Author: Tanisha Cardozo

Music

The Rose Korean Rock Band Documentary Set for Worldwide Theatrical Release

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Rose: Come Back to Me, a documentary chronicling the journey of South Korean indie rock band The Rose, is set to receive a worldwide theatrical release after CJ 4DPLEX acquired global distribution rights to the film. The announcement comes as the documentary continues to gain international attention following its successful festival run.

Directed by Eugene Yi, the film traces The Rose’s rise from performing in Seoul’s Hongdae district to playing some of the world’s biggest music stages, including Coachella. Blending immersive live performances with behind-the-scenes footage and candid interviews, the documentary offers an intimate look into the band’s creative process, personal struggles and enduring friendship.

The Rose, comprising Kim “Sammy” WooSung, Park “Leo” Dojoon, Lee “Dylan” Hajoon and Lee “Jeff” Taegyeom, is known for its emotionally driven sound and global fanbase. The documentary highlights the band’s hands-on involvement in every aspect of their music, from songwriting and rehearsals to stage production and touring, underscoring their commitment to authenticity and artistic control.

Following its premiere at the Tribeca Festival, where it won an Audience Prize and sold out multiple screenings, the film also played to packed houses at its international premiere at the Busan International Film Festival. The strong audience response has positioned the documentary as both a music film and a coming-of-age story that resonates beyond genre or geography.

CJ 4DPLEX plans a global theatrical rollout beginning in 2026, with simultaneous releases across multiple international markets and additional territories to follow. The Valentine’s Day launch is expected to offer fans worldwide a shared cinematic experience celebrating the band’s journey, resilience and message of healing through music.

With its worldwide theatrical release, The Rose: Come Back to Me further cements The Rose’s place in the global music landscape, bringing their story from the concert stage to the big screen for audiences around the world.

Business

Goa Celebrates National Startup Day with Focus on Funding and Policy Awareness

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

With a focus on strengthening Goa’s startup ecosystem, the Startup & IT Promotion Cell (SITPC) under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa, organised a National Startup Day programme in Panaji. The initiative aimed to provide startups with practical guidance, policy and funding awareness, while creating opportunities for engagement with key ecosystem stakeholders.

The programme was graced by Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Tourism and Printing & Stationery; Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C; Shri Praveen Volvotkar, Managing Director, Infotech Corporation of Goa Ltd; Dr Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C; and Shri D. S. Prashant, CEO, Startup & IT Promotion Cell.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Rohan Khaunte emphasised the Government of Goa’s commitment to building a robust startup ecosystem through access to policy support, funding and market opportunities. He stated that the government envisions Goa as a launchpad for innovative ideas that can scale beyond the state and reach global markets.

Held under the theme ‘Empowering Startups. Enabling Ecosystem’, the event featured an overview of National Startup Day followed by a panel discussion on the effective utilisation of central government startup schemes. The discussion brought together key ecosystem enablers who shared insights on leveraging national initiatives for startup growth. Panelists included representatives from AIC-GIM, CIBA, BITS BioCyTih Foundation, FiiRE, Build3, SBI and HDFC, with the session moderated by Shri Lalit Saraswat.

The programme also included a presentation by the SITPC team outlining state-level incentives and funding support available to startups in Goa. Adding a practical dimension to the event, Shri Amarsh Chaturvedi, Co-founder of Traverse and Neural Machines, conducted an engaging workshop on pitching skills, equipping entrepreneurs with actionable insights to present their ideas effectively.

The event concluded with the felicitation of startups, incubators, academicians and industry associations for their contribution to strengthening Goa’s startup ecosystem. Startups such as Asier, Trash Co., Spatialcraft, Neural Kissan and YIMBY were recognised, along with incubators including AIC-GIM, CIBA, Build3, BITS BioCyTiH Foundation and FiiRE. Industry bodies such as GCCI, GTA and ASSOCHAM–Goa Chapter, along with academicians, were also honoured.

By bringing together stakeholders from across the ecosystem, the National Startup Day programme not only celebrated achievements but also reinforced collective efforts towards building a supportive, collaborative and sustainable startup environment in Goa.

Music

Paul John Single Malt Whisky Becomes Official Pouring Partner for ‘Tribute to Human Bondage’ Concert Series in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

India’s rock legacy is set to resonate across Goa as Paul John Single Malt Whisky comes on board as the official pouring partner for Tribute to Human Bondage, a nostalgia-soaked concert series celebrating the iconic 1970s rock band Human Bondage. The series brings together founder member Henry Babu Joseph and the contemporary sound of the Rajeev Raja Combine, with Air India Express supporting the initiative as the travel partner.

The tribute honours Human Bondage’s enduring influence on Indian rock music, uniting Henry Babu Joseph with Rajeev Raja, Adrian D’Souza, Paul Santiago, Hitesh Dhutia and John Thirumalai. The Goa leg of the multi-city tour unfolds across three venues — Cohiba, Candolim on January 22; Take 5, Candolim on January 24; and Goa Chitra Museum, Benaulim on January 25 — offering audiences an immersive live music experience rooted in memory, musicianship and cultural continuity.

Paul John Single Malt Whisky’s association reflects its deep connection with art, culture and craftsmanship. Drawing parallels between music and whisky, the brand highlights how both are shaped by patience, precision and authenticity, with each note and every cask carrying character refined over time through Goa’s tropical climate.

The collaboration builds on Paul John’s cultural presence at the Serendipity Arts Festival Goa 2025, where it unveiled an immersive Paul John Experience Centre celebrating Indian single malt whisky as a cultural craft. Through guided tastings and storytelling, the installation positioned whisky alongside art, music and creative expression.

Speaking about the tour, Rajeev Raja described Human Bondage as a formative influence on his musical journey and credited Babu Joseph as a mentor. He expressed gratitude to Paul John Visitor Centre and Air India Express for supporting a tribute that brings alive a defining chapter in India’s rock history.

Through Tribute to Human Bondage, Paul John continues its commitment to supporting Indian music, live performances and cultural storytelling, reinforcing the shared language between whisky and music — both born from tradition, elevated by creativity and perfected through time.

The series also aligns with Air India Express’s ongoing engagement with India’s cultural landscape, including its ‘Tales of India’ initiative that showcases indigenous art across its aircraft fleet. Together, the partnership celebrates craft, culture and creativity, reaffirming Goa’s place as a vibrant hub for live music and artistic expression.

Finance

IDBI Bank Posts ₹1,935 Crore Net Profit in Q3 FY2026, Strengthens Asset Quality and Capital Position

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

IDBI Bank Limited reported a steady financial performance for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, with improved profitability, robust business growth, enhanced asset quality and a strengthened capital position, reflecting sustained momentum in Q3 FY2026.

The Bank posted a net profit of ₹1,935 crore for the quarter, compared to ₹1,908 crore in the corresponding period last year. Return on Assets stood at 1.83%, while Return on Equity was recorded at 14.49%, supported by a healthy Net Interest Margin of 3.52% and a Cost-to-Income Ratio of 56.61%.

Deposits grew by 9 per cent year-on-year to ₹3,07,858 crore as on December 31, 2025, driven by stable CASA deposits of ₹1,35,632 crore, with a CASA ratio of 44.06%. Net advances rose 15 per cent to ₹2,38,786 crore, reflecting strong credit growth across corporate and retail segments, with a diversified portfolio mix of 29:71.

Asset quality continued to improve, with the Gross NPA ratio declining to 2.57% from 3.57% a year earlier, and Net NPA remaining low at 0.18%. The Provision Coverage Ratio stood at a healthy 99.33%, underlining the Bank’s prudent risk management practices.

IDBI Bank further strengthened its capital position during the quarter, with Tier-I Capital rising to 23.53% and the Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio improving to 24.63%. Risk Weighted Assets stood at ₹2,11,567 crore, reflecting the Bank’s expanding balance sheet and strong capital buffers.

The results underline IDBI Bank’s focus on sustainable growth, operational efficiency and financial resilience as it continues to build momentum in India’s evolving banking landscape.

TechPulse

Disney+ Hotstar Hikes Subscription Prices, Introduces Flexible Monthly Plans from ₹79

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Disney+ Hotstar has announced a significant revision in its subscription pricing starting January 28, 2026, marking its biggest price hike since the merger with JioCinema last year.

Under the new structure, the Premium annual plan will rise by 47 per cent from ₹1,499 to ₹2,199, while the Super annual plan will increase from ₹899 to ₹1,099. Quarterly plans will also see an upward revision. At the same time, the platform has introduced flexible monthly options starting at ₹79, giving users greater choice in how they subscribe.

The company said the move reflects rising demand for big-screen viewing, premium original content and global sports rights, with executives noting that higher investment is required to fund large-scale entertainment and live events.

While existing subscribers on auto-renewal will be allowed to retain their current rates, the revised pricing has sparked mixed reactions among viewers. Many fans have expressed concern over rising cumulative streaming costs, with some estimating that yearly spending across multiple platforms now touches ₹28,000.

A year after the landmark JioCinema–Disney+ Hotstar merger, the pricing overhaul highlights the platform’s strategy to balance premium content investment with sustainable growth in India’s increasingly competitive OTT market.