CHENNAI PLUS

AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India’s largest Small Finance Bank, announced the eighth edition of its flagship AU Heart to Cart Shopping Festival 2026, running from October 11 to November 10, 2026. The month-long celebration spans the festive window from Navratri and Dasara/Dussehra through to Diwali, the time of year when consumers are most engaged in shopping and purchasing. It brings customers savings and rewards on AU Credit and Debit Cards, UPI payments through the AU 0101 Mobile App, banking and loan products, and merchant payment solutions. Built around the theme ‘Festive Offers So Good. No Reason to Hold Back’, AU Heart to Cart Shopping Festival 2026 covers every day and festive spends in a wide range of categories. AU Credit or Debit Cardholders can access offers across:   Travel: Save up to ₹10,000 with Yatra, MakeMyTrip, ixigo, Paytm Flights and EaseMyTrip Electronics: Save up to ₹7,500 at Croma, Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales Entertainment: Save up to ₹3,0...

  Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) launches Sony VIZHA, a new Tamil entertainment ecosystem built around the philosophy “Ithu Namma Vibe.” Rooted in the richness of Tamil culture and attuned to its evolving identity, Sony VIZHA brings together refreshing storytelling, marquee talent and globally acclaimed formats adapted for Tamil audiences. Marking SPNI’s foray into a vibrant and distinctive entertainment landscape, Sony VIZHA is now available across leading Cable and DTH platforms, supported by a strong network of Local Cable Operators (LCOs), expanding its reach and bringing diverse entertainment offerings closer to Tamil-speaking households across India.   Through a diverse entertainment offering spanning fiction, reality, music, comedy, movies, and more, Sony VIZHA seeks to create a compelling destination that reflects the aspirations, sensibilities and contemporary cultural expression of Tamil audiences while remaining deeply connected to the language, traditions and ...

  Lava International Limited Lava International, India’s leading homegrown smartphone brand, unveiled its all-new Aura series, crafted to offer a premium experience to consumers with a flair for style and modernity. Designed exclusively for the offline market, the series debuts with the Aura Curve 5G. Powered by a MediaTek processor and Lava’s in-house Vayu AI, the device is a wholesome package featuring a vegan leather back, an immersive curved AMOLED display, a rear mini screen and a 6000mAh battery. The Aura Curve 5G will be priced at INR 23,999 and is available through Lava’s offline retail network across India. Commenting on the launch,"Mr. Sumit Singh, Senior Vice President and Head of Product, Lava International Limited, said, “The Aura series is designed for our offline consumers who seek an ultra-premium experience at affordable price-points. The new Curve 5G comes packed with Lava’s Vayu AI, a MediaTek processor, a 6000 mAh battery, a rear mini screen and a leather fin...

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, announced the launch of its AI-powered Verification and Validation (V&V) offering, powered by NVIDIA’s simulation stack, agentic capabilities and open model strategy. Designed for automotive vehicle manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers, the offering combines agentic AI, physical AI-powered simulation and intelligent orchestration to help automate elements of vehicle software validation workflows and accelerate releases. As modern vehicles become increasingly software-defined, technological complexity, over-the-air updates and evolving regulatory frameworks are placing greater demands on the verification and validation processes. Automotive organizations face challenges of fragmented tool chains, manual workflows and labor-intensive compliance processes, creating a bottleneck between software development and release.   As part of HCLTech's Industry AI solutions portfolio, this V&V offering for Auto leverages a simulation-first ...

Dr. GSK Velu, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia in Chennai, and his wife, Mrs. Subha Velu, celebrate Navaratri with a traditional Golu display at their residence in Chennai. Themed around Ashtalakshmi, the display honours the eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi, symbolising wealth, knowledge, strength, victory, progeny, courage, agriculture and prosperity. The celebration reflects the significance of Indian traditions and devotion, seeking the blessings of the Goddess for prosperity, happiness and well-being.

The Storage Solutions business of Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) will showcase its advanced Mobile Pallet Racking and Shuttle Pallet Racking systems at Booth B12 during the Intralogistics & Warehousing Expo 2026, being held from October 15-17 at Chennai Trade Centre. Designed to help businesses maximise warehouse capacity, improve operational efficiency, and optimise space utilisation, these high-density storage solutions address the growing need for smarter warehousing infrastructure as India strengthens its manufacturing and logistics ecosystem. Through its advanced storage and intralogistics solutions, GEG is helping businesses build future-ready supply chains that support industrial growth, supply chain resilience, and economic competitiveness. India's warehousing landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the continued expansion of manufacturing, e-commerce, retail, and logistics sectors. With warehousing stock projected to reach 850 million sq. ft. ...

Chennai is in the middle of a crowded fever season. According to the Tamil Nadu Health Department, the state has recorded 21,655 dengue cases between January 1 and October 7 this year. The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has intensified source reduction, vector control and environmental sanitation measures across the state in view of the prevailing trend of fever cases. Dengue is only part of the picture. Scrub typhus, a bacterial infection spread by mite larvae in grass and bushes rather than mosquitoes, has also been reported, with 4,619 cases across Tamil Nadu since January, according to the Directorate of Public Health, and 173 cases in Chennai this year, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation. Viral fevers and respiratory infections are also being reported. With early symptoms looking alike, delay is the biggest risk. Many of these infections, including scrub typhus, can be treated effectively when diagnosed early, which makes timely consultation mor...

  Swiggy, India’s pioneering on-demand convenience platform, announced the launch of the Multi Restaurant Ordering feature on its app. Food is a personal choice and preferences tend to vary in a specific household or group. Multi Restaurant Ordering is designed to ensure users can order what they love to eat without any compromises. The feature allows the users to combine different cuisines, dishes and cravings from up to five restaurants and place an order at one go. In addition to a more seamless experience, Multi Restaurant Ordering feature also promises more savings for users as it eliminates the need for separate carts and checkouts, with multiple platform fees. Whether it is family get-together, Diwali parties or long weekends, everyone at the table has different choices and preferences for food. With the Multi Restaurant Ordering feature, consumers can place orders for their favourite starters, main course and desserts from different restaurants together. The feature offer...

Looking to upgrade your gadgets, bring home a new kitchen appliance, find a festive outfit or pick up a gift that stands out? Instamart’s Quick India Movement (QIM) Sale 2026 brings together products across electronics, home appliances, fashion, beauty, jewellery, toys and more, with options spanning premium upgrades and everyday essentials. From an Apple iPhone 17 Pro and an ASUS gaming laptop to a Marshall portable speaker, Ninja blender, American Tourister luggage and watches from Titan and Timex, the sale features products from participating sellers across categories. Currently live, the sale offers discounts of up to 50-90%* on select products, giving shoppers more options to explore ahead of the festive season. Here’s a closer look at some of the deals available during the sale. Premium Electronics: From iPhones to Gaming Laptops For shoppers considering a tech upgrade this festive season, the sale features smartphones, laptops, audio devices and accessories across price ...

Garba nights, Diwali card parties, family dinners and festive get-togethers call for a little extra getting-ready time. From refreshing everyday skincare routines to picking out makeup, haircare and fragrances for the occasion, the festive season offers plenty of reasons to revisit the beauty shelf. Instamart’s Quick India Movement (QIM) Sale 2026 brings together skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrances from participating sellers, with discounts of up to 50-90%* across products. Currently live, the sale features products across price points, giving shoppers an opportunity to explore familiar favourites and discover new additions to their beauty routines. Makeup Picks for Garba Nights and Festive Get-Togethers From getting ready for a night of Garba to heading out for a Diwali celebration, makeup essentials can help complete a festive look. Shoppers can explore options ranging from everyday eye makeup to foundation. Maybelline New York Colossal Bubble Waterproof Mascara: A wate...

Mahindra Truck and Bus, part of the Mahindra Group, today announced the launch of the all-new BLAZO i-TRK , a new generation Heavy Commercial Truck engineered around one singular promise to transporters and fleet owners - Profit Ka Rocket . Purpose-built as a complete business solution rather than just a truck, the BLAZO i-TRK combines best-in-class fuel efficiency, high-performance powertrain, intelligent connected technologies and an industry-leading uptime guarantee. It enables customers to maximise earnings, improve productivity, reduce operating costs and exercise greater control over their fleet. The BLAZO i-TRK has been engineered around three powerful customer assurances : Earn More Delivering up to 10% better fuel efficiency , the BLAZO i-TRK integrates advanced technologies including AI-powered iFUELSMART auto drive mode , TurboMAXX turbocharger , OptiFuel air compressor and multiple other hardware solutions and software innovations to extract maximum value from eve...

Two years ago, Corteva Agriscience launched #2MillionWomen initiative with a simple belief: when women thrive, agriculture thrives. Today, that belief is becoming reality. Across rural India, women are building stronger livelihoods. They are adopting better farming practices. They are starting new enterprises. They are stepping into leadership roles and driving change in their communities. What began as a commitment to empower women has grown into a movement that is creating lasting impact across India's agricultural value chain. Launched in September 2024, #2MillionWomen, an initiative by Corteva to empower women across India’s agricultural value chain by 2030. This was among the first large-scale corporate initiatives focused on advancing women's participation and leadership in agriculture. The initiative aims to equip women with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to succeed as farmers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Transforming Opportunity into Lea...