Telangana as a state has a utilitarian model in the country for developing an efficacious startup ecosystem that aims to foster an innovation driven economy and has envisaged to nurture the innovators, researchers, startups and entrepreneurs thus making the state technology driven. Numerous eco-system enablers for startups and entrepreneurs such as WE-HUB, T-WORKS, T-HUB, RICH, Emerging Technologies, TSIC and TASK, have been established by the government to progress in this regard. It encourages innovators and startups, allowing them to flourish and grow.

Thus, with Hyderabad as an ideal destination to inspire change, CNBC-TV18 continues to spearhead its efforts with this city chapter scheduled to take place on May 31, 2023, 5 PM onwards at T-Hub Phase 2, Hyderabad. The event will bring together a diverse range of top businesses and startups to address the prevalent concerns on gender parity deficit and potential solutions to close this gap. Shri K.T Rama Rao, Minister for IT & Industries Government of Telangana will be the chief guest of the event. Other esteemed guests gracing the event will be Surendra Rosha, Co-CEO, HSBC Asia Pacific; Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India; Rahul Singh, Chief Operating Officer – Corporate Functions, HCLTech; Deepti Sagar – Chief People & Experience Officer, Deloitte India; Subhrakant Panda, President, FICCI; Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group; Rajesh Nambiar, CMD, Cognizant India; Naveen Gullapalli, Global Head, Corporate Centers and CONEXTS (GBS), Novartis; Deepthi Ravula, CEO, WeHub; Priyanka Ravala, Head - International Programs, Strategy and Partnerships, T-Hub; Anu Acharya, CEO, Mapmygenome; Mansi Gandhi, Co-Founder, DoctorC; Kalpana Ramesh, Founder, The Rainwater Project; Lithika Bhanu, CEO, Terrafirma Projects; and Deepthi Alapati, Founder, Pulp Cosmetics.

The event will see the unveiling of the Future. Female. Forward Playbook, an in-depth resource and best practices guidebook that will consist of a compilation of the year-long journey of the initiative. This will be followed by a powerful fireside chat with Shri K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for IT & Industries and Surendra Rosha, Co-CEO of HSBC Asia Pacific, highlighting the importance of women’s role and equal representation in leading holistic development at the workplace, in conversation with Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC—TV18.

A special felicitation will honour the women champions behind India’s first fully women-led and built industrial park in Hyderabad. The event will also consist of a series of engaging discussions on insightful topics like: Women Transforming the Tech and Lifesciences space aligned with the G20 Summit 2023 goals, and The Future of Sustainable Innovation: Women Pioneering Change. Additionally, to bring a different, creative flavour to the event, the brand has also invited designing mavericks Eka Lakhani, Costume Designer and Pratiksha Prashant, CEO, Kishandas & Co., for a conversation on ‘A step back in time - Dressing up the Cholas’, wherein they will share how they lead by example for other female artists and their journey to bringing the Cholas to life in the Ponniyin Selvan film franchise.

The event will culminate with an engaging presentation by author Sreemoyee Kundu on mainstreaming single women’s identity in India, and the absolute need for it in today’s day and age.

Following the success of the mega initiative, Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18 said, “Following the success of the summit, we are delighted to bring the city chapter of 'Future. Female. Forward - The Women’s Collective' to Hyderabad. This city chapter will serve as a forum for organisations and institutions to ignite meaningful conversations and put forth the best practices and regulations needed to promote gender parity at the workplace. We look forward to bringing some actionable change in the future and collaborating with like-minded individuals and organisations to build a more equitable future for women.”

Sharing her thoughts, Smriti Mehra, CEO, Business News, Network18, mentioned, "At CNBC-TV18, we believe that gender parity in the workforce is both a social and a business imperative. Through our flagship initiative, Future. Female. Forward - The Women’s Collective, our channel aims to empower women professionals and create a more balanced & inclusive workplace for women. With the Hyderabad city chapter, we look forward to bringing diverse voices and perspectives together to engage in meaningful conversations and explore solutions to provide a gender-equitable workplace for women. We are excited to engage with leaders from Hyderabad in this endeavour and strive towards a future where every individual has an equal opportunity to succeed."

Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India, said, "We are thrilled to have discovered a like-minded partner in CNBCTV18 and we are delighted that our partnership has sparked meaningful conversations. Our primary goal is to make a significant impact in the crucial area of gender parity in the workforce. We are fortunate to have found a valuable advocate and passionate voice in Shereen Bhan. Our focus is on building a diverse, connected, and balanced workforce. We deeply value differences and strive to provide equal opportunities to all individuals, as these principles are at the core of our values."

Rahul Singh, COO - Corporate Functions, HCLTech, commented “We are glad to partner with CNBC TV18 on the Future Female Forward initiative and be part of the much-needed global movement on gender parity, diversity, and inclusion. At HCLTech, we are committed to making our workplace more equal and creating a supportive, respectful and inclusive environment that empowers all our people to find their unique spark and be the best version of themselves. Women of HCLTech continue to lead this journey as they power progress in technology and beyond. I am confident about the positive impact platforms like CNBC TV18 will create to address the challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality.”

Deepti Sagar, Chief People and Experience Officer, Deloitte South Asia, commented “I am happy to witness the pivotal role being played by women in the technology space both at Deloitte and in India at large. Their technical skills combined with their positive attitude towards learning have contributed to the innovation and success of our organisation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that empowers and celebrates women and their continued growth and leadership in shaping the future of technology,"

CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective is proudly presented by HSBC India. It is co-presented by HCLTech, while Deloitte India supports the initiative as Knowledge Partner, with Industry Partner, FICCI and Associate Partner, Reliance Industries.

Tune in LIVE to CNBC-TV18 or log on to www.cnbctv18.com on 31st May, 5 PM onwards.

Thousands of Hours of NBCUniversal Content, including Peacock Original Series and New Movies, Will be Available on “JioCinema Premium”, JioCinema’s Newly Announced SVOD Tier

NBCUniversal (NBCU) and JioCinema, Viacom18’s streaming service, have entered into a multi-year partnership bringing thousands of hours of NBCU films and TV series to India. This partnership significantly bolsters JioCinema’s program offering and ensures that their viewers will be able to enjoy titles from NBCU’s world-renowned content portfolio. That portfolio is fueled by Comcast NBCUniversal’s powerhouse production entities and brands, which includes Universal Television, UCP, Universal International Studios, Universal Television Alternative Studio, Sky Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Bravo, and more.

NBCU’s programming will live in a Peacock branded hub starting next month on JioCinema’s newly announced “JioCinema Premium” SVOD tier. Here, viewers will have access to first-run series like Young Rock, a heartfelt comedy starring global superstar Dwayne Johnson that tells the story of his life and the people he’s met along the way; riveting action thriller The Lazarus Project; and The Lovers, a darkly romantic comedic drama. Indian audiences can also enjoy Peacock Originals including Bel-Air, a dramatic reimagining of the ‘90s comedy series that starred Will Smith; Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, a spin-off series starring Adam Devine who reprises his character from the hit film; and The Calling, an investigative drama series from Emmy® winner David E. Kelley, directed and executive produced by Oscar® winner Barry Levinson, and co-composed by Oscar® winner Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro. Critically acclaimed and fan favorite dramas and comedies from NBCU’s vast library, including Downton Abbey, Suits, The Office, Parks and Recreation and The Mindy Project, are also a part of this deal.

Fans of reality television will also be able to indulge in all the drama, laughter, and emotional highs and lows found in NBCU’s unscripted series. Encompassed in the deal are shows like the hugely popular The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules; in addition to Family Karma, which follows seven Indian-American friends as they navigate life, love, careers and expectations of their traditional families; and The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, a transformational show – narrated by Amy Poehler – where three Swedes (an organizer, a designer and a psychologist), known as the ‘Death Cleaners,’ come to America to help people face mortality and remind us of all the ways we are alive.

Further contributing to JioCinema’s impressive SVOD lineup at launch will be the streaming premieres of movies from the iconic Hollywood studio, which has already amassed more than $2 billion at the global box office so far in 2023. This includes DreamWorks Animation’s Oscar®-nominated Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and the sci-fi horror film M3GAN, from James Wan (producer of The Conjuring, Annabelle) and Blumhouse. Joining these recent hits will be films in the blockbuster Jurassic, Bourne, Shrek, The Mummy and Pitch Perfect franchises.

Movies from the smash-hit Despicable Me/Minions and Fast franchises, including the newly released Fast X, as well as The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the highly anticipated IMAX-shot epic thriller Oppenheimer from Christopher Nolan, will also be heading to the service in the future.

This partnership leverages JioCinema’s reach and expertise to introduce Indian audiences to the Peacock brand and NBCU’s portfolio, while JioCinema cements its position as the largest OTT service in the market, now reinforced by an unprecedented volume of best-in-class films and series from NBCU.

INMA reveals 40 Global Media Awards first-place winners, Bergens Tidende takes top prize

The International News Media Association (INMA) announced 40 first-place recipients in its 2023 Global Media Awards competition, with Bergens Tidende’s “Journey Around the World” taking the global “Best in Show.”

During the awards ceremony at New York´s Harvard Club, 40 first-place winners were unveiled across 20 categories aimed at surfacing innovation and best practices in news brands, optimising the use of media features, subscriptions, advertising, data and insights, product, and newsroom innovation.

The INMA Global Media Awards competition announcement was supported by the Google News Initiative.

Winning the coveted “Best in Show” was Schibsted-owned Bergens Tidende in Norway for “Journey Around the World,” an inventive storytelling format enabling users to travel around the world visually. Judges said that this campaign was a world-class execution of an epic journey featuring total immersion in an adventure.

The INMA competition, which has been rewarding media excellence since 1937, evaluates news media companies across two segments: national brands and regional brands.

Three companies won multiple first-place awards: Bennett, Coleman & Co., Schibsted across its brands in Norway, and Stampen Media. Four companies garnered two first places: Advance Local, Amedia, Jagran Prakashan, and Relevo from Vocento.

The 2023 Global Media Awards competition attracted 775 entries from 239 market-leading news media brands in 40 countries. Participants included newspaper media, magazine media, digital media, television media, and radio media.

An international jury of 54 media executives from 19 countries selected 198 finalists earlier this year.

Judges also selected the best in six world regions from the finalists:

Best in Africa: Media24 Group for “Adspace24 – Swipe Cards and Catalogue”

Best in Asia/Pacific: The Straits Times for “World Cup: A ‘Hat-Trick’ Special”

Best in Europe: Bergens Tidende in Norway for “Journey Around the World”

Best in Latin America: Editora Globo for “Um Só Planeta”

Best in North America: The Wall Street Journal for “The Future of Everything Festival”

Best in South Asia: Bennett, Coleman, and Co. for “The Times of a Better India”

In the spirit of innovation, INMA judges decided to give out a special award based on overall excellence across multiple categories. A “Special Jury Distinction” was awarded to Aftenposten, Bergens Tidende, Schibsted, and VG for their use of technology paired with outstanding multi-media narratives and excellent journalism.

“We were honoured to be able to celebrate these huge accomplishments in person for the first time in four years,” said Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA. “The brilliance of this 2023 class really shined a light on the creativity and innovation taking root in the news media industry. We’re incredibly proud of all the entrants, and especially of this year’s winners.”

Click here to view the winners.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the new Congress Government in Karnataka may not last its full term, and may fall after BJP wins the 2024 Lok Sabha general elections.

He was replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in the show 'Aap Ki Adalat', that telecasted on India TV on 27th May, 3023. When it was pointed out that Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar have decided on sharing two and a half years of rule in Karnataka, Sarma said: "I don't think they will get to do this. After 2024 Lok Sabha general elections, the government is surely going to fall".

Rajat Sharma: Look, they made a good arrangement, two and a half years for Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar?

Sarma: Do you think the government will run for two and a half years? Will that government remain after Lok Sabha elections?

Rajat Sharma: That you can say.

Sarma: You can say because you have so many years' experience.

Rajat Sharma: Will it depend on how many people (MLAs) come to Assam?

Sarma: Do you think so?. Do you really hink this government will exist after Lok Sabha elections? I don't think so?

Rajat Sharma: Then what will happen?

Sarma: It will break. There will be another Chief Minister."

Sarma predicted that the BJP will win more than 300 seats in next year's Lok Sabha elections. "India is going through one of its best periods in its history. People feel proud of their past heritage and 6,000-year-old civilization. They want to get rid of the Gandhi family which has a feudal mindset. Modi has brought about a big transformation in the minds of the people of India."

Asked by Rajat Sharma whether he and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath are competing with each other in advocating strident 'Hindutva', Sarma replied: "I come from a small state. Please do not compare an apple with an orange. I have my dreams for Assam and I am going to fulfill them."

Sarma revealed what happened in the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, after which he left Congress and joined BJP.

Rajat Sharma: I heard you went and met Rahul Gandhi, but he devoted more time to his pet.

Sarma: "No the story is like this. Rahul Gandhi had called a meeting in which the then CM Tarun Gogoi, myself, party in-charge C. P. Joshi and Assam Congress chief Anjan Dutta were present. We went to his room and talks began. Five minutes later, his pet dog came, and start eating the biscuits that were served with tea for us on the table. I looked at the other three leaders, they were eating comfortably from the same table. I had gone to meet for the first time. I felt, this was their culture, having food with pet dogs. I said, I can't be like this, I can't eat like this. I decided not to go there again."

Rajat Sharma: Later Rahul posted a video with his pet dog?

Sarma: Yes, it was the same pet dog. ..

Rajat Sharma: But Congress people wrote with the video, the dog proved more loyal than you?

Sarma: Now where is the question of loyalty? We did not join the party for loyalty to a family. Were they paying salary to me? We should demystify all this. Rahul was one of our colleagues in a political party. Others may have taken favours from him. I don't what Congressmen have in mind about loyalty. For me, loyalty is not to a family, my loyalty is to the nation....Whatever is left of the Congress today is because of Mahatma Gandhi. They hijacked his name. Even today, if you cut out the surname of Gandhi from Sonia ji and Rahul's names, what is left? This title has been hijacked. Congress belong to Mahamanav Mahatma Gandhi. Otherwise, where is the Congress? Gandhi family does not belong to Mahatma Gandhi. "

The Assam CM said: "Look, I knew Rahul Gandhi since childhood and I was never impressed by his merit. When I was in Congress, I used to meet Sonia Gandhi regularly, but I never met Rahul Gandhi. I was never impressed by his merits, his deeds, his arguments, logic and his capacity to do public service. Those who never struggle in life, can never become the leader of a country like India."

On closing down of Madarsas in Assam, Sarma said, "I want Muslim youths to get modern education. Though it is their families' duty to see what education they get, I am trying to create a progressive eco-system for Muslim community."

On the issue of uniform civil code, the Assam CM said: "I predict, 15 to 20 years from now, every Muslim woman voter will vote for BJP, because we have abolished 'triple talaq' and we will surely do away with polygamy. Even Prophet Mohammed, whom Muslims revere as 'Nabi', was in favour of monogamy. On polygamy, the Prophet had said, this could be done only with the consent of existing wives. The Directive Principles of State Policy in our Constitution clearly says we should bring a common civil code, which we will surely implement."

On the controversy over PM inaugurating the new Parliament building, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Gandhi family does not want anybody else except from the family to inaugurate the new Parliament. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have never been able to digest the fact that Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister. I was in Congress for 22 years. I know how and when Gandhi family insulted past Presidents including Giani Zail Singh. Had the new Parliament building been ready during UPA rule, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would not have been allowed to inaugurate. Instead the chairperson of so-called UPA Sonia Gandhi would have inaugurated it. Had the Congress been worried about an Adivasi woman President, it would not have fielded Yashwant Sinha against Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election."

The Assam CM said: "When I was in Congress, I had good relations with Sonia Gandhi. To the extent, that she sent me to work for the party during Mizoram and Manipur elections. I toiled hard for the party. When my time came, I went to Sonia Ji and asked for her support, but she did not give. Tell me, what is the value of such a relation?"