‘COVID-19: INDIA’S WAR AGAINST THE VIRUS’, Chronicles Story of Country's Fight Against the Deadly Virus

Covid 19 Flight Documentary

* Actor Manoj Bajpayee to narrate the special documentary in Hindi while Writer-Director-Actor Gautham Vasudev Menon will narrate in Tamil

* The documentary will drop on Discovery Plus on 16th July at 8:00 pm; Discovery Channel and Discovery Channel HD will premiere it at 8:00 pm on 20th July

Discovery Plus, India’s first aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app, is all set to stream an exclusive documentary which will provide a rare glimpse into all the key steps being taken across the country to battle the Coronavirus pandemic. Titled ‘COVID-19: INDIA’S WAR AGAINST THE VIRUS’ the Discovery Plus special will follow both, the global and the Indian timeline, of how the virus spread and shine light on key developments that have taken place ever since India’s first Coronavirus victim was detected in Kerala.

Extensively shot during the period of lockdown, ‘COVID-19: INDIA’S WAR AGAINST THE VIRUS’ will traverse across the nation mapping the pandemic and tell the story through interviews with subject matter experts, front line workers, patients, migrant workers, and others working tirelessly behind the scenes to arrest the spread of this deadly disease. The film will also shed light on the innovations and the way technology is being used to combat the virus. The Hindi voiceover for which will be provided by Bollywood star Manoj Bajpayee and the Tamil voiceover by celebrated writer, director, actor Gautham Vasudev Menon.  The documentary, available in 7 languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali, will drop exclusively on the Discovery Plus app, available on Android, IOS, Fire TV and on web, at 8:00 pm on July 16.  Following that, the documentary will premiere on July 20 at 8:00 pm on the Discovery Channel and Discovery Channel HD.

The documentary features scientists, doctors, ministers and government officials on the forefront of the Coronavirus battle including: Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Govt of India, K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Bill Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, World Health Organization, South-East Asia Region, Satyendra Jain, Health Minister, Govt of Delhi, K. K. Shailaja, Health Minister, Govt of Kerala, Rajesh Tope, Health Minister, Govt of Maharashtra, Economist Arun Kumar, Dr. Rajesh Malhotra, Chief, AIIMS Trauma Centre, Delhi, Dr. Atanu Basu, Deputy Director, National Institute of Virology, Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, Chairperson, Delhi COVID-19 Task Force, Journalist Sanket Upadhyay, along with Sonu Sood, the Bollywood actor who has extensively worked on ground to help the migrant workers during the pandemic.

“Meaningful Cinema, meaningful projects have always endeared me, and I believe specials like Covid-19 India’s War Against The Virus are relevant not just for today but will continue to engage our future generations as well,” said, recipient of two National awards, Manoj Bajpayee. “This is an important story and needs to be told in an impactful manner. I and proud to be part of this monumental project and target to bring all my experience into play for the narration in Hindi language.”

“The fact that we all have been directly impacted by the pandemic makes this project different from others I have been part of. You almost relive part of your life as the reels go by but at the same time the documentary shines light on so much that you weren’t aware of.  That is why documentaries, as an entertainment tool, in my view, will always have a special pride of place,” said, Writer-Director-Actor Gautham Vasudev Menon. “It is a valiant effort. I could not have asked for a better debut as a narrator, especially in my mother tongue Tamil, and coincidentally this marks my first documentary ever. I urge everyone to watch it along with your family.”

“Discovery has been at the forefront of bringing international documentaries on Covid-19 to help Indian audiences understand deeper perspectives. This latest original, shot extensively during lockdown, captures key moments, developments that shaped India’s fight against Covid-19 over the past few months,” said, Megha Tata, Managing Director – South Asia, Discovery. “There’s more at work than what meets the eye as new challenges unfold every day with pandemic raging fire; our attempt is to bring it all together with a line-up of prominent experts and officials to provide a comprehensive view for our discerning audiences.”

The collection of Covid19 related documentaries on Discovery Plus continues to grow. The other 3 documentaries which explore this deadly disease include ‘Invisible Killer’, ‘Pandemic Covid-19’ & ‘The Zoo: Covid-19 & Animals’. Users can download the application to stream these shows.

‘COVID-19: INDIA’S WAR AGAINST THE VIRUS’ will premiere on Discovery Plus on 16th July 2020 followed by Discovery Channel and Discovery Channel HD on 20th July 2020 at 8.00 pm

How Rarly Child Health Immunization is Important in India?

By Dr Nadeera Nilupamali, Co-Founder and Vice President (Product), ImmunifyMe

India, the largest democracy of the world and highly populated country topping the list in terms of population density recorded nearly 67,385 births in 2020 on New Year's Day. Country, home to the highest number of unvaccinated children, has embarked upon an intensified journey to increase the vaccination coverage with mission Indradanush 2.0.

Vaccines play a key role in defending most vulnerable: Children and infants.  However, one in every five children remains un-immunized in the world. And as a result, over 3 million children die every year due to diseases which can be easily prevented by proper vaccination. Routine childhood vaccines are among the most cost-effective life-saving interventions. Thanks to vaccines, countless cases of disease such as polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella, mumps, tetanus, rotavirus and hepatitis etc have been prevented and saved millions of lives.

According to recent data released by the Indian National Statistical Office (NSO) 97% of the children aged between 0-5 years in the rural setting receive at least one vaccine, but, when it comes to those children being fully immunized, the percentage drops to 58%. Urban setting is not better in any way, 98% of the children receive at least one vaccine but only 60% of the children aged between 0-5 years are fully immunized. Many people working in public health have admitted that even this figure seems to be inflated and the situation could be worse on the ground and a large percentage of children dropping out of immunization programs.

Especially in India in recent times, routine vaccination has been intensified with additional efforts to optimize community coverage. Government has started putting extra efforts with the Mission Indradhanush programme which was launched in December 2014, aiming  to ensure 90% of infants would be vaccinated by the year 2020. Furthermore, under Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0, which is the second phase of the initiative launched on October 31, 2019, with a plan to cover 271 districts across India where fewer than 70% infants are currently vaccinated.

The success of Government Intervention

Despite the government spending billions of dollars in programs like Mission Indra Dhanush, the country's immunization rate remains one of the lowest in the world. Immunization amongst children here in India is a big challenge and there many factors to it

Access to vaccines

Religious beliefs

Inter-state, Inter-City Migration

Anti-Vaccine mentality and in some cases

Not being aware about the vaccination process at all

Misplaced priorities in parent front

Parents busy lifestyle and forgetfulness

Proper monitoring of vaccination

Management of vaccine coverage data

Real time monitoring of vaccination and lack of digital interventions

Why does immunisation make financial sense for the country?

Healthcare for young children eventually determines the country's  economic productivity , because vaccine-preventable diseases are known to cause stunting in childhood, which can lead to poor growth, poor adult health, and diminished learning capacity of the children. Prevention always costs less than treatment . For an example if a child ends up with any disability from the illness  like paralysis from polio which could have easily prevented by a vaccine, or neurologic problems from encephalitis caused by measles  etc will result in huge costs for the  treatments and also for providing special school services and other requirement for that particular child.

Morbidity, mortality, and the economic cost of treatment for vaccine preventable diseases are undoubtedly  going to add a huge burden to a country's economy.

If we do a benefit-cost analysis of vaccines there's  no doubt a full range of benefits as measured by gains in economic productivity compared to catastrophic medical expenses which can occur due to our simple ignorance of not vaccinating the children.

Ananya Panday in Awe of Project Runway Season 18, Streaming Exclusively on Discovery Plus

Bravo’s Emmy-winning competition series “Project Runway” returns for another season of high stakes and fierce fashions, this time exclusively on Discovery Plus, the exciting new D2C streaming app from Discovery India, from 1st July 2020. Bollywood star Ananya Panday, used this opportunity to binge on one of her favourite shows, Project Runway’s latest Season and she has been enjoying the experience a lot.

Excited about the latest season, Ananya Panday said she hasn’t missed a single season of Project Runway till date, “I am a big Project Runway fan! It is still one of the most exciting fashion-related shows I’ve ever seen. The moment the latest season dropped on Discovery Plus, I binge-watched it immediately. It is commendable how the contestants can create magic out of just a piece of fabric and sometimes, not even that. You know the iconic quote from the show - As you know in fashion, one day you're in. And the next day, you're out...it’s so apt. The most difficult part of the show is how these guys have to bring their best fashionable foot forward for every challenge and it is so inspiring,”

Talking about the show and her favourite judge, Ananya said, "I love the way Nina Garcia provides constructive criticism every single time to the contestants to help them grow. And while, of course, I do miss Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, I think Karlie Kloss is doing a great job. Season 18 turned out to be just as awesome as I expected it to be.”

She added, “My favourite challenge this season was the one where they had to create victory outfits for real-life 2020 Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Only with real talent and eye for detail, one would be able to come up with something so fabulous that is going to be worn by achievers and real stars of sports!”

Catch Project Runway streaming exclusively on Discovery Plus from 1st July, 2020.

ALTBalaji, Pay Point India Partner for Digital-Assistance and Offline Subscription Payment

Intending to deepen existing market presence and penetrate new markets, ALTBalaji and PayPoint India have entered into a strategic partnership. This initiative is primarily for the rural and semi-rural markets with a set of viewers who require digital-assistance and offline subscription payment options.  

With PayPoint’s 45,000 plus tech-enabled retailers across India wherein more than 80 percent of its customers are spread across in rural and semi-rural markets, the partnership helps ATLBalaji acquire untapped customers by making content more accessible. For the ALTBalaji fans, the PayPoint offline stores provide seamless assistance for activation as well, along with paying for subscription and renewals in cash and access the program at the convenience of their homes.

In the current pandemic,  ALTBalaji, which is an alternative for mainstream entertainment, has witnessed an increased audience in rural areas. PayPoint, a leading offline-to-online (O2O) company operating Pan India for the last 10 years, will provide access to its retail outlets to collect cash on behalf of ALTBalaji and allow the consumers to watch the fresh, original, and engaging contents on the over-the-top (OTT) platform.

Ketan Doshi, Managing Director of PayPoint India, said, “For ALTBalaji like alternatives to mass entertainment, there is a huge fan following in the rural districts of India. However, for lower digital-savvy fans activating the service, and doing an offline recharge is a hindrance. This partnership will be a boon for the population to do an instant activation and renewal recharge.”

“The offline recharge for such video-on-demand OTT service is the first of this kind and one such industry initiative. The association will help ALTBalaji achieve higher subscriber’s base, while PayPoint will be adding one of its kind product to the kitty of services that it is providing to the customers across the length and breadth of India, ” Ketan added.

The association will enable ALTBalaji to take the OTT space to the masses and aggressively increase its viewership by reaching every corner of the country. Available across multiple interfaces ranging from desktops, laptops, tablets, smart-phones to internet-ready television, the subscription-based video on demand (SVOD) service marries state-of-the-art technology with gripping storytelling. 

PayPoint is a trusted partner for Last-Mile Delivery of Fast-Moving Consumer Services. It offers more than 100 services like bill payment, recharges, DTH, Travel booking, ATM withdrawals, Wallets, and many more. Technology-enabled Retailers brings benefit to the end customers in terms of accessibility, convenience in the neighborhood.

About ALTBalaji

ALTBalaji is a subsidiary of Balaji Telefilms Limited, a subscription-based video on demand (SVOD) service, which has marked the Group’s foray into the Digital Entertainment space. After conquering television and making a strong mark in films, Balaji Telefilms aims to reach out directly to specific audiences, by providing them with original, exclusive shows, that they can access at their fingertips. ALTBalaji offers fresh, original, and unique stories. Tailored especially for Indians, across the globe, the platform hosts premium, high-quality shows featuring famous celebrities, acclaimed writers, and award-winning directors, making ALTBalaji a true alternative to mainstream entertainment.

About PayPoint India

PayPoint is a technology-enabled Distribution network of Financial Services. The company's digitally connected network of 45000+ offline stores offers various Financial services like Banking (PMJDY accounts), micro-ATM services, Wallets (Paypointz), Remittances, Bill payments, insurance, Merchant QR and many more. Apart from Financial services, PayPoint also offers consumer services to the underserved like Travel booking, Recharges, Amazon assisted shopping, Gift Cards, etc. through its strong network of retail stores spread across the country. The company’s retailer-driven assisted model helps customers make an informed decision for availing services from their trained partners and its digital platform.

PayPoint offers a bouquet of services through its plug-and-play platform. More than 100 Services providers are plugged into the company's system and interact with them on a real-time basis catering to more than 5 million customers month on month. The primary objective is to bridge the financial inclusion gap between developed urban India and under-served rural India.

India Debut iMT Technology on Hyundai VENUE – India’s First Connected SUV

Connected SUV 

* First-in-Industry 2-Pedal intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) Technology

* Hyundai VENUE First Brand to bring iMT to Indian Customers offering a Clutch-less Drive Experience

* iMT to be introduced in July 2020 on Kappa 1.0 l T-GDi Petrol (BS6) engine with 6-Speed Manual Transmission

* Enhanced control through manual gear shifting without need to operate clutch for a comfortable and superior drive experience

 

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), country’s First Smart Mobility Solutions provider and the largest exporter since inception, today announced India debut of intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) on Hyundai VENUE – India’s First Connected SUV. Continuing its technology leadership, Hyundai has announced the introduction of yet another Industry First Innovation that offers customers the convenience of 2-pedal clutch-less technology combined with Fun-to-Drive elements of a Manual Transmission.

Hyundai’s iMT technology is essentially a revolutionary 2-pedal system that eliminates the need for drivers to constantly use the clutch pedal as in a conventional manual transmission. However, with this technology the driver retains the ability to slot gears manually, thereby delivering enhanced control and retaining the joy of driving.

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. SS Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “Hyundai has been driving the adoption of new and innovative technologies at scale. With our ‘Future Ready’ business strategy, we have been continuously striving for customer delight with Human centric technologies that present our innate understanding of what our customers’ desire. iMT is one such technology that accounts for pleasure of driving and also the convenience needed to ease the hectic burden of daily commutes. This unparalleled drive experience on Hyundai VENUE – India’s First Connected SUV has been curated through a constant pursuit of innovation for Customer Delight.”

Hyundai’s iMT technology features a Transmission Gear Shift (TGS) Lever with Intention Sensor, Hydraulic Actuator and Transmission Control Unit (TCU). The system has been designed to offer a seamless drive experience by incorporating a cohesive logic between the various components on manual transmissions:

* Transmission Control Unit receives signal from TGS Lever Intention Sensor, indicating drivers desire to change gears.

* TCU sends signal to engage Hydraulic Actuator forming Hydraulic Pressure.

* Hydraulic Pressure is then sent to Concentric Slave Cylinder (CSC) through Clutch Tube.

* Concentric Slave Cylinder uses this pressure to control the clutch and pressure plate, thereby engaging and disengaging the clutch. 

* Driver is able to seamlessly shift gears without the need to mechanically operate clutch pedal.

Through this electromechanical operation of the clutch, iMT will offer drivers all the pleasures of driving a manual transmission. Further, the technology will empower customers with a more engaged drive experience by offering enhanced control over desired torque on wheels without compromising on fuel efficiency and performance.

Launch of JADE N TAN – Adorning Home Store Now in Bengaluru

A much awaited JADE ‘N’ TAN – Adorning home store was launched at Kundanahalli Gate, Varthur Road, Benglauru conceptualised by  Dr. Thomas Johan  with 26 years of international & India experience in home retail and furnishing sector has headed many big box retail brands like Home Centre in Middle East, @home, EVOK by hindware, Home town in India & a award winning social entrepreneur.

Jade ‘N Tan home retail  Pvt Ltd, the boutique is located on varthur road, near Kunadanahalli gate  , the most happening place of Beangaluru. Speaking  on the launch Dr. Thomas Johan, Founder Jade ‘N’ Tan  said that the store has  wide range of Wall Arts, table decor artisan product lines ranging from Rs. 99/- up to 9999/, the  USP of the store which is mainly of wall and table related gallery. The products are 100% Indian hand crafted to help the artisans to portray their works, 40% of the products are unique and designed in-house by Team Jade N Tan .

The store is built as a restoration model by using all Old and used materials for both interiors and exterior, through this we have reduce the  capex in order to  pass on the benefits to the end-users he added.

He also stated that the  reason for choosing bengaluru as destination is because of its life style and passion  to explore all possibilities to retain their home atmosphere in a good condition, we also welcome customisation of designs.

The brand is now ready for franchisee model...

* Soon we will venture in to  E-commerce and enable the online platforms to sell our products .

* Some of  product categories are : Metal wall arts, fine art paintings, clocks, lamps, Photoframes, table decor, Gifts.

* The brand Promises best price challenge by offering the lowest price in the city/country for all comparable products.

Walk in at Jade ‘N’ Tan ,# 43/1, Muni Reddy Compound, Kundanahalli Gate, Varthur Road, Bengaluru,  for more details call: 9958805522 & +91 96862 97236.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/e3H5vNTh_Gw

Dedicated Amazon Prime Video App Now Available on All Windows 10 Devices Across Indian Market

Customers in India can now access Prime Video through a dedicated app available on the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 devices.

Using the new Amazon Prime Video for Windows app, customers are now able to stream Prime Video content online or download Prime Video content for offline viewing on their device. This feature only works through the app on the Windows 10 operating system and includes desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets. The online streaming experience will be the same as the current experience on the Prime Video website today.

Customers can find the new Amazon Prime Video for PC app through the Microsoft Store on their Windows 10 device.