Latest news with #AshutoshAgarwal
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Is new Bollywood music making a quiet comeback to top charts again?
Bollywood film music, long struggling to hold its place against independent artists and regional tracks, is staging a comeback. New soundtracks such as Saiyaara and Metro... In Dino are climbing music charts and driving box-office buzz, signalling that Hindi film songs may finally be regaining their lost sheen. Entertainment industry experts say there is a growing realisation that soulful tracks that connect with audiences before theatrical release aid not just marketing campaigns but also a film's overall box office performance. Film songs retake the charts According to data from the Indian Music Industry (IMI), the apex body representing music labels in India, for the week ending 15 August, six of the top 10 tracks on Spotify as well as YouTube were film songs, with the title track of Saiyaara ranking first. On Amazon Music and JioSaavn, the numbers were even higher—with film tracks making up seven and eight of the top 10 songs respectively. Until a year ago, it was common for only two or three movie songs to feature in the top 10 list. 'The broader understanding within the film business always has been that songs are the soul of a movie. Audiences don't see or hear anything before theatrical release, other than the songs or teaser and it is great that makers are back on track as far as songs go," Ashutosh Agarwal, owner of Star World Cinemas in Uttar Pradesh, said. Agarwal added while upcoming releases such as Param Sundari are also gaining traction thanks to music, a film like Dhadak 2 recently clocked in most of its business on the back of the songs. Moreover, it isn't necessary for films to come with exhaustive catalogues today—even two songs, as in the case of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan, can help. Also read: Love is in the air, again! Romantic movies bounce back in Bollywood Streaming boost Vasundhara Mudgil, India head of PR and communications at Spotify, said that in the last few weeks, the platform has seen multiple releases—Saiyaara, Metro... In Dino, Dhadak 2, and Housefull 5—with songs from these films gaining traction on its charts and within user playlists. 'With over 11.5 crore all-time streams, Saiyaara's title track didn't only feature in Spotify India's charts, but also made it to the top five tracks on Spotify's Global Top 50 and to number one on Spotify's Global Viral 50 playlists. Currently, four of the songs from the film feature in the India Top 50 playlist. It's also worth highlighting that Coolie's soundtrack, though primarily Tamil, is the number two most-streamed music album in India at the moment, with more than 6 crore all-time streams within days of release," Mudgil added. To be sure, a senior executive at a music label said it is important to not jump the gun as far as the draw for film soundtracks goes, since much of it is reflective of the films themselves working at the box office. For example, at last count, Saiyaara had crossed the ₹330 crore mark in cinemas. 'It is a symbiotic relationship," the executive added. Many film trade experts point out it is rare for people to turn up for movies whose songs haven't caught on, especially in the current age of social media where algorithms dictate tastes and what youngsters decide to spend on. 'This is especially true for films that don't feature stars that are unlikely to guarantee an initial opening unless for hit songs," said Pranav Garg, managing director at Maya Palace, a two-screen cinema in Muzaffarnagar.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Electrosteel Castings Ltd (BOM:500128) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strategic Expansion ...
Release Date: May 12, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Electrosteel Castings Ltd (BOM:500128) has successfully increased its installed capacity to 9 lakh tons, with plans to reach 1 million tons by the end of the year, positioning the company for robust growth. The company has incurred approximately INR 500 crores of CapEx for expansion, with a total planned CapEx of INR 700 crores, indicating strong investment in future growth. Electrosteel Castings Ltd (BOM:500128) is strategically positioned to benefit from the Indian government's increased budget allocation for water infrastructure projects, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and river linking projects. The company has a flexible production line that allows for a 10-15% variation in pipe sizes, enabling it to adapt to market demands efficiently. Electrosteel Castings Ltd (BOM:500128) has maintained a strong export presence, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, where it is the largest exporter and second-largest supplier of ductile iron pipes, respectively. The company experienced a temporary dip in total income due to two maintenance shutdowns and a slowdown in market demand, impacting production volumes. There has been a slight increase in the debtor cycle, indicating potential challenges in cash flow management. The global steel market volatility, influenced by US tariffs on iron and steel imports, poses a risk to the company's pricing strategies and margins. The demand for ductile iron pipes is facing competition from alternative materials like OPVC pipes, although the impact is currently limited to smaller diameters. Electrosteel Castings Ltd (BOM:500128) has seen a reduction in margins and realizations, attributed to both decreased demand and lower input material costs. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with BOM:500128. Q: Can the same plant or line produce different sizes of pipes, or is dedicated capacity required for different sizes? A: Mr. Madhav Kajiwal, Director, explained that the plant has a flexibility of 10-15% to produce different sizes, allowing them to adjust production based on market requirements. Q: How do you see the development of OPVC pipes affecting DI pipes? A: Mr. Madhav Kajiwal, Director, stated that in the short to mid-term, existing projects are unlikely to switch to OPVC. In the long term, OPVC is not seen as a significant threat due to different use cases and characteristics compared to DI pipes. Q: Have you received any cash from JJM projects in the last three months? A: Mr. Ashutosh Agarwal, CFO, mentioned that while there has been a slowdown, states with reasonable resources continue to see movement in JJM projects, though not at the same pace as six months ago. Q: What is the impact of the recent US tariffs on your exports? A: Mr. Madhav Kajiwal, Director, clarified that the 10% tariff on Indian DI exports to the US is limited and does not significantly impact their competitiveness, as US exports constitute only 1.5-2% of their total exports. Q: How do you plan to utilize the expected compensation from Coal India? A: Mr. Madhav Kajiwal, Director, indicated that the compensation will be used for new projects, and they aim to maintain a comfortable debt level while expanding production capacity. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
