How PUNO Is Building A Brand Beyond Its Centers By “Spreading The Smile” Across India

Pankkaj Agarwal, Founder and CEO of PUNO, is positioning entertainment beyond recreation as a platform for meaningful community engagement. Marking the first anniversary of its Guwahati centre, PUNO, Northeast India’s first and largest indoor entertainment centre, expanded its “Spread The Smile” initiative, a campaign designed to integrate entertainment with social impact and inclusive experiences.

The initiative was first introduced on 8 November at the Jaipur centre to coincide with PUNO’s Foundation Day. Built on a simple collective-impact model, ₹10 from every ticket sold is set aside towards welfare activities, supporting nutrition outreach and experiential opportunities for children across cities. Following its initial launch in Jaipur, the Guwahati anniversary marked the next phase of this effort, combining hosted experiences at the centre with city-wide outreach activities.

As part of the celebrations, children from Jibanalaya Children Home for Boys, Shankardev Shishu Niketan Boragaon, Singerpara Patidarang School, among others, visited the facility for dedicated play sessions. For many, it was their first experience inside a large indoor entertainment space. Children explored multiple zones filled with games, adventures and activities, enjoying specially arranged meals in an atmosphere defined by excitement, energy and joy. Caregivers and teachers observed participants fully immersing themselves in new environments and interactive attractions designed to encourage movement, exploration and shared moments of happiness.

The sessions were structured to ensure safe and comfortable access to different zones, with staff facilitating smooth transitions between activities. Beyond recreation, the initiative focused on creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, reinforcing the broader objective of making experiential entertainment accessible to communities that may not otherwise have such opportunities. The enthusiasm of the children transformed the anniversary into a collective celebration rather than a conventional milestone event.

Alongside the hosted visits, outreach teams travelled across Guwahati to distribute pizzas, refreshments and goodies as part of the programme, extending the initiative beyond the centre itself. Institutions serving specially-abled and underprivileged children, including Dream Home Special Care School, Akshar Foundation and Parijat Academy, were among those reached, along with neighbouring underserved communities.

By expanding the initiative outside the venue, PUNO sought to create a broader community footprint, demonstrating how celebrations can become vehicles for shared social value. The approach reflects an effort to integrate entertainment with responsibility, using the brand’s presence to create moments of joy across diverse sections of society.

Representatives from Shankardev Shishu Niketan, Boragaon noted that such experiences allow children to step beyond their routine environments and engage with new forms of enjoyment. “It was an exciting adventure for our students; they thoroughly enjoyed it. We thank PUNO for inviting us and letting our children experience world-class activities which are rare for them,” a supervisor shared.

Speaking about the initiative, Pankkaj Agarwal said that the vision is to scale Spread The Smile across all existing and upcoming locations. “We want to take this initiative across India and try to provide children with what they need, while spreading smiles as far as we possibly can,” he said, adding that customer participation has played a key role in extending the campaign’s impact.

The Spread The Smile initiative reflects a broader shift towards community-driven engagement within the entertainment industry, highlighting how recreational spaces can contribute to social inclusion while creating shared experiences that extend beyond traditional leisure.