THE INTERNATIONAL INDIAN FILM ACADEMY (IIFA) WEEKEND & AWARDS AND TELANGANA GOVERNMENT ESTABLISH PIONEERING MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

Telangana to Host IIFA Utsavam in Hyderabad (2026–2028)

Swati Bhat

In a historic milestone for India’s cultural diplomacy and creative economy, the Government of Telangana has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend & Awards and IIFA Utsavam. Revealed at the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, this landmark collaboration positions India’s youngest state as a global cultural powerhouse and a thriving hub for cinema, creativity, innovation, and talent.

At the heart of this alliance is a transformative dual global strategy: ‘Taking Telangana to the World at IIFA 2026’ and ‘Bringing the World to Telangana through IIFA Utsavam from 2026 to 2028’. As the Official Partner State for IIFA 2026, Telangana will gain unmatched visibility across IIFA’s global broadcast network spanning over 120 countries, reaching more than 2.5 billion viewers. This unprecedented exposure is set to elevate the State’s global identity, attract foreign investment, boost tourism, and deepen engagement with the international diaspora and creative industries worldwide.

Simultaneously, Hyderabad will host IIFA Utsavam for three consecutive years, celebrating the vibrancy of Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema. The event is expected to draw thousands of visitors annually, reinforcing Telangana’s emergence as the cultural capital of South India and a high-impact destination for film-led tourism. The multi-year hosting will also strengthen the State’s hospitality, entertainment, events, retail, digital media, and film-production sectors—further accelerating Telangana’s rise as a global creative-economy hub.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Sri A. Revanth Reddy, emphasized the State’s bold vision:“Following the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, Telangana is proud to announce a transformative partnership with IIFA, one of India’s most influential cultural institutions. Through IIFA 2026, we will take the story of Telangana to the world, and through IIFA Utsavam from 2026 to 2028, we will bring the world back to our State… Telangana Rising is unstoppable. Come, join the rise.”

This partnership is closely aligned with Telangana’s long-term vision to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2034 and contribute 10% to India’s GDP by 2047. By integrating IIFA into this roadmap, Telangana aims to expand the creative economy, promote the ‘Film in Telangana’ initiative, foster youth skill development through TASK, and strengthen global cultural diplomacy.

Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary (SPEED), reiterated that this partnership perfectly complements Telangana’s Tourism Policy 2025–2030, which aims to position the State as India’s most preferred destination for culture, creativity, and global engagement.

For 25 years, IIFA has built a formidable legacy across global capitals—from London and New York to Amsterdam, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Madrid. With massive international viewership, powerful soft-power influence, and unparalleled global reach, IIFA now joins hands with Telangana to shape a new chapter for Indian cinema on the world stage.

Andre Timmins, Co-Founder of IIFA, hailed the alliance as a “shared mission to build a legacy that resonates across generations,” reaffirming IIFA’s commitment to elevating Telangana’s cultural voice and positioning Hyderabad as a global creative and innovation epicentre.

This historic partnership marks a defining moment for Telangana and for India—where cinema becomes the bridge, culture becomes the catalyst, and Telangana steps onto the world stage with unstoppable momentum.

#event2026 #entertainment #art #IIFA #IIFA2026 #IIFAUtsavam #event

Dalai Lama Unveils 'Forest Resources in India' Initiative for Climate and Conservation

On Friday, the Dalai Lama, a highly respected spiritual leader, presented the National Book Trust's publication titled 'Forest Resources in India: Integrative Governance and Community Participation for Sustainable Future' at McLeod Ganj in Dharamshala. The authors of the book are Sushil Kumar Singla, Rakesh B. Sinha, and Krishan Kumar Raina.

At the launch event, the Dalai Lama signed a copy of the book. Author Sushil Kumar Singla provided him with an overview of the book's themes, structure, and research findings.

The book offers an in-depth analysis of sustainable forest management in India, emphasizing the cultural traditions of nature conservation embedded in Indian heritage. It highlights the crucial roles of women and local communities, as well as the governance frameworks that influence forest policies. The book stresses the interconnectedness of sectors such as agriculture, environment, tribal development, and climate change, and underscores the collective responsibility of States and Union Territories to harmonize development with conservation.

The book's epilogue states that "India is making significant progress towards achieving the national forest policy goal of covering one-third of its land area with forests and tree cover by adhering to the principles of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas. Our collective efforts must be aligned to bring about meaningful change for everyone, especially the most disadvantaged. Forestry should focus on creating livelihoods, achieving self-sufficiency, and increasing its contribution to the country's GDP and the Agriculture Sector." It also notes that "while constitutional provisions and regulations have effectively supported sustainable forest management, the current pressures on forests and natural resources should not deter us from pursuing deregulation, simplification, and comprehensive reforms in the forest sector. These reforms aim to ensure not only the Ease of Doing Business but also the Speed of Doing Business, ultimately leading to the Ease of Living." The publication advocates for a balanced approach between regulation and development, promoting strategic partnerships between public and private sectors to achieve both "Ease of Doing Business" and "Ease of Living." India is committed to expanding its forest and tree cover through collaborative principles, focusing on forestry's role in livelihoods, self-sufficiency, and GDP growth. The book calls for collaboration across related sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, tribal affairs, environment, rural development, Panchayati Raj institutions, and tourism. It stresses the importance of stakeholder and local community involvement in governance and monitoring.

#lifestyle #event #art #DalaiLama #SushilKumarSingla

Nita Ambani Celebrates Indian Artisans at Swadesh with Bollywood Stars

The event was graced by Bollywood celebrities, including Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Sonam Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, and several others...

Nita Ambani shines in Kundan Polki earrings that are over a hundred years old

Swati Bhat

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 5: Nita Ambani, Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, paid tribute to artists and artisans during the Swadesh flagship store celebration at Eros, dedicating the event to India's remarkable legacy of artists and National Award-winning artisans. The celebration was graced by numerous celebrities, adding glamour to the occasion. In her address to the media, Nita Ambani praised the National Award-winning artisans, calling them the "pride of India and the stars of tonight." She stated, "We welcome you to Swadesh. Today, we celebrate the start of the festive season by honoring our artists and artisans. They are the pride of India and the stars of tonight. We have with us several National award-winning artists and artisans. With joy and respect, I extend a warm welcome to them. They come from all over India—from Kashmir, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. Let's give them a big round of applause. They are the true pride of our time. Have a wonderful festive season." The artisans honored by Nita Ambani include Biren Basak, Padma Shri Awardee (2021), known for Tangail and Jamdani weaves; V. Panneerselvam, Tanjore painter awarded the Shilp Guru Award (2019) and National Award (2011); Shammi Bannu Sharma, a seventh-generation miniature painter and National President Awardee (2014); GhanShyam Sarode, a celebrated Paithani textile designer and handloom revivalist; and Gunjan Jain, an Odisha Ikat textile artist and National Award winner (2024).

Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, with master artisans at the launch of "Swadesh" store.

Top row left to right : Vijayakumar, Krishnamoorthy Balaraman, Chetan Devidas Shet, Suresh Kumbhare, Nandu Tribhuvan, Kamlesh Jangid. Bottom row left to right: Gajam Yadagiri, Gowrabthini Ramanaiah

#event #lifestyle #luxe #Swadesh #NitaAmbani