This week, royalty collection agencies from the Asia-Pacific region convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the annual CISAC and APMA conference. The event also marked a special milestone—the 35th anniversary of the Malaysian sister society, Music Authors’ Copyright Protection Berhad (#MACP).

To commemorate the occasion, Shri Javed Akhtar, Chairman of the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (#IPRS), and Shri Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, presented the MACP Chairman with a stunning marble statue of Maa Saraswati, the goddess of learning and patron of arts and music. The gesture symbolized IPRS’s dedication to fostering cultural bonds and honouring the shared artistic heritage of the region.

During the ceremony, Shri Javed Akhtar delivered an inspiring speech highlighting the significance of Saraswati Devi in Indian culture as a guiding force for creativity and wisdom. He extended his heartfelt wishes for MACP’s continued success and growth, underscoring the unity and collaboration between copyright societies in Asia.

Reflecting on Reflecting on IPRS’s participation, lyricist, screenwriter, actor, and IPRS Board Member Mayur Puri said, said, “This conference is a testament to the unity of creators across borders. By honouring our shared artistic heritage, we reaffirm not just our dedication to protecting the rights of creators, but also our responsibility to enrich the cultural fabric of our region. The presentation of Maa Saraswati’s statue embodies IPRS’s commitment to celebrating creativity and wisdom while building lasting cultural bonds.”

IPRS remains steadfast in its mission to represent Indian music creators globally and promote Indian values and culture, strengthening international partnerships and advancing the rights of creators worldwide.

An evening of Wine tasting with dinner of Wines from Romania organised by Vikram Sethi , India alongwith Mr.Radu George Pribeanu and Mr.Razvan Costel Oancea from Romania on 28 th November ,2024.

The guest of Honour was The Ambassador of Romania to India ,Her Excellency Ms.Sena Latif .
Mr.Viziru ,the Head of the Economic and Commercial section of the Embassy of Romania to India was also present .

Other important guests were Mr.Sanjeev Dev Malik ,media head and owner of Global News Network , Asian News Channel , Mr.Sameer Advani owner of BERCOS chain of restaurants and Bars , Ms.Shipra Jain wine consultant . Ms.Lavina Bhatia owner of hotel Hitlon Garden Inn, Gurugram , Ms.Chand Bakshi socialite and beauty pageant organiser, Mrs.Aruna Sethi , Kunwarani Sohinder Nabha of Nabha aristocratic family , Neha Tyagi of Glamour Mantra Magazine , Ms.Anna, wine consultant from Russia , Mr.Sanjiv Katyal , Ms.Priyanka and several others.

Wines which were tasted are from the regions of
Jaristea and Prince Matei,
The sunny hills of Sarica and Babadag ,
Region of Tohani and beyond .
These distinct regions are the main wine regions of Romania .

The event had scrumptuos snacks and dinner and desserts over wonderful wines .

The Grand Finale of the All-India K-pop Contest 2024 was organised by Korean Cultural Centre India at the state-of-the-art Yashobhoomi International Exhibition and Convention Centre in New Delhi. Eight-member K-pop group from Arunachal Pradesh, ‘The Trend’ was awarded the top prize in the dance category after a scintillating performance to ‘God’s Menu’ by Stray Kids. In the vocal category, Abhipriya Chakraborty from Kolkata, was announced as the winner after her soulful performance on ‘Love Wins All’ by IU. Both of these winners have earned themselves an opportunity to visit Korea and experience its culture first-hand.

Other participants who performed exceedingly well at the contest include, New Delhi-based Outkasts, who performed to ‘O.O’ by Nmixx and were announced as the first runner-up in the dance category. Sejal Dubey from Hyderabad was the second runners-up in the dance category and performed to ‘Criminal’ by Taemin. Similarly, in the vocal category, Bem Khuvung from New Delhi was adjudged as the first runners-up after his performance on ‘Still Love You’ by Lee Hong Gi & Yoo Hwe Seung. Nuu Anu from Kohima went on to become the second runners-up after crooning to ‘You Are My Everything’ by Gummy.

As the largest and only K-pop event of its kind in India, the contest received a large fan following since its announcement. This year marks the 14th edition of the event, which made history by opening up large-scale seating for the first time. Promotional posts related to the contest, totalling 190, have garnered nearly 7.9 million views, solidifying the event’s position as India’s premier K-pop celebration.

The highly anticipated finale featured 12 teams, selected through regional qualifiers and semifinals from a pool of 10,559 registrants across 11 cities in India, including Bengaluru, Kohima, Kolkata, Mumbai, Itanagar, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Bhopal. The performances of the finalists were judged by a panel of entertainment experts, including choreographer Park Bong-Young, a former member of One Million Dance Studio.

Ahead of the Grand Finale, a variety of Korean cultural events took place at the New Delhi Convention Centre on November 23. At 1:30 p.m., a Vegan Kimchi Performance by renowned chef Jang Yun Jeong was held, allowing 300 K-pop fans to participate and take home the kimchi they prepare. Following this, at 3 p.m., YouTuber Go Tae-kyung, famous for his “dancing pharmacist” persona, lead a K-pop Random Play Dance, igniting excitement among the audience.

Boy group LUN8, which debuted in June 2023, brought a special experience to Indian Hallyu fans, making them feel as though they are attending a live performance in Korea. With their intense stage presence, LUN8’s performance has generated high anticipation among Indian fans.

In gratitude for the passionate support from Indian fans, the Korean Cultural Centre also organised a giveaway event. Two lucky K-pop fans – Amisha Chettry and Elly M Swu, were selected through a lottery of pre-booked ticket reservation codes, and they won a round-trip flight tickets to Korea. Additionally, K-pop merchandise sourced from Korea were distributed to fans, creating unforgettable memories.

Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in India, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Thanks to the enthusiastic support from Indian fans, K-pop has gained tremendous love, leading us to this Grand Finale. We look forward to returning next year with an even more spectacular stage for our Indian fans.”