IndiaTimeline

Fake news is a major area of concern for modern democracies like India and there is a need to collectively tackle it through different means.


The Indian Express Executive Editor Anant Goenka said BBC DG Tony Hall had visited the newspaper’s office recently and he stated that the best way to beat fake news is to have more journalists on the ground.


Goenka said The Indian Express is investing to create a network of correspondents to verify facts that emerge from the ground.


Boom managing editor Jency Jacob said that the mainstream media companies are falling prey to the menace of fake news as the traditional gate-keeping is missing.
“Are the people at the desk equipped to understand fake is and genuine news or what is coming from ANI or the agencies can they taken at a face value,” Jacob posed.


He gave the example of a story by ANI that Donkeys were put behind bars in UP which later turned out to be false. However, the story went viral and was picked up by international papers.


On the issue of Hashtag journalism, Medianama editor Nikhil Pahwa said that the main issue facing the website is said the business model which is largely driven by numbers to get more advertising revenue. “It’s a business model problem that is taking us down this path,” he noted.


Mirror Now editor Faye Dsouza concurred with Pahwa. She said that advertisers buy numbers and the quality of content doesn’t matter.


Pahwa further stated that the scale of fake news is humongous due to the increase in connectivity and ease of distribution of content. He also said that Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp need to find ways of addressing the problem.


He also said that the intense personalisation of social media feeds is polarizing the world.


Jamia Millia Islamia Associate Professor Vibodh Parthasarathi said that there is no registration process in setting up a website as opposed to a TV or a newspaper. He said that there is a need to recognise the fact that there is a gap as far as lack of regulation for digital is concerned.


However, the panel was unanimous in its view that there is no need for a regulation for digital.

On Day 2 of FICCI FRAMES happened  in Mumbai, there was a session on Screen Density in India attended by some eminent panelists consisting of Mr. William Feng, VP, Greater China, MPA, Kurt Rieder, Head-Theatrical Asia, 20th Century Fox, Kapil Agarwal, Joint MD, UFO, Kamal Gianchandani, Chief of Stratergy, PVR Ltd, Rajkumar Akella, Managing Director - Theatrical, India, ComScore and Mr. Kulmeet Makkar, Chief Executive Officer, The Film & Television Producers Guild of India Ltd. and Sushil Chaudhary, Founder and CEO, Picturetime Digiplex moderated by Uday Singh, Managing Director, MPDA.

The Panellists discussed the existing scenario of screen density in India and how lessons from other countries can help india explore new business models to improve the screen count.

Addressing the problem of screen density faced in India, Mr. Kurt Rieder, Head - Theatrical, Asia, 20th Century Fox Said "We would like to see more number of screens in tier 2 and tier 3. There are not enough screens per multiplex in tier 1 and 2 because once they build these things, nobody realizes that regional films are going to explode and suddenly the average multiplex probably requires twelve screens."

William Feng, VP- Greater China, MPA gave a presentation on screen density: China Market Development while
Sushil Chaudhary, Founder and CEO, Picturetime spoke about the new business module on screen density that aims at targeting audiences of rural areas.

The DigiPlex mobile theatre vans, run by Picturetime, offer their audiences high-quality movie-viewing experience in the rural areas and is an economical option for the audiences in remote areas to catch up with newly released films.

Charging between Rs 30 from to Rs. 70 each viewer, the DigiPlex first pitches a collapsible all-weather canopy that can accommodate at least 120 viewers.


This can help put up more screens at very low cost as compared to building multiplexes in remote and even urban areas.

"With this module, we are also looking at helping regional cinema and campaigns issued in pubic interest." concluded Chaudhary.

Wedniksha Wedding Planners was the sole company that brought international singing sensation, Jennifer Lopez to India for the very first time. Her breath taking performance took place at the grand wedding celebration of Anu Mahtani and Sanjay Hinduja at Udaipur. The entertainment and stage décor for this path-breaking event was meticulously planned and executed by Wedniksha. We created the stage décor at Manek Chowk, the palace grounds of The City Palace complex. This awe inspiring décor was in perfect symmetry with the beautiful palace façade, and creatively featured the same in the stage design. The guests were also regaled with a mind-blowing performance by Nicole Scherzinger, former singer of Pussycat Dolls.


On April 23rd 2016, 600 guests from various parts of the globe flew in to Antalya, Turkey to attend the regal wedding of billionaire businessman & politician, Ajay Gupta’s son Kamal and Delhi-based businessman Ajay Jain’s daughter Palak Jain. It’s been the most talked about wedding this year and the guests were mesmerized by the hospitality, décor and entertainment Wedniksha provided for this two day affair.The two ceremonies designed, executed and run by Wedniksha were the Godh Bharai, Tilak and Mehendi function on the 23rd of April and Sangeet function on the 24th of April.


In addition, across Spain, Italy and France, we curated the grand union of Danube Group Director Adel Sajan and Former Beauty Queen Sana Khan on a star studded cruise sailing amidst the Mediterranean Sea. The wedding was held on a fully chartered international cruise liner Costa Fascinosa with all ceremonies themed along with recreational activities for the guests. Our services varied from designing, executing the wedding celebration, décor in addition to hospitality, logistics and overall management of the event on 8th April 2017. The guest list consisting of 1200 people as well as the couple were extremely pleased with the services rendered by us. This Cruise Wedding curated by us was a complete blend of traditional and modern elements with a dash of Bollywood as their theme for the ceremonies.


Soon after successfully completing this event, in the beginning of October, Wedniksha meticulously executed the grand wedding of Kunaal Patawari and Aashi Siddiqui in Malta, with four functions spread across multiple venues. The celebrations began with a Welcome Dinner spread at The Bedouin Bar & Pavillion followed by Le Picnique at the Mdina city, the Sangeet ceremony at the Westin and ended with the Baraat and Reception at The Saluting Battery with many other revelries in between, thus commemorating a luxurious affair!


Immediately following, in the month of November, we executed a three-day affair in the City of Gold, Dubai. The auspicious dates of November, 21st-24th were marked for the wedding celebration of Avantika & Devvrat at Hotel Palazzo Versace. A one of a kind celebration spread over three days was curated to perfection from all ends, from its conceptualization to its final execution in terms of décor, artistes, technicals, entertainment, hospitality and logistics among other finer details.


About Bhavnesh Sawhney
Being a flourished entrepreneur, Bhavnesh has been involved in classy jewellery designing business for years and dealt with many international celebrities in the course of time. His sense of creativity and arts lets him bring to the table, some unique wedding themes and entertainment performances.

About Farid Khan
Associated with India’s leading event planning & execution company Wizcraft, for over 14 years, Farid has conceptualized and executed prestigious national and international events like Commonwealth Games, IIFA Awards, Hinduja wedding in Udaipur and the South African Of The Year Awards, to name a few. His expertise and dedication is what moves Wedniksha ahead in its growth trajectory.

Amidst the high seas, underneath the starry nights along with the chilly breeze, Adel Sajan and Sana Khan celebrate their faiytale happily ever after across the European destinations making it a dazzling wedding to remember.

The Most awaited wedding of the first ever fully chartered cruise wedding set sail on the 6th of April from the coast of Barcelona with more than 1000 guests in attendance. Four days packed with a host of activities, the wedding saw a host of A-listers who charmed the four day extravaganza of Adel and Sana’s wedding. 

The Stefano Ricci man is a collector, who searches for a taste of true refinement found within every masterpiece in his wardrobe. His motive, retained from the designer’s African dream, envelops and distinguishes the leather jackets, light as clouds; their measured proportions following the lines of the body, the strong and masculine aspects becoming a modern armor.



A classic look enriched with luxury jeans, cool and comfortable sneakers, aligned for daily city life as well as relaxing moments. The colours are sober and classic, so as to be worn even with an outfit broken with an English jacket, tasteful for the countryside gentleman, above a turtleneck sweater in tune with the colour of undergrowth.

Availability:    Outlet, The Taj Mahal Palace, Apollo Bunder