MAAC CRU Creative Carnival 2026 Celebrates Learning, Creativity and Student Excellence
Kolkata : Reinforcing its commitment to nurturing India’s next generation of creative professionals, MAAC (Maya Academy of Advanced Creativity) successfully hosted the MAAC CRU Creative Carnival 2026 at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata. Organised by MAAC’s Chowringhee, Rashbehari and Ultadanga (CRU) centres, the annual celebration brought together aspiring creators, accomplished alumni and leading industry professionals for a day dedicated to learning, recognition and creative excellence.
The event was graced by august presence of distinguished guests including Mr Shourya K Chakravarty, Chief Human Resources Officer & Head- Career Services & Development, Aptech Ltd, Mr Ashish Kulkarni, Chairman, AVGC-XR at FICCI and Founder, Punnaryug Artvision, Mr Sanjeev Das, CG Supervisor Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Mr. Mayur Puri, acclaimed filmmaker, scriptwriter and lyricist.
As India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) industry continues to evolve, creating exciting opportunities for skilled creative professionals, the Creative Carnival served as a unique platform to bridge classroom learning with industry expectations. Through expert-led sessions, alumni interactions and creative showcases, the event reinforced the importance of industry-ready skills, mentorship and continuous learning in preparing students for successful careers in the creative economy. This vibrant carnival featured three key segments: “Dronacharya Speaks” – an Industry Connect Seminar; “Legends of MAAC” – MAAC CRU Alumni Meet; and its annual festival “PRAYAS” – a cultural event showcase.
The Industry Connects segment, known as “Dronacharya Speaks–Where Wisdom Meets Aspiration”, brought together luminaries and dignitaries from the industry, including Mr. Ashish Kulkarni, Chairman-AVGC-XR Forum, FICCI and Founder, Punnaryug Artvision, Mr. Sanjeev Das, CG Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and Mr. Mayur Puri, acclaimed filmmaker, scriptwriter and lyricist. Drawing from their extensive industry experience, the speakers shared valuable insights into the evolving creative landscape, changing production pipelines, storytelling, emerging technologies and the skills required to build successful careers in the rapidly growing AVGC-XR industry.
Over 100+ MAAC CRU alumni from Kolkata (while a few also joined online from across the world), were recognised as “Legends of MAAC” and honoured for their remarkable achievements, showcasing the success of MAAC students across the world’s leading studios and production houses and companies like Redefine, Red Chillies, DNEG, HCL Technologies, NY VFXWALA, PWC, Amazon, Cimpress, ILM, Rockstar Games, and many more. These alumni, from MAAC centres of Chowringhee, Rashbehari and Ultadanga (CRU) in Kolkata, were thrilled to return to their alma mater and share their journey from student to industry professional, offering insights into industry-specific skill sets.
More than 500 students entered the “PRAYAS Creative Hunt” competition as an opportunity to showcase their talents, resulting in a spectacular display of creativity. MAAC Creative Carnival unfolded as the ultimate manifestation of skill, talent, and creativity. THE GRAND FINALE featured over 10 breath-taking performances, ranging from mesmerizing fashion shows by students of Lakmē Academy Powered by Aptech from Rashbehari & Nagerbazar centres, and electrifying dance-offs to soul-stirring CRU Band songs. Each act stood as a testament to the boundless creativity fostered at MAAC Chowringhee, Rashbehari, Ultadanga (CRU).
The carnival, filled with new learnings, felicitations, music, dance, and a celebratory atmosphere, left a lasting impression on all attendees, not only highlighting the immense talent nurtured by MAAC CRU but also exposing them to the burgeoning AVGC-XR (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality) industry.
Mr. Sandip Weling, Chief Business Officer, Global Retail Business, Aptech Limited and Brand Custodian, MAAC, said, “The MAAC CRU Creative Carnival 2025 is a celebration of creativity, learning, and opportunity. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students and alumni showcase their talent while interacting with industry professionals who inspire and guide them. These experiences go a long way in building confidence, expanding perspectives, and preparing young creators for successful careers. As the AVGC-XR industry continues to evolve, platforms like these play an important role in connecting education with the real world and helping talent reach its full potential.”
Mr. Naveen Choudhary, Centre Director, MAAC Kolkata, said, “The MAAC CRU Creative Carnival has always been envisioned as a platform where learning, inspiration and celebration come together. India’s AVGC-XR industry is entering a transformative phase, creating exciting opportunities for skilled creative professionals across animation, visual effects, gaming, digital content creation and immersive technologies. Through ‘Dronacharya Speaks’, students gain first-hand exposure to industry insights, while ‘Legends of MAAC’ showcases inspiring success stories of our alumni. ‘Prayas’ further provides students with an opportunity to express their creativity and confidence beyond the classroom. Together, these experiences motivate young creators to pursue rewarding careers in the AVGC-XR industry.”
Through its industry-aligned curriculum, experienced faculty, hands-on learning methodology and continuous industry engagement, MAAC continues to equip aspiring creators with future-ready skills across Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Multimedia, Broadcast, Digital Design and the rapidly evolving AVGC-XR ecosystem. For further information please visit- http://www.animationkolkata.com/
